The bridge section is quite problematic. "Do you believe in something that you've never seen before" is about the weakest possible expression of faith.

For people who like that kind of thing, this is the kind of thing they like.

Considering stuff like "O Promise Me" and "Because," I'd take "The Wedding Song" any day over those.

But if it really bugs you, I think the best way to get away from using things like that is to have really strong suggestions for alternatives. Since you're not the music director and only get so much say, I think that's a better approach. I would let it go otherwise.

I used to have good luck with this sort of thing by distinguishing "church songs" from "radio songs."

I used to have good luck with this sort of thing by distinguishing "church songs" from "radio songs."

That's a good distinction to make. Many don't know the difference, which makes me wonder if they even go to church, or where.

I used to have good luck with this sort of thing by distinguishing "church songs" from "radio songs."

In this case, though, it's not that clear cut... this is a bad church song, not simply a radio song. It was, in fact, written for "Peter Yarrow['s wedding] to Mary Beth McCarthy at St Mary's Catholic Church in Willmar MN: ... October 18, 1969."

The words are pretty poetry, but bad philosophy or theology, or both.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love, there is Love.

A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning is now and til the end
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is Love, there is Love.

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
And if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh there is Love, there is Love.

Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
There is Love, there is Love.

The song is a confused message.

It contains expressions such as "union of your spirits" and "marriage of your spirits" which, as far as I know, are not part of Catholic thought. What would they possibly mean? First, the song seems to say that when two or three gather together, there is a union of spirits which causes Christ to become present. But whatever that is, that's not related to marriage. He didn't say, I will be there whenever two fiances are gathered in my name. No, he promised to be there when two or three of his disciples gather. Does this mean that we're having accidental marriages whenever a bunch of us meet for prayer?

And what about three? He did promise to be present where three are gathered together: can three people marry? This could be an exciting new development!

No, the presence of Christ among assembled believers is not specifically about marriage. And since the whole song is centered on that idea, it really is not expressing anything that makes sense in a Catholic context.

can three people marry? This could be an exciting new development!

Is there an application and a fee to sign up for this? My VISA is...

Noel, are you using dial-up?
There must have been line interference
because we didnt get the VISA number.
Please resend.

And the name of the third party.

Well, rather than cause waves, I decided to write to our Office of Worship, the Director of which is Fr. Jonathan Gaspar for my Archdiocese. He says this falls under bad but "allowable," and that there is call for flexibility with couples in the preparation for marriage. I am not the music director so I am okay not pushing it if there is nothing that the Office of Worship sees as particularly inappropriate for the Mass.

HOWEVER, what I did immediately correct is the issue of having "I Have Loved You" as the Responsorial Psalm. I went to give them all of the Nuptial Mass texts for the Psalm and then realized their wedding date, April 11, falls during the Octave of Easter and is therefore required to use the Mass of the Day.

I may need to start a new thread for this, but now I have questions because I have never done a wedding within the Octave.

There is only one reading assigned. I am assuming this means they are not allowed to proclaim the second reading they have already chosen. Is this correct?

How does the structure of the Mass change from a typical Nuptial Mass? My understanding is that it it a normal Mass with the Nuptial Blessing inserted. Yes?

If you're not the music director of the parish, why are you dealing with the selection of readings? Are you the wedding coordinator?

I'm not really dealing with the selection of the readings. This whole thing came about because I was helping her select the psalm and realized there was no choice, so I sent her all of the assigned readings. Naturally, she had some questions. I told her to check in with the priest, but answered what I could.

The Easter Sequence, as I understand it, may be sung on any of the days of the Easter Octave. I'm not sure where the recommendation for this resides, but I'm certain I have seen it somewhere.

This is rather confusing, but it sounds as though the bride has the option of including a New Testament reading from the Ritual Mass especially considering only one reading from Acts is assigned. Is that what people are getting from this?

Again, this isn't really my responsibility, but I'd like to understand it (for future reference) and provide as much assistance and information as possible.

Here's a bit of music trivia pertinent to this thread: The "Wedding Song" in question was written by Noel Paul Stookey for the wedding of Peter Yarrow at the CATHOLIC Church of St. Mary in Willmar, Minnesota, where I served as Director of Worship and Music straight out of college. My immediate predecessor was...(wait for it)...Fr. Anthony Ruff, pre-OSB. (That wedding occurred well before my time and his.) :-)