Saturday Wedding Mass

Catholics may fulfill their obligation to participate in Mass on a Sunday or holy day by attending a wedding, as long as the wedding takes place during Mass, and as long as it is celebrated on the day of obligation or in the evening of the preceding day (canon 1248/1).

However, certain directives govern the texts of a wedding, whether they pertain to the marriage ceremony, the Mass prayers, or the Scriptures (Rite of Marriage 11).

The elements of the marriage ceremony (e.g., the exchange of consent, the blessing of rings, the nuptial blessing, and the final blessing) may be used at any Mass.

The prayers of the Mass (e.g., the ones the priest says while the server holds the book, or the preface of the eucharistic prayer) should be taken from the rite of marriage unless the wedding takes place on a Sunday (or Saturday evening) during Advent, Lent, or Easter, or on a holy day or on a feast ranked as a "solemnity" such as St. Joseph (March 19) or the Birth of John the Baptist (June 24). In those cases, we use the prayers of the feast or season.

The Scriptures should be taken from the selections recommended in the wedding lectionary, except on those days cited above. However, even on those days one of the readings for the feast or season may be replaced with one for weddings, except on the most important days like Easter, Pentecost, and holy days of obligation.

When the wedding takes place in the Catholic church without Mass, any prayers and readings may be used. The only days on which the celebration of sacramental marriage is forbidden are Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

To fulfill your obligation to participate at Mass, you go to a Mass in the evening before or on the day of obligation. You do not need a dispensation at a wedding. You may not hear the prayers and Scriptures of the parish Mass. But any Mass fulfills the obligation; those planning the ceremony should select the appropriate texts for the event.

If you are interested in weddings, take a look at Paul Turner's new book: The Catholic Wedding Answer Book.

Copyright © 1998, Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. This article may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.  For permission e-mail info@rpinet.com.
Paul Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Parish in Cameron, MO, holds a doctorate in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome.