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J. MANUEL MARTINES & Ma. DE LA LUZ ROMERO-May 31, 1851
3/12/08
3/12/08
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
2:56:00 AM EDT
LAST WEDDING IN NM UNDER DIOCESE OF DURANGO
This wedding is significant for a few reasons. It is one of the final juridical acts in the old Diocese of Durango--to which New Mexico belonged for so long--just before it was subsumed as part of the new Vicariate Apostolic of Santa Fe, later to become the Diocese of Santa Fe. Within a cople of weeks, the new Vicar Apostolic Jean Baptiste Lamy would be arriving in Santa Fe to take over his new postion as leader of the local church in New Mexico.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE
A second very interesting twist in this marriage, in addition to its liminal character, is the very unusual fact that the father of the bride is also the priest, Padre Martinez, presiding over the Catholic wedding ceremony. As a very young man, before seminary and priesthood, Antonio José Martínez was married to his sweetheart by the name of María de La Luz who also from Abiquiu, but she died in giving birth to their daughter who was named after her mother. Young María de La Luz herself tragically died at the age of 12. It seems that Antonio José Martínez all of his life kept a predeliction for the name María de la Luz, perhaps in memory of his young wife and their daughter.
It is documented that Padre Martinez illictly sired other children after he became a priest, and among them was another María de La Luz whose mother was Teodora Romero. However, she died as an infant. Then the same parents had another baby girl to whom they gave the same name. This is the daughter at whose wedding Padre Martinez presided in 1851.
DISPENSATIONS REQUIRED
A third situation that merits our attention, and provides a window to Catholic marriage law is the necessity of "dispensations" from established church law. First cousins are never supposed to be married, and only by special dispensations can second cousins be married. This bride and groom are second cousins.
VICAR ORTIZ GRANTS DISPENSATION
Vicar Ortiz granted the dispensation from consanguinity on May 27 for the Martines-Romero wedding scheduled to take place on May 31, 1851. The dispensation from the diriment impediment of second degree of consanguinity was necessary for the validity of the marriage, and it should have been in hand before the marriage ceremony. For whatever reason, that dispensation was being granted rather late; perhaps it was requested later than it should have been. In any case, that three-day window did not leave much time for the dispensation to actually arrive on time, although the journey from Santa Fe could have been made in a day. This note is to advise that the dispensation was given ON TIME, i.e. before the marriage, although it did not arrive until after the ceremony.
This would have been the last, or at least one the last, dispensations that Vicar Ortiz would issue since--with the arrival of the new Vicar Apostolic and his Vicar General Joseph Prospectus Machebeuf--his services as Vicar for the Bisop of Durango would no longer be needed. He was now about to become the EX-Vicar Juan Felipe Ortiz, although remain Pastor of La Parroquia in Santa Fe.
The second part of the notation is signed by Padre Martinez indicating that he accomplished the formalities of marriage preparations in a timely and canonically correct manner. This has some relevance insofar as some padres later made allegations that Father Machebeuf sometimes did not follow canonical procedure in regards to marriage dispensations.
Besides the dispensation from the impediment of consanguinity, there was also a dispensation from banns that today are routinely not even announced. It used to be required that “Banns of Marriage,” i.e., that Fulano would be marrying
Mingana, would be announced three times at consecutive Masses on Sundays or Holy Days. The idea was to ascertain FREDOM to marry as well as lack of impediments. A dispensation from announcing the banns of marriage might be given when it was judged better not to announce the banns for some pastoral reason. One reason might be that the wedding would be taking place sooner than originally anticipated, or there was not sufficient time. Two examples of "lack of time" might be the groom was leaving soon for military duty, or the bride-to-be was about to give birth. In any case, the dispensation was supposed to be given not by the pastor, but by higher authority in the name of the bishop.
PADRE MONTANO BRINGS DISPENSATION
Dispensation from Impediment of Consanguinity – May 27, 1851
This notation in the Marriage Register is in two parts. Padre Montano arrived at the Taos Pueblo from Santa Fe shortly after the wedding, and stayed in the priest's quarters reservedthere. Meanwhile Padre Martinez left to Santa Fe on pressing business. Padre Montaño took the place of Padre Martinez while he was away, and left a note together with the Dispensation obtained. Padre Martinez--upon his return from Santa Fe--included in the parish Marriage Registry both Padre Montano's note and confirmation that the dispensation was granted on time.
Padre Montaños's Note and Dispensation:
"Taking the pastor's place during his absence, I--the priest Vicente Saturnino Montaño--arrived at this parish of San Geronimo de Taos on June 9, 1851 A.D., bringing with me the arrangement of a matrimonial DISPENSATION GRANTED in favor of José Manuel Martins and María de La Luz Romero. Vicar Don Juan Felipe Ortiz granted it in Santa Fe on the 27th of this last month of May. The Act dispensed the couple contracting marriage from the CANONICAL IMPEDIMENT of a relationship of the SECOND DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY in the TRANSVERSAL LINE."
PADRE MARTINEZ ON TO BUSINESS IN SANTA FE
Two important events were about to take place in Santa Fe, and Padre Martinez was involved in both: the arrival of the new Vicar Apostolic from Ohio, and the First Assembly of the new USA Territory of New Mexico.
The Arrival of New Vicar Apostolic: J.B. Lamy
I am supposing that Padre Martinez, almost immediately after the wedding, traveled to Santa Fe to help plan for the arrival of the new head of the church in New Mexico, the Frenchman Jean Baptiste Lamywho had been working as a missionary in Ohio. During his trip to Santa Fe, Padre Martinez would also be taking care of some political business. Meanwhile, during his absence, Padre Montaño of Santa Fe would be taking his place at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Taos.
First Territorial Assembly - July 14, 1851
It is likely that Padre Martinez also helped to make preparations for the First Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico now under the political juisdiction of the United States of America. It had already been over three years since New Mexico came under the flag of the United States. NM, no longer under military rule, held its Territorial Assembly under the "Organic Law" (phrase by Santiago Valdez in his 1877 biography of Padre Martinez) that was in force. The purpose of the Assembly was to form a Legislative Council and beginthe process of selecting the Territory's political representatives and leaders.
The First Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico, USA took place in Santa Fe on July 14 (Bastille Day), 1851. Ex-Vicar Juan Felipe Ortiz presided at this First Assembly of the Territory of NM under the new government. Ortiz was selected for this role because of his status as the pastor of La Parroquia, the most important parish in the capital city of Santa Fe, as well as because of his prestige garnered from his role as Vicar for the Bishop of Durango for so many years. At this Assembly, Padre Antonio José Martínez was elected as the first President of the Legislative Council, and presided at their meeting the following December.
MARRIAGE NOTED IN PARISH RECORDS
Upon his return from Santa Fe, Padre Martinez got around to inserting into the parish Marriage Registry the note by Padre Montaño together with the dispensation. Then Padre Martinez recorded the marriage.
THIS [dispensation] WAS SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT THIS MARRIAGE TO GO FORWARD EVEN BEFORE THE PRESENTATION OF THIS DOCUMENT ARRIVED, BEFORE THEIR HANDS WERE GIVEN TO EACH OTHER BY THE PASTOR ON THE 31st OF THE PRECISE MONTH OF MAY, OR BEFORE THE [required three] CANONICAL BANNS OF MARRIAGE [were completed]. THE BANNS WERE ANNOUNCED WITHIN [three] SOLEMN MASSES: ONE WAS CELEBRATED IN MAY, ON MAY 29, ON THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION [Thursday] OF OUR LORD; ANOTHER ON 1st OF THIS CURRENT MONTH [of June which is] THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE ASCENSION; AND [the third] ON THE FEAST OF PENTECOST [falling on the] 8th OF THIS SAME MONTH [of June].
FROM ALL OF THIS, THERE HAS NOT RESULTED FOR THE CONTRACTING PARTIES ANY IMPEDIMENT OR OTHER IMPEDIMENT OTHER THAN THAT WHICH HAS BEEN DISPENSED.
THE COUPLE WENT TO CONFESSION AND RECEIVED HOLY COMMUNION BEFORE I PRESIDED AT THEIR MARRIAGE. I READ TO THEM THE DOCUMENT OF DISPENSATION, AND IMPOSED UPON THEM ALL THE PENANCES [prescribed for having obtained a dispensation] ON THE DAY I PRESIDED AT THEIR WEDDING IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, AND I GAVE THEM THE NUPTIAL BLESSINGS IN THE EYES OF THE CHURCH. THE PADRINOS WERE JOSE BENTO MARTIN AND MARIA DOLORES CORDOBA.
OTHER WITNESSES WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE WEDDING WERE MANUEL ANTONIO MIERA AND MIGUEL RIBERA, VECINOS OF THE PLAZA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, AND THE PADRINOS WHO ARE VECINOS OF SAN FRANCISCO DE PAULA [Ranchitos], AND OTHERS.
