Marriage

The United States’ Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy published an excellent guide for music in liturgy called Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship in 2007. It says that the best way to choose music for liturgy, including your wedding, is to judge the piece of music according to three criteria: the musical, the liturgical and the pastoral.
 
The musical judgment asks: “Is the music technically, aesthetically, and expressively good?” This speaks of quality, not taste. Whether the piece of music is classical or contemporary, jazz or gospel, the musical judgment asks, “Is this piece of music the best quality it can be?” Your wedding deserves only the best. And musical quality is not determined by whether or not “I like it.” Musical quality is best judged according to standards of beauty and skill – standards that your parish music minister is trained in discerning.
 
The liturgical judgment asks: Does this piece of music fit the liturgy and work well with what the liturgy is trying to do? An aria from an opera might be exquisite from the musical judgment: In terms of musical quality, it doesn’t get any better than this. But the liturgy properly understood does not offer much opportunity for solo singing, and singing about being lovesick because the one you love doesn’t love you back is not at all what the liturgy celebrates.
 
The pastoral judgment asks: Will this piece of music enable the liturgy to be a prayer for all present and not just a theatrical production? The primary kind of music in the liturgy is communal singing. Replacing the Lord’s Prayer with a soloist singing a classical rendition of the prayer is a bad idea, for example, because it literally takes the words out of the mouth of all present.  Better to have all sing the chant that all know than to have a soloist “steal” the prayer.

From the good three-part criteria of musical, liturgical and pastoral judgments, it’s pretty clear why love songs from musicals and the current top ten list from radio or MTV don’t measure up. Such songs aren’t bad in and of themselves – and in fact, the DJ that you hire will probably ask you for a list of such songs that you like. Play them at the reception, but leave them out of church.
 
Secular music is not to be used prior to or during the liturgy. Music creates the environment in which the liturgy will be celebrated and the sacrament of marriage made present. Music and the texts chosen must reflect and embody this. Music before the liturgy will not only accompany the arrival of  your guests, but also help prepare everyone to lift up their hearts to God. Keep in mind that any song, inappropriate because of its text, is also inappropriate as an instrumental version, since the tune alone will convey the song’s words to those members of the assembly who know the song. In effect, a song can never be truly separated from its lyrics.

 We welcome outside musicians at our parish if they meet the following critera:

1.  They must have knowledge of the Catholic Mass and have played for Catholic weddings before.
2. They must follow the guidelines set forth for music selection by the Music Director (all music selections MUST be approved by the Music Director at least a month before the ceremony).
3. The regular musicians must be compensated for the loss of their income. Currently, the bench fee is $100 payable to Timothy Rougeau.

You may want to print a program booklet for your wedding, especially if it will encourage all to sing their parts of the liturgy. A booklet can be most helpful in assisting your guests, especially those from other faith communities, with their participation in your wedding liturgy.  If you plan to print song texts or music in your program, reprint permission must be obtained from the copyright holder. Acknowledgment of this permission will usually be required in your program. If you do not do this, you or the parish could be sued in court and fined. The parish holds reprint licenses for the music that is suggested for wedding masses. Tim Rougeau can help you design one or can create one for you.