Article Two. On the Place of Celebration.

654. Declaration. 1. Matrimony between Catholics ought to be celebrated in the parish church with the sacred rite prescribed by the Church; it can be celebrated in another church or in an oratory, whether public or semi-public, only with the license of the ordinary or of the parish priest.

2. The ordinary can permit it to be celebrated in private houses only in an extraordinary case and from a just cause. He cannot permit it to be celebrated in the church or oratory of a seminary or of religious women, unless there is urgent necessity and suitable cautions have been applied.¹

a. Catholic spouses who have contracted a valid matrimony, but for whatever cause have not performed the sacred matrimonial rite (e.g. those contracting in mission places before two witnesses without the parish priest because of his absence), are held under grave obligation to supply it; in this case the declaration of consent and the formula of copulation, "I join you," etc., are omitted.

b. On the contrary, if infidel spouses, joined in a legitimate matrimony, are converted to the Catholic religion, they are to be advised to perform the sacred rite, but they are not to be obliged.

¹ Cn. 1109, 1, 2.