When considering music for your Nuptial Mass, we can use three judgements to help us determine the appropriateness of any given musical composition. They are: the Liturgical Judgement, the Musical Judgement, and the Pastoral Judgement.
The Liturgical Judgement - Liturgy refers to the action of the people who have gathered together to worship. The focus of any liturgical celebration varies from season to season, from Sunday to Sunday. But in the case of a wedding ceremony, it's pretty clear what everyone has come together to celebrate!
However, it's important to remember that a Catholic wedding ceremony is not just about the couple getting married. The community gathers to celebrate the sacrament of your marriage, and any sacramental celebration belongs to the entire church.
Music should be chosen that doesn't just refer to the love that a husband and wife share for each other, but also acknowledges how the love of Jesus Christ will shape their love into something much greater than it could ever be on its own.
The Musical Judgement - This is probably the most subjective of the three factors. Who's to decide if a particular piece of music is good or not. What criteria are used to justify whether a musical composition is well written or not?
Probably, one of the best questions you could ask to determine if a piece of music passes this test is, "Is it likely that this song will still be around twenty, thirty, or forty years from now?" Good music stands the test of time, regardless of style. Pick music that won't have you cringing when you watch you wedding videos on your twenty-fifth anniversary.
The Pastoral Judgement - Simply put, will the music help the congregation to pray. Remember that prayer can take many forms and isn't always solemn and somber. But if music is helping us to pray, it should always be drawing our hearts and minds beyond the things of this world to what is truly important. The music chosen should also allow opportunities for the people gathered to participate in the singing. Remember that a Catholic wedding Mass isn't a concert.
Following these three judgements will help you to choose music that is beautiful and appropriate for your wedding celebration. Your parish musician and priest will be able to provide further insight into Catholic wedding songs and their use in the liturgy.
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Want an overview of how music is used in Catholic weddings? Read my other articles for more info!