THIS I CERTIFY WITH MY SIGNATURE,
ANTONIO JOSE MARTINEZ
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2:56:00 AM EDT
J. MANUEL MARTINES & Ma. DE LA LUZ ROMERO-May 31, 1851
LAST WEDDING IN NM UNDER DIOCESE OF DURANGO
This wedding is significant for a few reasons. It is one of the final juridical acts in the old Diocese of Durango--to which New Mexico belonged for so long--just before it was subsumed as part of the new Vicariate Apostolic of Santa Fe, later to become the Diocese of Santa Fe. Within a cople of weeks, the new Vicar Apostolic Jean Baptiste Lamy would be arriving in Santa Fe to take over his new postion as leader of the local church in New Mexico.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE
A second very interesting twist in this marriage, in addition to its liminal character, is the very unusual fact that the father of the bride is also the priest, Padre Martinez, presiding over the Catholic wedding ceremony. As a very young man, before seminary and priesthood, Antonio José Martínez was married to his sweetheart by the name of María de La Luz who also from Abiquiu, but she died in giving birth to their daughter who was named after her mother. Young María de La Luz herself tragically died at the age of 12. It seems that Antonio José Martínez all of his life kept a predeliction for the name María de la Luz, perhaps in memory of his young wife and their daughter.
It is documented that Padre Martinez illictly sired other children after he became a priest, and among them was another María de La Luz whose mother was Teodora Romero. However, she died as an infant. Then the same parents had another baby girl to whom they gave the same name. This is the daughter at whose wedding Padre Martinez presided in 1851.
DISPENSATIONS REQUIRED
A third situation that merits our attention, and provides a window to Catholic marriage law is the necessity of "dispensations" from established church law. First cousins are never supposed to be married, and only by special dispensations can second cousins be married. This bride and groom are second cousins.
VICAR ORTIZ GRANTS DISPENSATION
Vicar Ortiz granted the dispensation from consanguinity on May 27 for the Martines-Romero wedding scheduled to take place on May 31, 1851. The dispensation from the diriment impediment of second degree of consanguinity was necessary for the validity of the marriage, and it should have been in hand before the marriage ceremony. For whatever reason, that dispensation was being granted rather late; perhaps it was requested later than it should have been. In any case, that three-day window did not leave much time for the dispensation to actually arrive on time, although the journey from Santa Fe could have been made in a day. This note is to advise that the dispensation was given ON TIME, i.e. before the marriage, although it did not arrive until after the ceremony.
This would have been the last, or at least one the last, dispensations that Vicar Ortiz would issue since--with the arrival of the new Vicar Apostolic and his Vicar General Joseph Prospectus Machebeuf--his services as Vicar for the Bisop of Durango would no longer be needed. He was now about to become the EX-Vicar Juan Felipe Ortiz, although remain Pastor of La Parroquia in Santa Fe.
The second part of the notation is signed by Padre Martinez indicating that he accomplished the formalities of marriage preparations in a timely and canonically correct manner. This has some relevance insofar as some padres later made allegations that Father Machebeuf sometimes did not follow canonical procedure in regards to marriage dispensations.
Besides the dispensation from the impediment of consanguinity, there was also a dispensation from banns that today are routinely not even announced. It used to be required that “Banns of Marriage,” i.e., that Fulano would be marrying
Mingana, would be announced three times at consecutive Masses on Sundays or Holy Days. The idea was to ascertain FREDOM to marry as well as lack of impediments. A dispensation from announcing the banns of marriage might be given when it was judged better not to announce the banns for some pastoral reason. One reason might be that the wedding would be taking place sooner than originally anticipated, or there was not sufficient time. Two examples of "lack of time" might be the groom was leaving soon for military duty, or the bride-to-be was about to give birth. In any case, the dispensation was supposed to be given not by the pastor, but by higher authority in the name of the bishop.
PADRE MONTANO BRINGS DISPENSATION
Dispensation from Impediment of Consanguinity – May 27, 1851
This notation in the Marriage Register is in two parts. Padre Montano arrived at the Taos Pueblo from Santa Fe shortly after the wedding, and stayed in the priest's quarters reservedthere. Meanwhile Padre Martinez left to Santa Fe on pressing business. Padre Montaño took the place of Padre Martinez while he was away, and left a note together with the Dispensation obtained. Padre Martinez--upon his return from Santa Fe--included in the parish Marriage Registry both Padre Montano's note and confirmation that the dispensation was granted on time.
