Catholic Wedding Ceremony

With more than a billion Catholics the world over, Catholicism is one of the most prevalent religions across the globe. Christianity revolves around the Seven Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Holy Orders, and last but certainly not the least, Marriage. According to a number of practicing Catholics, marriage is a gift from God, which should not be taken for granted. A marriage is looked upon as a public declaration of love and commitment, which is made in front of friends and family in a church ceremony. A Catholic wedding ceremony largely varies from each church to another, but often is a simple ceremony, which incorporates traditional Catholic elements and Scriptural readings. To plan a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony, you will have to take quite a few things like Catholic wedding ceremony music, etc. into consideration, before you plan your Catholic wedding ceremony program.

Traditional Catholic Wedding Ceremony

Here is a step-by-step guide, which will guide you to plan a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony program.

The Procession
It begins with a procession of the celebrant (the priest), wedding attendants, the bride and groom entering the church. The groom with the best man often enters before the bride through the side entrance and waits for the bride near the approach to the altar. Then the bridesmaids and groomsmen escort one another up the aisle, followed by the maid of honor, who enters alone. The bride enters last with her father or another male family member making a grand entrance and is escorted till the approach to the altar.

Hymn, Greeting Prayer
The priest greets the community present and invokes blessings of God upon the couple, those gathered, and the event. Then there is the Penitential Rite, which consists of a communal prayer for forgiveness and mercy, which is followed by a prayer or song called the Gloria.

The Liturgy of the Word
This is a series of readings from the Bible, namely first from the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), then Psalm in word or song, which is then followed by a reading from the New Testament. This is an opportunity to include those people, who couldn't squeeze into your bridal party and ask them to read from the Old Testament and New Testament. The readings, typically selected by the couple, comment on the nature of love, marriage, commitment and family.

Gospel and Homily
The priest will read a passage from one of the first four books of the New Testament, which are written by the apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After the reading of the Gospel, the priest will reflect up on the passage he just read from the New Testament. The priest may also give a homily on marriage and the union of the bride and groom.

The Marriage Rite
This is very typically the longest portion of the ceremony, which begins with the exchanging of vows and of rings. There are three choices about the vows, which are; you can either memorize and recite the vows to one another; read the vows from the book or have the priest read them and you respond with "I Do". In some churches, it is possible to write down your own vows or add a couple of lines to the traditional lines. After exchanging of the vows, you will exchange rings and the priest will bless them as a symbols of your love and fidelity.

Nuptial Blessing and Sign of Peace
The Mass will then continue with prayers for the newlyweds, for the community and for others who may be mentioned by name upon a request from the couple. The guests and wedding party exchange a sign of peace, by shaking hands and may also say "Peace be with you". Some people may also hug as a sign of peace.

Communion
It is also known as "Eucharist". Bread and wine, which signifies the body and blood of Christ, is blessed and the congregation joins together in praying the Lord's prayer. The members of the church may also be given communion.

The Concluding Rite
The entire congregation will now say a prayer in unison, which is followed by a dismissal and a final recessional from the church. The priest may dismiss the congregation by saying, "This mass has ended. You may now go in peace". The recession is in the reverse order of the procession.

This was the way a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony is conducted. However, these days Catholic wedding ceremony without mass is a normal practice, as it is the personal choice of the couple to have a mass or no. Even if one of the partners is a non-Catholic, such a ceremony can take place.