Sacred Music for the Sacrament of Marriage
The dignity of the marriage ceremony requires music that is sacred and ritually appropriate. Many different forms of music and musical accompaniment can be worthy of this task. The parish employs several liturgical musicians & cantors; therefore, ordinarily, no outside musicians are permitted to play during weddings. Contact the Parish Music Director, Maria MacAnulty to plan the music for your wedding: (610) 636-4557. The Church offers three criteria for liturgical music that can be applied to your choice of wedding music.
Is it prayerful? The purpose of any Catholic liturgy, including a wedding liturgy, is to give glory to God and to sanctify (make holy) the worshipers. Your wedding music should reflect that purpose; in other words, it should help the assembly to pray and to give thanks to God for your marriage. The criteria of prayerfulness is one reason why popular music—including some of the "classic" wedding marches taken from secular operas—is often not permitted.
Is it accessible? In other words, will the assembly be able to sing along? In Catholic worship, the assembly (everyone attending the wedding) is not an audience, passively watching events unfold at the altar. Catholic liturgy calls on the assembly to actively participate in the prayer of the Church, including its sung prayer. Doing so is one of the most powerful ways your friends and family can express their love and support for you and your spouse.
Is it beautiful? Beauty is a window onto the divine (Catechism #32), so it is not surprising that the Church calls for the music used in its worship to be beautiful. This criterion is obviously somewhat subjective, depending on personal tastes and local culture. Whether your music is beautiful or not may depend less on the particular selection than on the skill of the musicians who sing or play it. A hymn that seemed ho-hum the first time you heard it in church might have great potential in the right hands.
Below is a list of suggested hymns that our parish community knows and frequently sings at weddings. You may use this list as a guide. If you care to make other selections, if there is a specific song you would like included, or if you need other help with the music selections, please discuss this with the music ministry.
The Mass Acclamations: Alleluia, Holy, Great Amen and Lamb of God are chosen by the Director of Music Ministry.
PRELUDE (Pick One)
Love Goes On Farrell
Bridal Prayer Copeland
With This Ring Copeland
God is Love Leigh
Love has Come Maher
Where There is Love Haas
When Love is Found Waly
Where Love is Found Schutte
The Prayer Bocelli
A Mother's Prayer Dion
ENTRANCE PROCESSION (Pick One)
Air Handel
Air on the G String Bach
Spring from “Water Music” Handel
Canon in D Pachelbel
Hymne Vangelis
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Bach
Ode to Joy Beethhoven
Trumpet Voluntary Purcell
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Pick One)
All I Ask Norbet
Psalm 24 I Have Loved You
Psalm 33 The Lord Fills the Earth with His Love
Psalm 34 Taste & See
Psalm 103 The Lord is Kind & Merciful
Psalm 118 This is the Day the Lord Has Made
Psalm 128 Blest are Those Who Love You
Psalm 128 O Blessed are Those
Psalm 128 May Your Lives Be Blest
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS HYMN (Pick One)
Lord of All Hopefulness Slane
Love One Another Dufford
Morning has Broken Bunessan
Prayer of St Francis Temple
Servant Song McGargill
The Gift of Love Hopson
Wherever You Go Haas
COMMUNION HYMN (Pick One)
Behold the Lamb Willett
Come Share the Lord Leech
God’s Holy Gifts Schutte
How Beautiful Paris
I am the Bread of Life Toolan
I am the Living Bread Haas
I Received the Living God anon
One Bread One Body Foley
One Love Released Frenzel/Keil
Panis Angelicus Franck
Taste and See Moore
The Supper of the Lord Rosania
Where True Love Abides Norbet
PRESENTATION TO THE BLESSED MOTHER (Optional)
Ave Maria Bach/Gounod
Ave Maria Schubert
Hail Mary Gentle Women Landry
Lady of Knock Stovall
RECESSIONAL (Pick One)
Hornpipe Handel
Ode to Joy Beethoven
Rondeau Mouret
Trumpet Tune Purcell
Trumpet Voluntary Clarke
Te Deum Fanfare Charpentier