Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 8/16/2008

Question
I am trying to plan a traditional Latin mass wedding for my fiance and I. I just started to attend my fiance's church where they say the Latin mass. My parish does not and does not actually promote it. I was given a hard time by my church when I wanted the wedding in my church but with my fiance's priest so that he could say the Latin mass. More then likely the only day that we will be able to have the wedding will be on a Friday due to schedule conflicts. Only my Fiance's immediate family are traditional catholics(believe in pre-Vatican II ie. no meat on Friday). The rest of his family and all of mine are not all that religious. Should I let guests know somehow that we are going to be having a Latin mass? I feel like people might be turned off by that. What is the usual format to a traditional Latin wedding? Will I have to find alter servers as well? Are there common Latin hymns sung? Are they usually a low mass or a high mass? Since it might be on a Friday, I feel like it might be disrespectful offering meat as a dish at the reception. I would really appreciate your option. Thanks.

Answer
Hi, Johanna:
Are these serious questions, or are you just "testing" my knowledge?
Is the Priest of your fiance's church in good standing and in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI?
If your home parish is giving you a hard time about scheduling a Latin Mass for your wedding, then they are not being respectful of the Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" and need to study and become acquainted with the matter, which would hopefully lead to an overall attitude adjustment on their part.
No meat on FRI is not "Pre-Vatica II."  It is the current discipline of the Catholic Church.  No meat on FRI is required on all the Fridays of Lent; and throughout the rest of the year, when it is not observed specifically, then one must choose some other penance to perform on the day, and meditate upon the Passion and Death of the Lord Jesus Christ Who died for us on Friday.  This might be praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, or Stations of the Cross, or something like that.
It would be wise to let guests know that the Mass would be in Latin in the "Extraordinary Form" - YES.
I dunno about finding Altar Boys.  You would need to figure that out with the Priest offering the Mass and performing the Wedding Ceremony.
As for hymns, or the question of "Low Mass" and "High Mass": you will need to take up these matters with the Priest coming to carry out your wedding.
As for offering meat at the reception; it is hard to say.  One likes to imagine that Catholics know the discipline of the Church about Friday abstinence; but by your remarks in your question, it is obvious that you did not know it, and neither did those with whom you spoke.  I really wish that Catholics would take the time to "crack open" the Catechism and study more about their Catholic Faith.  Can I just encourage you to do that; and then encourage you to encourage others, and so on, and so forth?
I suppose does one serve meat with the admonition: "Now realize, since we are serving meat today on FRI, all Catholics will need to do their special duty of offering some other penance today to meditate on the Passion and Death of the Lord Jesus Christ..."?
One hopes they would know this; but it is sadly evident that so many absolutely do not.

Fr. Timothy Johnson