MATRIMONY

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”

Credit: L&M Photography

Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of “the wedding-feast of the Lamb . . . The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws…. God himself is the author of marriage.”

The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution . . . God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes. and this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “and God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'”

Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another: “It is not good that the man should be alone.” he woman, “flesh of his flesh,” i.e., his counterpart, his equal, his nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a “helpmate”; she thus represents God from whom comes our help. “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives by recalling what the plan of the Creator had been “in the beginning”: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601-1605

"Since God created him man and woman, [the spouses'] mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes."

Music Selection

The music at your wedding does more than simply add beauty - it serves as a tool of evangelization and sanctification for you, and for your guests.

The music chosen for your wedding should:

Highlight the BEAUTY and SOLEMNITY of the Sacrament; and
Support your chosen SCRIPTURE READINGS and LITURGICAL ACTIONS.

Chant, sacred polyphony, and hymns are all excellent choices for your nuptial Mass.

Many secular instrumental songs can be "rendered apt" for a nuptial Mass.

However, pieces which are popular at secular weddings or receptions may not be appropriate for your nuptial Mass.

A general outline for a Catholic wedding Mass in the Latin Rite follows, based on the new edition of the Order of Celebrating Matrimony (mandatory to use in the United States as of December 30, 2016).

Because there are many options to choose from and various circumstances that can affect the planning of a wedding Mass, it is very important to work with your celebrant or his delegate in arranging the ceremony. Certain details might differ from what is outlined below.

PRELUDE
Your wedding musicians will provide 20-30 minutes of beautiful, reverent background music while your guests arrive.

PROCESSIONAL
At Epiphany, our couples selects two (2) processional pieces.

One is played for the bridal party; this begins when the priest, the groom, and the groomsmen enter through the side Sanctuary doors, and proceed to the foot of the altar. It continues during the seating of honored guests (such as the mother of the bride), and the procession of the bridal attendants.

The second is played as the bride walks down the aisle.

GLORIA
Optional. Epiphany uses the Gloria from the Missa de Angelis

COLLECT

The Liturgy of the Word

1st READING

RESPONSORIAL PSALM or TRACT
Epiphany uses the St. Noel Chabanel psalm settings found in the St. Isaac Jogues Missal, or the Tracts from the Graduale Simplex.

2nd READING

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION or GRADUAL
Epiphany uses the Mode VI Alelluia setting, or the Graduals from the Graduale Simplex.

The Celebration of Matrimony

ADDRESS to the COUPLE by the PRIEST

QUESTIONS before the CONSENT

THE CONSENT

RECEPTION of the CONSENT by the PRIEST

BLESSING and GIVING of RINGS

UNIVERAL PRAYER / PRAYERS of the FAITHFUL

CREDO
Said only if Marriage is celebrated on certain days.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

“The liturgical crowning of the marriage rite is the Eucharist, the sacrifice of that ‘body which has been given up’ and that ‘blood which has been shed,’ which in a certain way finds expression in the consent of the spouses.” - St. John Paul II, Letter to Families, no. 11

Offertory

The Eucharistic Prayer

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The Lord’s Prayer

The Blessing and Placing of the Lazo or the Veil, an optional tradition in Hispanic and Filipino families. This could also be done before the Lord’s Prayer, or even earlier, according to local custom.

The Nuptial Blessing

The Sign of Peace (optional)

Communion Antiphon or Hymn during the reception of Holy Communion. Selections should support the believe that Jesus Christ - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - is truly present in the consecrated host and wine.

Presentation of an Offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary: this beautiful tradition is not outlined in the rubrics, but is common among many weddings. Traditionally, a short rendition of a Marian Antiphon is chanted or played during this time.

The Conclusion of the Celebration

Solemn Blessing of the newly married couple and the congregation

Dismissal and Recessional (a hymn could be sung, or instrumental music could be played)

Postlude - your musicians will play an additional 15-20 minutes of music as guests exit the church and make their way to your reception.

Entrance Song

Be Thou My Vision

ORDER of CELEBRATING MATRIMONY

Music Selection

Entrance Song

Offertory Chant

Communion Chant

Questions?