Readings for RC wedding

Whispered

I am getting married later in the year. While neither of us go to mass every week, we do both believe in god and following a recent death in my family, we both decided that a church wedding would be the best for both us and our families. We would not feel properly married without a it being in the church.

I got to looking for readings for the mass. I looked online, and suggested readings, didn't touch me in any way. I would love for the readings to mean something to me.

The general thought behind the readings we would like would be a feeling of 2 families coming together, not one family giving a person to another. Of a man and woman loving and honoring each other, finding good in each other, bringing each other closer to god.

I would really appreciate peoples thoughts and suggestions on this.

Stephentlig

helena.ryan wrote: »

I am getting married later in the year. While neither of us go to mass every week, we do both believe in god and following a recent death in my family, we both decided that a church wedding would be the best for both us and our families. We would not feel properly married without a it being in the church.

I got to looking for readings for the mass. I looked online, and suggested readings, didn't touch me in any way. I would love for the readings to mean something to me.

The general thought behind the readings we would like would be a feeling of 2 families coming together, not one family giving a person to another. Of a man and woman loving and honoring each other, finding good in each other, bringing each other closer to god.

I would really appreciate peoples thoughts and suggestions on this.

Hi Helena, Congrats on you getting Married. I'm glad you have chosen the wedding to take place in the Church, as in Canon Law and the Church forbid celebrating marriages outside of the Church Buildings.

I Myself am Married recently and although we go to Mass every week ( or at least do our best to make it ) we would invite you and your future Husband to do the same as its a great thing to be in continuous contact with Our Lord and his Church. www.catholicscomehome.org is a great site for those of us who are already Catholic, those who consider themselves fallen away from the Catholic church, and for those who are considering being a part of the Church.

as soon as I read your request for the readings, the Gospel reading that sprung to mind was the wedding at Cana.

1 And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3 And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine. 4 And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. 7 Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. 9 And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, 10 And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.


As you can see in the above readings it portrays a celebration, of two families coming together, a time of joy and excitement.

I'll look for more later as I'm quite busy here working away at home.
If you have any more questions about the wedding or anything in particular please dont be afraid to e-mail me for a quick and non-judgmental conversation :pac::)

Pax Christi
Stephen

marty1985

This is Corinthians 13:

I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains”but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned but if I have no love, this does me no good.

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.

When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete”as complete as God's knowledge of me.

Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.


That's a pretty nice one.

Benny_Cake

I'm pretty much a lapsed Catholic myself - but I was at a wedding recently and this was one of the readings - not one I've heard too often:

Song of Songs 2:8-10.14.16; 8:6-7
Love is strong as Death.

I hear my Beloved.
See how he comes
leaping on the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My Beloved is like a gazelle,
like a young stag.
See where he stands
behind our wall.
He looks in at the window,
he peers through the lattice.
My Beloved lifts up his voice,
he says to me,
'Come then, my love,
my lovely one, come.
My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock.
In the coverts of the cliff,
show me your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful.'

My beloved is mine and I am his.

Set me like a seal on your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is strong as Death,
jealousy relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire,
a flame of the Lord himself.
Love no flood can quench,
no torrents drown.




Very beautiful and appropriate I thought.

Piano man

Hi Helena,

first of all congratulations on getting married!

I would urge you to consider talking completely openly and honestly with a priest about anything to do with a wedding.
From your post, I can see a number of problems - this isn't me being in any way judgmental - I just want to point out a few key positions the Catholic Church has on this area.
Marriage is a Sacrament.
Missing Mass on Sunday without valid reason is a mortal sin.
The Sacrament of Marriage is linked with the Sacrament of the Eucharist because of the parallels between Jesus giving His life for His people, and the spouses giving their lives to each other.
To receive such a sacrament, one must be in a state of grace, ie no sin.

I would really encourage you to read what the Catechism has to say on Marriage - that could possibly be the best preparation you could do at the moment.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c3a7.htm#1638
Also, if you are looking for specifically Catholic answers, I would encourage you to seek an official Catholic authority, like a catechist or an apologist. Your best bet is to speak completely honestly with a priest.

I wish you all the best in your preparation for Marriage. May God bless you and your husband-to-be on your journey together!

God bless

Tea 1000

Piano man wrote: »

Missing Mass on Sunday without valid reason is a mortal sin.

This is incorrect information. Where did you get your information for this?

marty1985

Mortal sin requires full knowledge of the sinful nature of the act.

I doubt she woke up every Sunday morning with this in mind, and went to play tag rugby instead.

Whispered

Lovely readings thanks!

Piano man, I apreciate your concern, but really I am interested in getting beautiful readings for my wedding. I am aware the marriage is a sacrament, of course I am. Can we please leave the talk of going to mass or not and what it might mean for another thread.

Piano man

Piano man, I apreciate your concern, but really I am interested in getting beautiful readings for my wedding. I am aware the marriage is a sacrament, of course I am. Can we please leave the talk of going to mass or not and what it might mean for another thread.

Sure! I didn't intend to drag it off topic. I hope you get the readings you're looking for.

This is incorrect information. Where did you get your information for this?

It's actually correct information. Without going into further discussion on this thread, I'll just refer you to the Catechism article 2181 where you can read it for yourself: http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm#I

God bless:)

deckchair2010

I don't want to drag this thread off topic but regarding "Missing Mass on Sunday without valid reason is a mortal sin."

Tea 1000 wrote: »

This is incorrect information. Where did you get your information for this?

Strictly speaking, Piano man seems to be correct - kinda surprised me too. From the perspecitve of the Catholic Church, missing mass on Sunday without a "valid" reason is a grave sin.

Have a look at 2180 and 2181 here:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm

The Sunday obligation
2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118
2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

PDN

Look guys, the intention behind the OP is very clear, and she has politely requested that we keep it on topic.

I would hope that would be sufficient and that common courtesy would stop the thread continuing to go off topic without the mods having to wield their awesome superpowers.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?

And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

"Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."

Whispered

They are all really lovely.

I now have the problem of choosing one of 3 beautiful readings from the old testament Thank you.

Any suggestions for the second reading? (I'm right that first must be old testament and the second must be new right?)

Stephentlig

helena.ryan wrote: »

They are all really lovely.

I now have the problem of choosing one of 3 beautiful readings from the old testament Thank you.

Any suggestions for the second reading? (I'm right that first must be old testament and the second must be new right?)

Hi Helena, thats the right order yup, Old, New testament ( as in acts of the apostles onwards ) and then the Gospel reading.

1Cor:13:1-13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; 5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. 12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known. 13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.



Pax Christi
Stephen

marty1985

Stephentlig wrote: »

Hi Helena, thats the right order yup, Old, New testament ( as in acts of the apostles onwards ) and then the Gospel reading.

1Cor:13:1-13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; 5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. 12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known. 13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.



Pax Christi
Stephen

This is the same as the verses I already quoted, but it's interesting to see the differences in translation.

I thought every bible translation had the famous "faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love".

Stephentlig

marty1985 wrote: »

This is the same as the verses I already quoted, but it's interesting to see the differences in translation.

I thought every bible translation had the famous "faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love".

Hi Marty, this is the doauy Rheims translation, which is the first ever English translation taken directly from the Latin Vulgate ( which I also have )

It is the purest english translation one can get in english, its so simple that a child could read it and understand it, although the thees thys and thous can be a problem for some people, it is still nonetheless a very simple read.

Its my favourite translation and after It another that is also my favourite translation is the 1966 Jerusalem Bible, which is used from behind the pulpit in todays Europe at the Mass.

Pax Christi
Stephen

marty1985

I see. I live in Asia, I think someone who is learning English as a second language would have difficulty with the version you've shared. I've often thought the thee's and thou's and -eth's and things like that really put people off the bible. I don't think it was intended to be read in 17th century English or whatever, but I respect that it stops things from being mistranslated and so on. I see a lot more poetry in it in a simple English version. I've often thought that the average guy at home in Ireland would be a lot more interested to read the simple English version and find it more accessible.

Sorry for going off topic.

I've re-read the two versions of Corinthians 13 and I think the first one would sound better at a wedding. Just my opinion.

Stephentlig

marty1985 wrote: »

I see. I live in Asia, I think someone who is learning English as a second language would have difficulty with the version you've shared. I've often thought the thee's and thou's and -eth's and things like that really put people off the bible. I don't think it was intended to be read in 17th century English or whatever, but I respect that it stops things from being mistranslated and so on. I see a lot more poetry in it in a simple English version. I've often thought that the average guy at home in Ireland would be a lot more interested to read the simple English version and find it more accessible.

Sorry for going off topic.

I've re-read the two versions of Corinthians 13 and I think the first one would sound better at a wedding. Just my opinion.

Yes of course I totally agree, the translations of today suit the times and language we are currently in today. the 1966 Jerusalem Bible edition better suits this and I like it and often read it. it just so happens that the only online version of the Bible I can find online is the doauy rheims. I agree to that the translation of today would better suit the wedding reading. But for those of us who want a more pure translation we need to go back to the Latin/English doauy rheims, and to really get the meaning of what the author is trying to convey one needs to go back all the way to the greek and Hebrew.

hivizman

Stephentlig wrote: »

Yes of course I totally agree, the translations of today suit the times and language we are currently in today. the 1966 Jerusalem Bible edition better suits this and I like it and often read it. it just so happens that the only online version of the Bible I can find online is the doauy rheims.

The New Jerusalem Bible, which is a revision published in 1985 of the Jerusalem Bible, is available online at:

http://www.catholic.org/bible/

However, this quite recently updated list of online bible translations at www.life-equals-jesus.org does not list an online version of the original 1966 Jerusalem Bible in English.