Our ceremony will take place through the rite of marriage followed by a traditional Latin Mass.

What is the rite of marriage?

The rite of marriage is an ancient ritual of the church where a couple exchange vows in the witness of their family, friends, and the priest or deacon. The vows consist of the free and willing commitment to totally and wholeheartedly love each other, accept children from God, and raise them according to the law of Christ and His church. The priest or deacon acts as the person of Jesus Christ Himself, who joins the couple together in a bond that only death can dissolve.

"Until death do us part"

What is Mass?

The holy sacrifice of the Mass is where Heaven meets Earth. It is a sacred ritual where we worship God while He speaks to the innermost parts of our hearts. In essence, the Mass literally brings us to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As the priest transubstantiates bread and wine into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, we offer our prayers up to Almighty God.

How is a traditional Latin Mass different than the other Catholic Masses I have been to?

The traditional Latin Mass is the form of the Mass that was most widespread prior to the 1960s. It has roots extending deep into the ancient life of the church.

At this form of Mass, the congregation enters a state of interior prayer, while the priest alone offers most of the verbal and audible prayer to God. Most of the Mass, except the homily (sermon) is entirely in ecclesiastical Latin, the official language of the church. The traditional Latin Mass is clearly an ancient ritual, which invokes a deep sense of holy fear of God.

"This all sounds very intimidating! I was not raised Catholic and don't want to feel like I am doing something wrong!"

Both the bride and groom will be inviting non-Catholics, so don't feel alone! The church will provide small pamphlets that explain what is going on, and what responses to say at certain times.

During the Mass immediately after the ceremony, the bride and groom will generally stand up, sit, and kneel at appropriate times for the congregation to follow. Many people at our ceremony will also understand what is happening, and their actions can be followed. As long as you show a disposition of reverence, you have nothing to worry about.