Your Wedding Music: Ceremony Options

Gloria (new in 2010, within Mass only)

A musical setting of the Gloria that is locally familiar, and that invites all gathered to sing a short repetitive refrain and the cantor singing the verses, is the most hospitable and effective for weddings.
 

Responsorial Psalm

A responsorial psalm is sung by the cantor after the First Reading, with the congregation singing a brief response. Please choose a psalm from among those listed in the scripture section of your marriage preparation planning guide (33, 34, 103, 112, 128, 145, or 148); the music director will choose an appropriate musical setting.
 

Alleluia and Verse

The Alleluia and Verse (familiar parish setting) are sung by the cantor and the congregation before the Gospel reading.

Celebrating Matrimony: Acclamation after the Reception of Consent

" After the priest receives the couples’ consent, he invites a response from the congregation'" (OCM 65), saying, “Let us bless the Lord.”  All may say “Thanks be to God” or sing a short acclamation of praise and thanksgiving to God (examples below).  A simple, direct option is simply to repeat the same "Alleluia" used before the Gospel.

• Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices.

• Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord, alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his Name.

• Al-le-luia, a--lleluia (end of ‘For All the Saints’).

• Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, allelu--ia (end of ‘All Creatures of Our God and King’)

• Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation

• Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days; many are the blessings he bears to those who trust in his ways.

• You are all we have.  You give us what we need.  Our lives are in your hands, O Lord, our lives are in your hands.

• Lord of all, to you we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise. (end of ‘For the Beauty of the Earth’)

• Blessed be the Name of the Lord, blessed be Your Name; blessed be the Name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious Name.  (CCLI Song #3798438, “Blessed Be Your Name”)

• Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul; worship (God’s) holy name. Sing like never before,  O my soul; I’ll worship Your holy name.  (CCLI Song #6016351, “10,000 Reasons”)

Celebrating Matrimony: Hymn/Canticle of Praise after the Giving of Rings (optional)

After the exchange of rings, “a hymn or canticle of praise may be sung by the whole community”. (OCM 68)

God, in the Planning, Bell/SLANE - verses 1 and 4

Hear Us Now, Our God and Father Huxold, Newton  verses 1 and 3 (HYFRYDOL; words also fit HYMN TO JOY)

God of Love, Embrace Your People, Chepponis/HYMN TO JOY (words also fit HYFRYDOL) - all verses

Alternatively, this may also be an appropriate time for couples to present flowers in honor of and in prayer to the Blessed Mother and/or the Holy Family, accompanied by a hymn or canticle of praise sung by the whole community.

Holy Is Your Name, Haugen (Canticle of Mary)

Ave Maria, Kantor

Mary, First Among Believers, Delores Dufner, OSB  (1, 3, 5)

My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness (Canticle of Mary)

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman

Salve Regina

Sing of Mary, Pure and Lowly

Immaculate Mary
 

Presentation/Preparation of Gifts (Mass only - congregational songs)

Love Is the Sunlight, Borghild Jacobson/BUNESSAN

Lord of All Hopefulness, Struther/SLANE

God, in the Planning, Bell/SLANE

The Servant Song, Gillard

When Love Is Found, Wren/O WALY WALY

Hear Us Now, Our God and Father/HYFRYDOL (words also fit HYMN TO JOY)
 

Presentation/Preparation of Gifts (Mass only - vocal solos)

“Vocalists may sing alone during the Preparation of the Gifts or after Communion.” (STL 221)

When Love Is Found (Brian Wren) 

Wherever You Go (David Haas)

God, in the Planning, Bell/ SLANE

Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels (Smith/Joncas)

Love Is the Sunlight, Borghild Jacobson/ BUNESSAN

Set Me As a Seal, Paul Melley (scroll down songlist; based on Song of Songs scripture)

The Gift of Love (Hal H. Hopson)

Walk with Them, Lord (Don Besig)
 

Presentation/Preparation of Gifts (Mass only - instrumental music)

Instrumental music may also be appropriate in order to balance the amount and use of sung music elsewhere in the liturgy.

Holy, Mystery of Faith, Amen, Lamb of God (Mass only)
 

A musically unified, locally known Mass setting in English (e.g., the same setting as the Gloria) is the most conducive to “full, conscious, active” congregational participation.

 
Distribution of Holy Communion (Mass only)

The purpose of the Communion chant is “to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices . . . and to bring out more clearly the ‘communitarian’ character of the procession to receive the Eucharist.” (GIRM 86) “Because the Communion chant expresses the unity of those processing and receiving the Holy Sacrament, communal singing is commendable. The singing of the people should be preeminent.” (STL 189) “Vocalists may sing alone . . . after Communion. Soloists should not usurp parts of the Mass designated for congregational participation.”  (STL 221)

Live in Charity and Steadfast Love, Berthier (sung in Latin: "Ubi caritas")

Eat This Bread, Berthier

One Bread, One Body, Foley

Taste and See, Moore

We Have Been Told, Haas

Gift of Finest Wheat, Kreutz

​​​​​​​Table of Plenty, Schutte