Wedding advice from a pastoral musician
FREE Catholic Classes
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Catholic San Francisco) - Undoubtedly, if you are engaged, you have already received more advice than you ever asked for! In the spirit of piling on (but in a loving way), here are five suggestions from one pastoral musician that might help your wedding be that beautiful sacramental celebration that both you and the Church dream of:
Highlights
Catholic San Francisco (www.catholic-sf.org)
3/4/2008 (1 decade ago)
Published in Marriage & Family
1. After meeting with the priest or deacon who will counsel you as you prepare for marriage, make your next consultation with your parish music director. Many of the pastoral musicians at your church, and certainly your parish's music director, will have experience preparing music for weddings. They will listen to your ideas, and they will have suggestions of their own. They will probably be very honest with you about what will or will not be permitted at the parish where you will be married. Plan to coordinate music choices and the possible participation of any non-parish musicians with your parish music director.
When listing your preferences for music for your wedding, think of songs of faith that might go well with the Christian significance of marriage. Within the wedding liturgy, we always seek to keep the expressions of love within the context of the mystery of Jesus Christ loving his Church. Often popular romantic songs will fall short of this ideal even though they may be beautiful and express sentiments of love. As a general rule, couples are encouraged to choose religious songs for the wedding liturgy and popular songs for the wedding reception.
2. Be models for your wedding party and family in respecting the sacredness of the church where you will be married. You may have chosen to have a church wedding for any number of good reasons: the sacramental nature of your upcoming marriage; you want to celebrate surrounded by your parish community; you want your marriage to be blessed by God. Parishioners and ministers will be grateful when you and your guests treat the sacred space respectfully, especially during your wedding rehearsal.
3. Help wedding guests be participants, not merely spectators. The nature of a liturgical wedding includes active participation of the community. With the help of your parish musician, choose acclamations and songs familiar to your guests. If you expect to have a significant number who will not be familiar with the Catholic Mass, take extra steps to see that prayers and responses are included in your wedding program booklet. The more you orient your wedding to be a communal event, the more the joy on your wedding day will be magnified.
4. In the midst of all of the details of your wedding, remember to prepare yourselves spiritually. This spiritual preparation could happen in many different ways, but here are examples:
-- Spend some quiet time in prayer and meditation to help you be centered and mindful on your wedding day. Focus on the love Christ and your spouse have for you and on the love you have for them, your family and friends. Especially on that important day of your wedding, live in and celebrate that love.
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
-- Spend time with your future spouse reflecting on the Scripture readings, your vows and other prayer texts that will be proclaimed during your wedding Mass.
-- Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before your wedding. The spiritual liberation one gains from examination, confession, penance and absolution often adds to the freedom and joy in making one's marriage vows.
-- Prepare a "thanksgiving list" and/or a "petition list" as you enter into marriage. Doing a bit of reflection about the people, choices and events that brought you to the threshold of marriage would certainly be worthwhile. Share these thoughts with your future spouse.
Besides the ever-present advice and suggestions that always seem to be a given for a couple preparing for marriage, there is another thing beyond a doubt: the love of Jesus Christ for you.
---
This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of Catholic San Francisco (www.catholic-sf.org),official newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Calif.
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sacrifices of Faith: The Pro-Life Legacies of St. Gianna and Jessica Hanna
-
How to love God by caring for our bodies
-
Pope Francis calls for negotiations to End Russia-Ukraine War
-
Pope Francis Contemplates Return to U.S. for United Nations Assembly Address
-
Pope Francis Calls on Faithful to Embrace Faith, Hope, and Charity in New Teaching Series
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Tuesday, April 30, 2024
- St. Pius V, Pope: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, April 30, 2024
- Prayer to Saint Joseph for Success in Work: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, April 30, 2024
- Daily Readings for Monday, April 29, 2024
- St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Day for Monday, April 29, 2024
- Prayer for the Dead # 3: Prayer of the Day for Monday, April 29, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.