The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-07-17
LITURGY OF THE NUPTIAL MASS


1t is the oft-expressed desire of the
Church that the Sacrament of Matri-
mony should be administered, in
every possible case, in connection
with the adorable sacrifice of the
Mass. The graces needed in the mar
ried state are so many that every
available means should be taken to
obtain them. The Church bestows
these blessings not only through the
Sacrament of .Matrimony itself, but
through the Holy Mass which is cele-
brated for the special benefit of the
married parties, and through the
solemn blessing which is impaired to
them, says the Providence Visitor.
AS early as the second century we
find traces of this practice. st. Evaris-
tus, Pope and martyr, ordained that
"ih accordance with apostolic tradi-
tibn, marriage should be celebrated
publicly and with the blessing of the
priest" and in the third century mar
riage with a Mass was common.
The Nuptial Mass is a Mass which
is filled with special prayers invoking
the blessing of the Almighty on those
who are entering the married state.
1t can be said on almost any day in
the year except during what is called
the CLOSED time"-Advent and the
following days until Epiphany, inclu-
sively; Lent and Easter week.
The extent of the CLOSED time" is
worthy of note. 1t sometimes hap
pens that parties contemplating mar
riage put it off until after Lent or
Advent, and begin to make arrange
ments to be married Immediately
after Christmas or Easter-not know
ing that the solemn celebration of
marriage is forbidden until Epiphany
and until Low Sunday, just as in Ad-
vent or Lent.
Why is solemn marriage at Mass
not allowed at these times? A mar
riage ceremony is an occasion of joy,
and it is the wish of the Church that
her children should not be married
with solemnity or outward pomp in
penitential seasons; and on the days
of joy which follow Advent and Lent
she desires that there should be moth
ing to distract us from the proper
observance of them.
Therefore, although the Sacrament
of Matrimony can be received at any
time, the solemnizing of it with Mass
and blessing cannot take place dur
ing the aforesaid seasons. Even the
Bishop cannot dispense from this
law.
On certain great feasts during the
year the Nuptial Mass is not said
but the Nuptial Blessing is given in
the Mass of the day and special
prayers are introduced invoking Gods
protection on the married couple.
The Church generally makes the
prayers and other variable parts OF
each Mass suitable to the nature Of
the feast which is being celebrated
or the purpose for which the Mass is
being offered; and this is we'll illus
trated in the Nuptial Mass, which is
replete with most beautiful quotations
from the Scriptures, expressing the
dignity and holiness of the matri
monial union.
After the usual prayers at the foot
of the altar, the celebrant recites the
Introit, which is taken partly from
the Bible narrative of Tobias and his
bride: May the God of Israel join
you together, and may He be with
you Who was merciful to these two.
And now, o Lord, make
them bless Thee more fully. Blessed
are all those that fear the Lord, that
walk in His ways" Then comes the
prayer: "Graciously hear us, AL
mighty and merciful God, that what
is performed by our ministry may be
aBundantly filled with Thy blessing. >
ne epistle is very appropriately
taken from the instructive teaching
of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians,
telling Of the mutual obligations oil
husbands and wives. 1t reads some
what as follows: LET women be
subject to their husbands, as to the
Lord; because the husband is the
head of the wife, as Christ is the, head
of the Church. AS the Church is
subject to Christ, SO also let wives
be to their husbands at all times
a 'teaching rather in dissonance with
the spirit of our twentieth century
Z Husbands. love your wives as Christ
loved the Church For this cause
shall man leave his father and