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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

The Rite of Marriage, Second Edition

Fr. David Friel · March 13, 2016

MPLEMENTATION of the revised rite of marriage has been set. The text, now entitled the Order of Celebrating Matrimony, is mandatory for use beginning December 30, 2016, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The new texts may optionally be used beginning September 8, 2016.

So, what is actually new in this second edition? There are a number of revised elements, as well as a couple of new additions.

First, as noted above, the name of the ritual book has been changed from Rite of Marriage to Order of Celebrating Matrimony. Additionally, the opening notes (or Praenotanda) have been significantly expanded to further explain the theology of Holy Matrimony (now composed of 44 paragraphs, compared with the 18 in the first edition).

Following the entrance procession, the ritual now calls for an introduction to be given by the celebrant. Two sample addresses will appear in the ritual. Just over a year ago, I attended a workshop by Msgr. Richard Hilgartner, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat for Divine Worship. During the workshop, he read to us one of these sample addresses, and it impressed me as a very beautiful and understandable précis on the theology of Holy Matrimony.

The new order makes it clearer that the Penitential Act is to be omitted and that the Gloria is always included at a nuptial Mass. This latter change originally came into force with the 2011 Roman Missal, but it is now being clarified.

The exchange of consent will incorporate two changes. First, there will be a new alternate form that calls upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, together with Adam and Eve. Additionally, immediately after the consent is given, a dialogue has been added between the priest & people. The celebrant will say, “Let us bless the Lord,” and the whole assembly will be invited to respond, “Thanks be to God.”

The special remembrance of the newly married couple that was already supplied for the Roman Canon has been matched by similar inclusions for Eucharistic Prayers II and III. There will also be two separate sets of recommended general intercessions included in the rite.

Finally, within each of the four nuptial blessings, there will now be an explicit epiclesis that says: “Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour your love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant.”

HIS NEW EDITION will also incorporate two new appendices and two new adaptations. The first new appendix is called an “Order of Blessing an Engaged Couple.” This might be used with benefit as part of parish Pre-Cana programs. The other new appendix will be called the “Order of Blessing a Married Couple within Mass on the Anniversary of Marriage.” Included herein will be sample formulae for the renewal of vows and the blessing of rings (either for the original rings or for new rings).

The two new adaptations will be in addition to the one adaptation already approved in the present ritual (the optional phrasing for the exchange of consent that mentions “for richer or poorer,” etc.). The new adaptations will be for the blessing and giving of the arras (coins) and the blessing and placing of the lazo (veil), both traditions that are popular among couples of Mexican, Filipino, and Spanish descent.

For more information on the significance of the arras and lazo traditions, I highly recommend a very informative article by Michael P. Foley published in Antiphon, journal of the Society for Catholic Liturgy. His article appears in Vol. 18 (2014), no. 2, pp. 115-143, coincidentally two articles before my own article on the Propriety of the Propers.

Apart from the rubric concerning the singing of the Gloria, which has been in force for some time now, these new changes do not seem to affect much regarding the music at nuptial Masses and ceremonies. The changes are, however, significant. It remains to be seen what the published versions of this second edition will look like.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Wedding Nuptial Mass Music, Nuptial Mass, Society for Catholic Liturgy, USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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 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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Giovanni Doni is known for having changed the name of note “Ut,” renaming it “Do.” He convinced his contemporaries to make the change by arguing that 1) “Do” is easier to pronounce than “Ut,” and 2) “Do” is an abbreviation for “Dominus,” the Latin word for the Lord, Who is the tonic and root of the world. There is much academic speculation that Giovanni Doni also wanted to imprint himself into musical canon in perpetuity because “Do” is also ulteriorly an abbreviation for his family name.

— Giovanni Battista Doni died in 1647AD

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