Celebrating Your Marriage in the Catholic Church
An essential resource for couples and clergy, by Fr Allen Morris.
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Chairman of Westminster Liturgy Commission and Parish Priest of St.
Nicholas, Boldmere, Birmingham.
Choosing to marry is one of the most important decisions a couple can
make.
The Church urges careful preparation for marriage, both for married life
and for the wedding service itself. In the new edition of the Catholic Order
of Celebrating Matrimony, published in January and to be used from Easter
2016, it is made clear that the couple themselves should have an active part in
the preparation of their wedding service, choosing for example readings,
prayers and music.
Not every couple is familiar with the Church’s Liturgy and its
requirements and can find themselves unequal to the task.
Celebrating Your Marriage in the Catholic Church has been
prepared to assist them with that preparation. It describes the various forms
of the Order of Matrimony, (within and without Mass, forms for Catholics
marrying or Catholics marrying another Christian or an unbaptised person, or
the convalidation of a civil marriage) and provides a sure guide to the various
options which the revised Marriage Rite provides for each part of the Liturgy
including all the readings and examples of bidding prayers (Universal Prayer).
- Guidance
is provided also regarding the impact of the Liturgical Year on how
marriage is celebrated in the Catholic Church, and on the selection of
music and song.
- A
key element of any celebration of Marriage is the Liturgy of the Word. The
new edition of the Rite has a revised Lectionary, and requires that the
couple choose at least one reading that speaks explicitly of marriage.
These readings are clearly identified, and a way in which the couple might
use the full selection of readings as a help to a spiritual preparation
for their marriage service and for married life.
- The
book contains Planning Grids that the couple can use when meeting with
their Priest or Deacon to firm up on the details of their wedding. At all
points in the book the importance is noted that the Priest/Deacon will
need to be involved in making the final decisions regarding their wedding
ceremony.
Celebrating Your Marriage in the Catholic Church will help any
couple prepare a celebration that will be personal and fitting for them, and in
accord with the expectations of the Church.