Wedding Psalm

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Therese18

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My fiancé and I are having a hard time choosing the psalm for our wedding. We’ve got a couple more- traditional ones on the table, but we’re kind of wondering if Matt Redman’s song 10,000 Reasons would be appropriate. It’s based off Psalm 103.

Thoughts?
 
I don’t know that one, but years ago we used Psalm 128:

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.”

Ironically, since then, it’s become a Quiverfull anthem (like Psalm 127).

But we got it first.

We also wanted Ephesians 5 and Ruth 1: "…where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; 17 where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you” but I’m not sure what we actually used.
 
Xantippe said:
I don’t know that one, but years ago we used Psalm 128:

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.”

Ironically, since then, it’s become a Quiverfull anthem (like Psalm 127).

But we got it first.

We also wanted Ephesians 5 and Ruth 1: "…where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; 17 where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you” but I’m not sure what we actually used.
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Yes, this one is commonly sung. “Blest Are Those Who Love You” is the octavo.

For the second one Xan mentions, there is a song called the Covenant Hymn which we had at our wedding for the Offertory hymn. Really great lyrics. Gather hymnal.

As Music Director for over 25 years, I’m not fond of replacing actual psalms with “sort of like” psalms. the psalm is an important part of the Liturgy of the Word. You can likely find the psalm you want in a lovely setting if you just ask around.
 
pianistclare said:
As Music Director for over 25 years, I’m not fond of replacing actual psalms with “sort of like” psalms. the psalm is an important part of the Liturgy of the Word. You can likely find the psalm you want in a lovely setting if you just ask around.
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Is the difference between “psalmish” and an actual psalm like the difference between “orange drink” and orange juice? Or “grape drink” and grape juice?
 
Therese18 said:
My fiancé and I are having a hard time choosing the psalm for our wedding. We’ve got a couple more- traditional ones on the table, but we’re kind of wondering if Matt Redman’s song 10,000 Reasons would be appropriate. It’s based off Psalm 103.

Thoughts?
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A song would not be appropriate or allowed. I found this site very helpful in choosing the readings (including responsorial psalm) for our wedding.
 
Farley4334 said:
A song would not be appropriate or allowed. I found this site very helpful in choosing the readings (including responsorial psalm) for our wedding.
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Not exactly true. The church allows for a song (hymn) that very much employs the text of the original psalm, but that’s really if you don’t HAVE a setting for a particular psalm (which is a pretty non-existent reason).

That’s what I was getting at. If a person has a favorite Psalm, there are likely at least 5 or 6 settings of it (different musical styles or forms) to choose from if you just look. Or have your Music Director look. I too, dislike the practice of just “subbing” a song for the Psalm. This is not what the Church intends. They have specific ones for a reason, just as they do the specific readings that apply on any given day. They are part of the complete teaching.
It is allowed, but not encouraged, despite some “progressive” music directors out there. 😉
Our director has a book of pieces to sub with, and she regularly does. I dislike it immensely. When I was the Director at another parish, I never subbed. We were able to do the psalms exactly as written for every occasion. It’s not that hard. And they were lovely. It can be abused. Some priests indeed, do not allow it in their parishes, which is their call.
 
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal
  1. …
    In the Dioceses of the United States of America, instead of the Psalm assigned in the Lectionary, there may be sung either the Responsorial Gradual from the Graduale Romanum, or the Responsorial Psalm or the Alleluia Psalm from the Graduale Simplex, as described in these books, or an antiphon and Psalm from another collection of Psalms and antiphons, including Psalms arranged in metrical form, providing that they have been approved by the Conference of Bishops or the Diocesan Bishop. Songs or hymns may not be used in place of the Responsorial Psalm.
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I’d post this on the Liturgy and Sacraments forum if you want advice on what is liturgically correct. That is where the true experts log in.

If you want to know what is practically possible for your wedding at your church, ask your pastor who you talk to about music selections and so on. Each bishop has his own policies and each pastor has the right to appoint someone to enact their bishop’s policies for application in his parish, so the exact boundaries will vary.

Another reason to talk to a parish music leader is that he or she can help you find wonderful music, including some you probably did not know existed. It’s like talking to a pharmacist–they know so much! If you have the opportunity to pick the brain of an experienced someone whose opinions are worthy of respect, do it! If you know someone, ask him or her for ideas. Most will be thrilled to be asked. It is a refreshing change from just being told to do Pachelbel’s Canon in D and a list from the other ten or twelve most popular wedding pieces yet one more time!
 
EasterJoy said:
I’d post this on the Liturgy and Sacraments forum if you want advice on what is liturgically correct. That is where the true experts log in.

If you want to know what is practically possible for your wedding at your church, ask your pastor who you talk to about music selections and so on. Each bishop has his own policies and each pastor has the right to appoint someone to enact their bishop’s policies for application in his parish, so the exact boundaries will vary.

Another reason to talk to a parish music leader is that he or she can help you find wonderful music, including some you probably did not know existed. It’s like talking to a pharmacist–they know so much! If you have the opportunity to pick the brain of an experienced someone whose opinions are worthy of respect, do it! If you know someone, ask him or her for ideas. Most will be thrilled to be asked. It is a refreshing change from just being told to do Pachelbel’s Canon in D and a list from the other ten or twelve most popular wedding pieces yet one more time!
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Wow. Some of us have over 25 years experience, thanks.
I can post the same reply in the Liturgy forum, I guess. :rolleyes:
 
pianistclare said:
Wow. Some of us have over 25 years experience, thanks.
I can post the same reply in the Liturgy forum, I guess. :rolleyes:
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I did not mean that you have no experience, but that you are not the expected norm here at the Family forum. Having someone like you posting on the Family forum is more or less a stroke of luck, since most of us here have nothing like your experience level. In contrast, you have probably been on the Liturgy and Sacraments forum. It is the CA forum where questions about weddings and marriage are usually posted and therefore where the most people with expertise up to yours are the most likely to check in.

It is kind of like coming here to ask a question about annulments. It is not hard to find someone here who has been through the annulment process or been through the process of putting on their own wedding. This is a great place to ask about personal experiences of laypeople who have been through those things. If you want an answer from a trained liturgist, professional church musician, or a canon lawyer, though, it is far more likely that you will find them at the L&S forum.
 
Okay, thanks. I’ll talk to the priest.

I had always seen a lot of wedding questions on this forum, so that’s why I posted here.
 
Aren’t there specific psalms assigned to each of the OT readings suggested in the Rite?
 
Phemie said:
Aren’t there specific psalms assigned to each of the OT readings suggested in the Rite?
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In the Lectionary for the Mass, the various readings for the conferral of the sacrament of marriage are in separate sections (Old Testament, New Testament, Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia verse, and Gospel) and are not cross-referenced to each other. Presumably these are always chosen by the presiding priest or deacon (or at least are chosen under his supervision), who was taught in seminary how to make those choices in a liturgically-appropriate way.

I’m not suggesting you would dream of doing this, but you don’t just hand the priest or deacon what you want and inform him that he’s doing what you have chosen, after all! You may as well “inform” him what his plans will be on the day you have chosen for your wedding. The lectionary is written with that understanding in mind, I am sure. It is assumed that the combination of readings will ultimately require the approval of trained clergy.
 
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