Songs

CaylaSummer

Hi ladies,

I'm going to be speaking to the music director at my parish sometime this week. I have a song in mind that I was thinking of using when I walk down the aisle, it's called the prayer by celine dion and josh groban.

Do you know anyone that has ever used this song? I'm thinking I probably can't use it but I thought I would try asking anyway.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

We were not allowed to use any secular music (even though I think they may be considered Christian artists). Definitely speak with the music director about this before getting your heart set on too many songs.

SaraAndrew2010

Talk to your music director.  We were able to include some instrumental, more modern non-religious songs. For example, we used Kenny G's Wedding Song.  We didn't ask about instrumental versions of popular songs, but I kind of doubt that would have been allowed.

lisa89760

We are allowed to use any song (within reason) as long as it can be played on the piano or another instrument...no CD's or ipods. 

CaylaSummer

Okay thanks ladies, I will let you know which songs we end up using...

[Deleted User]

We have having my FI's niece sing The Prayer at our ceremony during the unity candle lighting. Our preist was great about it and agreed instantly. I have been told that it is one of the more popular "pop" songs that have been added to Catholic wedding ceremonies.

CaylaSummer

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_songs-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:2876d5a4-32e7-4783-bb48-a798d96c4865Post:b532d3be-98c3-4b2a-9bc5-88c5fa72aa0a">Re: Songs</a>:
[QUOTE]We have having my FI's niece sing The Prayer at our ceremony during the unity candle lighting. Our preist was great about it and agreed instantly. I have been told that it is one of the more popular "pop" songs that have been added to Catholic wedding ceremonies.
Posted by schlagetermari[/QUOTE]
you get to light the unity candle...We are not allowed to do this in our parish. My priests told me that the vatican apparently said something about this...my priest added something along the lines of it being medieval.

agapecarrie

the unity candle was invented on a soap opera.

It is not part of the marriage rite, and the church documents say that no one including priests can add or subtract to the mass (liturgy). When you have the Eucharist, you actually have the unity happen, you don't need to symbolize it before hand. Everything in a mass (including how the priests holds his hands) has meaning for the congregation as participants. When a unity candle takes place, it stops that participation of the congregation and makes them spectators.

Some priests allow it because marriages have cultural implications, and they don't feel like fighting the fight.

clearheavens

In the unity candle ceremony, the main candle represents the couple.  But in the Liturgy, large candles are only to represent Christ.

agapecarrie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_songs-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:2876d5a4-32e7-4783-bb48-a798d96c4865Post:b579878d-89af-4c4c-aab4-708a6846077b">Re: Songs</a>:
[QUOTE]In the unity candle ceremony, the main candle represents the couple.  But in the Liturgy, large candles are only to represent Christ.
Posted by clearheavens[/QUOTE]

In the catholic church, we cannot assign meaning to symbols that re not part of the rite. If we could, we can use anything and just call it something, and it can border on ridiculous. Remember, it was invented on a soap opera.

GulfCoaster

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_songs-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:2876d5a4-32e7-4783-bb48-a798d96c4865Post:503c3aa8-cce2-4076-a8d5-07a30a829fb9">Re: Songs</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Songs : you get to light the unity candle...We are not allowed to do this in our parish. My priests told me that the vatican apparently said something about this...my priest added something along the lines of it being medieval.
Posted by CaylaSummer[/QUOTE]

I don't know (and haven't searched to find out) whether the Vatican has said anything about it, but I do know that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has discouraged the use of unity candles.... because they are faulty symbolism for the reasons that agapecarrie mentioned above.

[Deleted User]

I guess our diocese is OK with it. I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but we are having a ceremony, not Mass.

CaylaSummer

I'm having a ceremony too but when we met with out parish with a whole bunch of people getting married this year, this is one of the things that they mentioned. Mind you they are more strict about other things and there are just parts of the ceremony that they are not willing to compromise but more relax on other traditions