Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Note from the Lectionary

Readings are presented in pairings. These are suggestions only. Any other suitable pairing may be used, and readings should be chosen with care, having regard to the pastoral needs of the occasion.

Notes

In the first column a number of sigla are used to indicate information about the readings and to suggest a clear way of indicating each reading during preparation for the wedding. In addition two further pieces of information are included. A number of new passages were included in Order of Celebrating Matrimony which are not found in the current Lectionary, these are marked by ‘+’. The Order also now requires that one of the chosen readings speaks explicitly about Marriage — suitable readings are indicated by ‘M’.

• O = Old Testament
• P = Responsorial Psalm
• N – New Testament
• V – Alleluia Verse and Verses before the Gospel (Gospel Acclamation)
• G = Gospel
• + = New passage not found in current Lectionary
• M = Readings which speaks explicitly about Marriage

For Download

• OCM Lectionary List (pdf)
  • A summary list of readings. As well as including the above marking it also notes when the readings are heard as part of the Sunday Liturgy of the Word as a prompt to preaching on Marriage
• Order of Celebrating Matrimony Biblical Readings (pdf)
  • Provides the texts of all the Readings given in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony
  • Each text is also available for download individually in the table below.
  • These texts are provided to help couples choose appropriate readings for their celebration. They may also be given to readers to help them prepare for the liturgy. If they are used in the liturgy they should be inserted, in order, into a worthy folder and placed on the Ambo (where the readings are proclaimed from). Individual readers bringing up pieces of paper should be avoided.
• Guide to choosing the Readings — (pdf)
• Reflections on the Readings for couples — (pdf).
  • Each reflection is also available for download with the individual reading in the table below.
• Readings for Weddings — (epub)
  • This file can read on tablets etc. It contains both the Readings and the Reflections together with a guide to choosing the readings.
• Reading at a Wedding — (pdf)
  • A guide for readers, especially those who may not have read in church before.

Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Readings from Old Testament
	Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm	psalm	text	text & reflection
O-1M	Genesis 1:26-28.31	Male and female he created them.	32
O-2M	Genesis 2:18-24	They become one body.	148
O-3M	Genesis 24:48-51. 58-67	Isaac loved Rebekah, and so he was consoled for the loss of his mother.	144
O-4M	Tobit 7:6-14	The Lord of heaven favour you, my child, and grant you his grace and peace.	32
O5-M	Tobit 8:4-8	Bring us to old age together.	102
+O6-M	Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31	The woman who fears the Lord is the one to praise.
O7	Song of Songs 2:8-10. 14. 16; 8:6-7	Love is strong as Death.	127
O8-M	Ecclesiasticus 26:1-4. 13-15	Like the sun rising is the beauty of a good wife in a well-kept house.	33
O9	Jeremiah 31:31-34	I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the House of Judah.	111
Responsorial Psalm
P1	Ps 32: 12. 18. 20-22 r.5	The Lord fills the earth with his love.
P2	Ps 33:2-9 r.2 or 9	I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see that the Lord is good.
P3	Ps 102: 1–2. 8. 13. 17-18 r. 8 or 17	The Lord is the compassion and love. or The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear.
P4	Ps 111: 1-9 r.1	Happy the man who takes delight in the Lord’s commands.or Alleluia!
P5-M	Ps 127:1–5 r.1 or 4	O blessed are those who fear the Lord! or Indeed this shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord.
P6	Ps 144: 8-10.15. 17-18 r.9	How good is the Lord to all.
P7	Ps 148:1-4, 9-14 r.12	Praise the name of the Lord. or Alleluia!
Readings from New Testament
N1	Romans 8:31-35. 37-39	Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ?
N2	Romans 12:1-2. 9-18	Offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to him.
	Romans 12:1-2. 9-13 (shorter)	Offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God.
+N3	Romans 15:1-3. 5-7. 13	Treat each other as Christ.
N4	1 Corinthians 6:13-15. 17-20	Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
N5	1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8	If I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
+N6	Ephesians 4:1-6	One Body and one Spirit.
N7-M	Ephesians 5:2. 21-33	This mystery has many implications and I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church.
	Ephesians 5:2 25-32 (shorter)	This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church.
+N8	Philippians 4:4-9	The God of peace will be with you.
N9	Colossians 3:12-17	Over all these, to keep them together and complete them, put on love.
+N10	Hebrews 13:1-4. 5-6	Marriage is to be honoured by all.
N11-M	1 Peter 3:1-9	You should all agree among your selves and be sympathetic; love the brothers.
N12	1 John 3:18-24	Our love is to be something real and active.
N13	1 John 4:7-12	God is love.
N14	Apocalypse 19:1. 5-9 (Appropriate for Easter Season)	Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb	148
Alleluia Verse and Verses before the Gospel
+V1	cf Psalm 133 (134):3	May the Lord bless you from Sion, he who made both heaven and earth.
V2	1 John 4:7	Everyone who loves is begotten by God, and knows God.
V3	1 John 4:8. 11	God is love; let us love one another as God has loved us.
V4	1 John 4:12	As long as we love one another God will live in us, and his love will be complete in us.
V5	1 John 4:16	Anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.
Gospel
	Gospel Readings are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation
G1	Matthew 5:1–12	Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
G2	Matthew 5:13-16	You are the light of the world.
G3	Matthew 7:21. 24-29	He built his house on rock.
	Matthew 7:21. 24-25 (shorter)	He built his house on rock.
G4-M	Matthew 19:3-6	What God has united, man must not divide.
G5	Matthew 22:35-40	This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it.
G6-M	Mark 10:6-9	They are no longer two but one body.
G7-M	John 2:1-11	This was the first of the signs given by Jesus – at Cana in Galilee.
G8	John 15:9-12	Remain in my love
G9	John 15:12-16	What I command you is to love one another.
G10	John 17:20-26	May they be completely one.
	John 17:20-23 (shorter)	May they be completely one.