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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Weddings: Some Practical Advice – The End and the New Beginning

Andrew R. Motyka · October 15, 2014

FTER the Rite of Marriage is completed in the Nuptial Mass, the rest seems almost anticlimactic. You know, it’s just the miracle whereby the Creator of the universe is consumed by us under the appearance of bread and wine. No big deal.

Snarkiness aside (fat chance), the Liturgy of the Eucharist seems like no big deal because it is so much more routine to us. We have to be careful not to neglect it as “just the Mass” from this point on, because there is nothing routine about the Mass, at least not in the dull, lifeless sense. Just as we seek beauty and excellent worship in our normal parish liturgy, so should we seek it in the Nuptial Mass. Remember that the congregation at this Mass is probably from far and wide, so the Mass Ordinary that works so well on the weekends might draw a dud response from this group. Keep it simple. The Missal chants are pretty well known across the country right now (a great blessing from the new translation). Even though the adaptations of these chants are, in my opinion anyway, not particularly inspired, they are a good common repertoire for these kinds of Masses. They are much better than many of the newer settings pushed by the major publishers, to be sure.

One custom that has worked its way into the Nuptial Mass, toward the end, is the presentation of flowers to an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While I am reluctant to discourage any kind of devotion to Our Lady, this probably isn’t the best time for it. It would be much better placed at the rehearsal, or even directly after Mass. Private devotions like this are not particularly suited to the public act of the Mass. That said, there are far worse corruptions that have wormed their way into the wedding liturgy.

The rest is easy. While Mass should never be mindlessly easy, we are still back in the comfort zone at this point. As an additional point of advice, now that I consider the mixed congregation we have at these liturgies, is to make a good worship aid. I don’t mean the little card programs that get handed out, the “cast of characters” that make sure everyone knows who the 8th bridesmaid processing down the aisle is. I mean a full blown, texts-and-music order of service, including the full spoken responses for the congregation. If these texts are available in a hymnal or missal in the pews (I have no idea where you could find a good one of those), then that can function, too. Just make sure the congregation is made aware of these texts before the liturgy starts. Many of them are not Catholic, and some that are have not darkened the doors of a church in some time. Make them welcome and help them re-acclimate to the liturgy. For that matter, including the norms for receiving Holy Communion is a good idea, too.

I know it’s a grand cliche, but remember that this sacrament is the beginning, not the end, of a couple’s journey together toward salvation. Too often it is seen as the goal line, and “happily ever after” is the end of the story. That’s one of the reasons people overdo it with all the bells and whistles at their wedding. Put more effort into your marriage than into your wedding, and you’ll be much more successful.

And by the way, congratulations to my baby sister, Laurie, who is getting married this weekend.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The creed at baptism may be said in either Greek or Latin, at the convert’s discretion, according to the Gelasian Sacramentary.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue

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  • False Accusations
  • (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
  • PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”

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