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Question
Dear Fr. Johnson,
A friend of mine is engaged to be married and would like to be married over the Christmas Season. Their parish instructed them that the marriage must take place on a Saturday and so they chose Saturday, January 1st. Now the parish is saying that they can't be married on a Holy Day of Obligation. Is this accurate? To add to the confusion is that the Solemnity of Mary seems to be one of those "floating holy days" which the varies from diocese to diocese. We actually live the the diocese of Portland, Maine. Thank you for all your help!
Hi, Meg:
Thanks for the question.
The ritual for Marriage itself actually most highly recommends SUNDAY as one of the best and appropriate days for the liturgical celebration of Marriage; however, Sundays, much like Holy Days of Obligation, are almost never used in pastoral practice for a variety of reasons. I can suggest that among the reasons that Marriages are not scheduled on these days is because of the practical consideration that Priests are allowed by Canon Law to celebrate only so many Masses on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation (the number is 3); in addition, the Parish Priest is obligated to provide sufficient scheduled celebrations of Mass on these days in order to reasonably accomodate Parishioners so that they have the opportunity to attend Mass. The situation in pastoral practice is further complicated by the fact that the overwhelming majority of couples (along with their families) wish to have a special Mass that will be a big show production for their own "personal/private" celebration of a wedding within the context of a Mass for more "ceremony."
You put these two factors together, and it becomes crystal clear as to why the typical parish not only "will not" but "cannot" schedule a Wedding Mass in the circumstances you describe. It would really be something that some day a couple and their family would actually look at a Wedding Mass as an actual "community" celebration within their parish; and they would opt to simply come to a regular Sunday Mass, dressed nicely and modestly for the Mass(as we really always ought to be anyway), and have it arranged to simply have bride and bridegroom, along with the required two witnesses come forward at the appropriate time (most likely after the Homily), and have their exchange of vows and blessing. Now you and I know that "this ain't ever going to actually happen" in the current state of American culture; but, "there you have it..."
I don't know why the Parish in question ONLY celebrates Wedding Masses on SAT, but, if we were to investigate why, they most likely have pretty good pastoral and practical reasons. We have to be real careful not to get into a whiney, infantile tizzy-fit over these sort of thiings... what OUGHT to be MOST IMPORTANT is the lawful and valid Sacramental celebration of Marriage, so that the graces of this holy Sacrament can help the couple live as better and holier Catholics, along with their familes...
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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