Schubert's Ave Maria

[Sarabande]

Found this online. Probably this is what was banned.

Wedding March from Lohengren

1. It is from an Opera (Strike One: Tra le solicitudini says this is a no-no)
2. The context in which it appears in the opera is less than savory.
3. It was prominently a part of the “Black List” for Catholic liturgy.

And then there’s this …It intertwines the musical themes of the bride (Elsa) and her lover (Lohengrin),whom she is thinking lustfully of whilst she is walking down the aisle to marry another man.

Yes, the main reason why this wouldn’t be permitted is the fact that is come from a secular work - mainly an opera.

But this part of the story bolded above is not totally accurate, at least in the opera. Elsa is totally in love with the knight (Lohengrin) and is not lusting after anyone else. The problem that occurs before the Bridal Chorus is that the enemies of Lohengrin, seeking vengeance on him for proving Elsa’s innocence in murdering her brother (who in fact was turned into a swan during a curse), plant the seeds of doubt in Elsa’s mind that Lohengrin is actually an imposter and a sorcerer. They know that the only condition Lohengrin asks of Elsa is that she promise to never inquire about his origins (he is from the temple of the Holy Grail which is a sacred and holy place). After the ceremony and alone in the bridal chamber, Elsa asks Lohengrin what his name is and his origins. By breaking her promise to him and not totally trusting in who he is, she has betrayed Lohengrin. Thus he leaves her, saying he must return to his home, never consummating the marriage and Elsa, heartbroken, dies.

Of course, I’m giving a very short synopsis, but she had in fact no eyes for any other but Lohengrin. She just didn’t have enough faith and trust in him, which was her major “sin”.