Padre Montaños's Note and Dispensation:
"Taking the pastor's place during his absence, I--the priest Vicente Saturnino Montaño--arrived at this parish of San Geronimo de Taos on June 9, 1851 A.D., bringing with me the arrangement of a matrimonial DISPENSATION GRANTED in favor of José Manuel Martins and María de La Luz Romero. Vicar Don Juan Felipe Ortiz granted it in Santa Fe on the 27th of this last month of May. The Act dispensed the couple contracting marriage from the CANONICAL IMPEDIMENT of a relationship of the SECOND DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY in the TRANSVERSAL LINE."
PADRE MARTINEZ ON TO BUSINESS IN SANTA FE
Two important events were about to take place in Santa Fe, and Padre Martinez was involved in both: the arrival of the new Vicar Apostolic from Ohio, and the First Assembly of the new USA Territory of New Mexico.
The Arrival of New Vicar Apostolic: J.B. Lamy
I am supposing that Padre Martinez, almost immediately after the wedding, traveled to Santa Fe to help plan for the arrival of the new head of the church in New Mexico, the Frenchman Jean Baptiste Lamywho had been working as a missionary in Ohio. During his trip to Santa Fe, Padre Martinez would also be taking care of some political business. Meanwhile, during his absence, Padre Montaño of Santa Fe would be taking his place at the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Taos.
First Territorial Assembly - July 14, 1851
It is likely that Padre Martinez also helped to make preparations for the First Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico now under the political juisdiction of the United States of America. It had already been over three years since New Mexico came under the flag of the United States. NM, no longer under military rule, held its Territorial Assembly under the "Organic Law" (phrase by Santiago Valdez in his 1877 biography of Padre Martinez) that was in force. The purpose of the Assembly was to form a Legislative Council and beginthe process of selecting the Territory's political representatives and leaders.
The First Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico, USA took place in Santa Fe on July 14 (Bastille Day), 1851. Ex-Vicar Juan Felipe Ortiz presided at this First Assembly of the Territory of NM under the new government. Ortiz was selected for this role because of his status as the pastor of La Parroquia, the most important parish in the capital city of Santa Fe, as well as because of his prestige garnered from his role as Vicar for the Bishop of Durango for so many years. At this Assembly, Padre Antonio José Martínez was elected as the first President of the Legislative Council, and presided at their meeting the following December.
MARRIAGE NOTED IN PARISH RECORDS
Upon his return from Santa Fe, Padre Martinez got around to inserting into the parish Marriage Registry the note by Padre Montaño together with the dispensation. Then Padre Martinez recorded the marriage.
THIS [dispensation] WAS SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT THIS MARRIAGE TO GO FORWARD EVEN BEFORE THE PRESENTATION OF THIS DOCUMENT ARRIVED, BEFORE THEIR HANDS WERE GIVEN TO EACH OTHER BY THE PASTOR ON THE 31st OF THE PRECISE MONTH OF MAY, OR BEFORE THE [required three] CANONICAL BANNS OF MARRIAGE [were completed]. THE BANNS WERE ANNOUNCED WITHIN [three] SOLEMN MASSES: ONE WAS CELEBRATED IN MAY, ON MAY 29, ON THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION [Thursday] OF OUR LORD; ANOTHER ON 1st OF THIS CURRENT MONTH [of June which is] THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE ASCENSION; AND [the third] ON THE FEAST OF PENTECOST [falling on the] 8th OF THIS SAME MONTH [of June].
FROM ALL OF THIS, THERE HAS NOT RESULTED FOR THE CONTRACTING PARTIES ANY IMPEDIMENT OR OTHER IMPEDIMENT OTHER THAN THAT WHICH HAS BEEN DISPENSED.
THE COUPLE WENT TO CONFESSION AND RECEIVED HOLY COMMUNION BEFORE I PRESIDED AT THEIR MARRIAGE. I READ TO THEM THE DOCUMENT OF DISPENSATION, AND IMPOSED UPON THEM ALL THE PENANCES [prescribed for having obtained a dispensation] ON THE DAY I PRESIDED AT THEIR WEDDING IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, AND I GAVE THEM THE NUPTIAL BLESSINGS IN THE EYES OF THE CHURCH. THE PADRINOS WERE JOSE BENTO MARTIN AND MARIA DOLORES CORDOBA.
OTHER WITNESSES WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE WEDDING WERE MANUEL ANTONIO MIERA AND MIGUEL RIBERA, VECINOS OF THE PLAZA OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, AND THE PADRINOS WHO ARE VECINOS OF SAN FRANCISCO DE PAULA [Ranchitos], AND OTHERS.
THIS I CERTIFY WITH MY SIGNATURE,
ANTONIO JOSE MARTINEZ
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