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Question
I am engaged to marry. Both my fiance and myself are converts from Protestantism. No one in our families is Catholic. I would like the marriage service from the 1962 missal. She thinks that would be too alienating for our low-church Protestant families and that she would in turn feel alienated from her family; they would get upset and so she would get upset. She asked if we could somehow have the marriage service from the 1962 missal but with greater use of English. Is this possible? I know the 1964 relaxations on use of Latin and other elements of the Mass allowed English and the like but I didn't know if English was allowed now. I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on our situation and whether or not English is allowed to be used more freely in the marriage rite and whether we should use it.
Thanks,
Adam
Hi, Adam:
Thanks for the question.
Perhaps we can begin with a distinction between the 1962 Altar Missal itself for the celebration of Mass, and the Marriage Ritual that can take place outside of Mass. My understanding is that historically, back in the days of the late 1950s, or at least by 1960, the Ritual of Marriage and other Sacraments could be done almost in their entirety in English in the USA.
Maybe the question to ask and get an answer to, that might help in your situation would be to consider having the celebration of your wedding Mass itself in the new form in English, and with the Marriage Ritual within that Mass done according to the "Rituale Romanum", the English text of which is available in what was published back in the day uner the title "The English Ritual."
There are nice elements in the Rite, such as a nice prepared homily and exhortation; the wording of the vows themselves with the exchange of rings; and the Priest placing his stole around your joined hands with the words: "Ego conjungo vos in matrimonium". The English translation of that included some "legal" aspects and sacramental theology that made it longer. Perhaps the Priest could say both the Latin formula, followed immediately by the English formula?
I hope that you can find a good, pastoral Priest who will be able to work with you in a kind and caring manner without being dismissive, arrogant and hateful toward the older form of the Roman Ritual.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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