Dear Marie:

To wonder if a past boyfriend or acquaintance had feelings for you is not a sin. If you lust after that person, then you sin. But, it is natural to wonder once-in-awhile how a past acquaintance may have felt about you. If you are obsessing on this, then there is a problem.

None of this makes the marriage invalid. A Catholic marriage is a valid sacramental marriage when both parties are baptized, freely give consent, marry in the Church, and are absent of any canonical impediments.

These impediments can include immaturity that impairs the person's ability to understand the sacramental nature of marriage, marriage with someone too young or too close in familial relationship (like a first cousin), when fraud is perpetrated (not revealing information to the spouse that is critical to the spouse consenting to the marriage), one or the other spouse deliberately choosing to never have children, permanent impotency before the marriage, and other issues.

Having thoughts about previous friendships before the marriage is not an impediment to marriage. Even lack of love is not a impediment. One does not have to love their spouse to have a valid marriage. One must offer free and unimpaired consent. A "shotgun" wedding, for example, is not valid because the groom is being forced to wed the pregnant bride at gunpoint or other threat.

Having such thoughts about a previous friend can be natural, as long as it is not lustful or obsessive. It sounds like you have moved on. Thus, move on and have a happy marriage.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary