Views from the Choir Loft

Nuptial Blessings • Practice Videos • Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Richard J. Clark · January 13, 2017

R. JONATHAN GASPAR of the Archdiocese of Boston has kindly recorded the Nuptial Blessings of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony. The new English translation is according to the Second Latin Typical Edition, 1991.

This revised rite has been mandatory for use as of December 30, 2016, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—a most fitting beginning!

Each Nuptial Blessing is comprised of a short invitation and a prayer. Whether sung or spoken, the rubric calls for silent prayer in between. (For the purposes of these practice recordings, there is simply a quick pause.) After the silent prayer, the chant elevates into a Preface-like reciting tone, marking a distinct transition in the blessing.

The rubrics also indicate the following:

205. In the invitation, if one or both of the spouses will not be receiving Communion, the words in parenthesis are omitted. In the prayer, the words in parenthesis may be omitted if it seems that circumstances suggest it, for example, if the bride and bridegroom are advanced in years.

FR. GASPAR ELOQUENTLY emphasis key words and phrases, underscoring the beauty of the sacrament. Note especially how he sings in Nuptial Blessing A, “May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honor and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church.” I found this to be deeply moving.

Nuptial Blessing A is sung here in a higher key. B and C are in slightly lower keys. A is the longest (4:30). B is much shorter (3:40). C is by far the shortest (2:40):

* * YouTube • Nuptial Blessing A

* * Mp3 Download • Nuptial Blessing A

* * YouTube • Nuptial Blessing B

* * Mp3 Download • Nuptial Blessing B

* * YouTube • Nuptial Blessing C

* * Mp3 Download • Nuptial Blessing C

PLAYLIST:

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

About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski