Novus Ordo wedding in Latin?

[Doeadeer]

Hi,

I’m Catholic, and marrying a Catholic. We’ve both decided we want a Latin-language mass, but my future husband and I both feel far more drawn to the scriptural readings and blessing available in the Novus Ordo than those proscribed in the Tridentine rite of marriage. We still, however, like the more traditional aspects of the Tridentine. I’ve never been to a Latin Novus Ordo nuptial mass, and I’ve found very little information online. What is it like? Is it true that the priest can face the alter during NO and that the Latin responses of the congregation can be spoken by a cantor (many of our families are not Catholic, and we just like the cantor format)? We’d like to have a ceremony as close to the Tridentine as possible, with the readings that we have a real spiritual connection to–what are our best options? Will the new missal make any plans we make now obsolete?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TheMc]

Hi,

I’m Catholic, and marrying a Catholic. We’ve both decided we want a Latin-language mass, but my future husband and I both feel far more drawn to the scriptural readings and blessing available in the Novus Ordo than those proscribed in the Tridentine rite of marriage. We still, however, like the more traditional aspects of the Tridentine. I’ve never been to a Latin Novus Ordo nuptial mass, and I’ve found very little information online. What is it like? Is it true that the priest can face the alter during NO and that the Latin responses of the congregation can be spoken by a cantor (many of our families are not Catholic, and we just like the cantor format)? We’d like to have a ceremony as close to the Tridentine as possible, with the readings that we have a real spiritual connection to–what are our best options? Will the new missal make any plans we make now obsolete?

Thanks in advance!

You can still do as much or as little of the Mass in latin as you want. Here are some other options:
Everything Chanted, no hymns
Priest ad orientem (facing in the same direction as the people)
Altar rail usage for communion
Priest wearing sweet vestments, including maniple and biretta
Chalice veil and burse being used
Bells being rung
I’m sure there’s many more

 

[Phemie]

You can still do as much or as little of the Mass in latin as you want. Here are some other options:
Everything Chanted, no hymns
Priest ad orientem (facing in the same direction as the people)
Altar rail usage for communion
Priest wearing sweet vestments, including maniple and biretta
Chalice veil and burse being used
Bells being rung
I’m sure there’s many more

First you have to find a priest willing to celebrate ad orientem and in Latin.

Then find a cantor who knows the Antiphons.

Then you have to find a parish with sweet vestments. In one like mine you won’t even find an amice, forget about a maniple and biretta.

It might be simpler just to go to an EF parish.

 

[ProVobis]

Will the new missal make any plans we make now obsolete?

Only if you plan to incorporate any English text into the Mass. The new missal won’t affect the Latin, if you’re planning to do the wedding in a Latin OF environment.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Hi,

I’m Catholic, and marrying a Catholic. We’ve both decided we want a Latin-language mass, but my future husband and I both feel far more drawn to the scriptural readings and blessing available in the Novus Ordo than those proscribed in the Tridentine rite of marriage. We still, however, like the more traditional aspects of the Tridentine. I’ve never been to a Latin Novus Ordo nuptial mass, and I’ve found very little information online. What is it like? Is it true that the priest can face the alter during NO and that the Latin responses of the congregation can be spoken by a cantor (many of our families are not Catholic, and we just like the cantor format)? We’d like to have a ceremony as close to the Tridentine as possible, with the readings that we have a real spiritual connection to–what are our best options? Will the new missal make any plans we make now obsolete?

Thanks in advance!

Depending on your location, this may not be possible, as you need to have a priest who can say the OF in Latin, and a cantor who can do the Latin. Most Catholics in the US have never attended an OF done in Latin, usually they are only in the larger cities or some religious orders may do them. That is probably why you can’t find much information on nuptial Masses. My bet is that OF weddings done in Latin are as rare as hen’s teeth.

I hope you can arrange to have one. It would be lovely.

 

[Sarabande]

As others have said, you’ll need to find a priest willing to do a Latin OF and a cantor who will know the responses in Latin as well. At my former parish, it did a Latin OF mass every other week with a choir and cantor. It was basically everything you’d see at an OF in the vernacular, but in Latin. We’d chant the responses in Latin and had booklets containing the Latin on one side and the English on the other as well as the chants with the music. The cantor would usually just bring everyone in, but the choir would actually be the ones leading the rest of the congregation. The parishioners would participate since it has been part of this parish for a few decades.

The readings and homily would be in English, of course. Today you might have an easier time finding a priest who can do this as I know a few younger priests who have taken special courses, etc. to learn it. When I was married in 2003, that wasn’t the case, so we had the mass in English, but used the Latin chants for the memorial acclamations, Pater Noster and then a Palestrina Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei. (Priest allowed us to have the Kyrie and Gloria). Along with that most of the rest of the music was in Latin.

One thing that was helpful was that we had all of the Latin and translations in our wedding program in case any of our guests would want to chant with our choir (we had no cantor, although a soloist to sing the solo part in the Mozart “Laudate Dominum” and the Faure “Ave Maria” and to chant the psalm. My little, adorable music students were there singing the chants at the tops of their lungs along with a few others, but we didn’t expect that most of the Catholics in our family and friends would remember or be familiar.

When I’ve been hired to sing for a wedding in which the couple is more traditional, they have not been able to get an OF in Latin, but would just do what I did for my wedding - chanted acclamations, Pater Noster, other vocal music in Latin.

All the best to you and congratulations!!!

 

[Doeadeer]

This is so good to hear! God has really blessed us as far as resources go. We’re in a big city, and my fiance has a lot of friends in a sacred music program here since we’re both music teachers, and we have a priest here whos at a parish that’s very friendly to all kinds of Latin is learning both rites. We wanted to have the wedding in my home parish, so I guess we’ll just have to ask around and find out if that’s possible. If not, it won’t be the end of the world. Thanks so much everybody!

 

[Digitonomy]

Only if you plan to incorporate any English text into the Mass. The new missal won’t affect the Latin, if you’re planning to do the wedding in a Latin OF environment.

Actually, the new missal does affect the Latin, although I think the changes are fairly small. One example would be the dismissal. In any case, the new missal has already been in effect for a few years, so there is no cause for the OP to worry, since the changes were already made.

 

[thistle]

Actually, the new missal does affect the Latin, although I think the changes are fairly small. One example would be the dismissal. In any case, the new missal has already been in effect for a few years, so there is no cause for the OP to worry, since the changes were already made.

Sorry but I’m confused. As far as I know the new missal is not due out until later this year. I also don’t see how the Latin would be affecetd since the new missal is simply a better and more accurate English translation from the Latin.

 

[Digitonomy]

Sorry but I’m confused. As far as I know the new missal is not due out until later this year. I also don’t see how the Latin would be affecetd since the new missal is simply a better and more accurate English translation from the Latin.

The new missal everyone is talking about is the third edition of the missal for the Novus Ordo. In Latin, it went into use in 2002, and was amended in 2008 (I think); in English it is set to go into use this year in most places.

 

[Te_Deum]

Maybe you should look into the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate who offer both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms and may be willing to accommodate you as regards the Latin OF.

However… I don’t know if Religious do do the Sacrament of Matrimony. I’ve never heard of them doing so before. I am sure someone will come along with the right information.

 

[Digitonomy]

However… I don’t know if Religious do do the Sacrament of Matrimony. I’ve never heard of them doing so before. I am sure someone will come along with the right information.

Religious priests can certainly witness the sacrament and celebrate the matrimonial mass. However, typically a wedding is to be celebrated at a parish church. Having an outside priest come in and do this requires the permission of the pastor. Not usually a problem if there is some good reason to do so, like if the priest is a family friend. Having the wedding at another location, like a seminary chapel or abbey, etc can also be done, but it also requires permission, and I think it’s a little less common.

 

[thistle]

The new missal everyone is talking about is the third edition of the missal for the Novus Ordo. In Latin, it went into use in 2002, and was amended in 2008 (I think); in English it is set to go into use this year in most places.

But how does that affect the Latin. It does not change. What is due out this year is not a revised Latin missal but a revised English translation (better and more accurate) of the Latin.

 

[Phemie]

But how does that affect the Latin. It does not change. What is due out this year is not a revised Latin missal but a revised English translation (better and more accurate) of the Latin.

There were some changes to the Latin Missal or they wouldn’t have issued a third edition. I thought, though, that those changes affected the Propers of Saints rather than the Ordinary.

 

[Kielbasi]

The difficult part of your plan will be finding a priest that is able to say mass in Latin and is available for the duty.

A lot of priests, probably most, just don’t have the language skills needed to do what you ask.

This choice might cost you more monetarily as well as cut down on your choices on where and when you can have your wedding.

 

[MarkThompson]

There were some changes to the Latin Missal or they wouldn’t have issued a third edition. I thought, though, that those changes affected the Propers of Saints rather than the Ordinary.

There were various changes, such as the solemn prayers over the people, the addition of three dismissal formulae, the restored Pentecost vigil, and some other things. By and large they are not changes a pew-dweller would ever notice, but it’s definitely more than just the addition of saints.