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.