Q&A Home > R > Remarriage

I know widows and widowers can marry if they wish, but who is allowed to marry with her/him? Can it be someone who was not previously married? If so, how will the ceremony of their remarriage be? Will it be the same was the regular traditional ceremony (like the first marriage ceremony)?

According to the Holy Scripture, widows may marry. The Old Testament gave us the example of Ruth and her sister-in-law, Orpah, who were both widowed. Their former mother-in-law, Naomi, counseled and encouraged them to move on with their lives and remarry. Both Old and New Testaments discuss remarriage to bring up seed if the former husband did not have children. St Paul encourages some widows to remarry, "But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). Therefore, unless there are special personal circumstances, most widows and widowers are allowed to remarry.