On any of the days when the Ritual Mass is prohibited, the Ritual of Marriage outside Mass may be used with no restriction. If the marriage occurs in Advent or Lent, however, people should keep the nature of the seasons in mind when planning their celebration.
2/25/98
Ash Wednesday |
Ritual Masses prohibited. Ritual Masses, including the wedding Mass, are prohibited on Ash Wednesday (GIRM #372). Since this is a major penitential day and one of the two days of fast and abstinence in the U.S., this would not be an appropriate day to celebrate marriage.
Funeral Masses are permitted. (GIRM #380) |
| Sundays of Lent |
Ritual Masses prohibited. For couples who must plan a wedding that day, there are several options.
- The wedding ritual outside Mass may be celebrated, keeping in mind the special penitential nature of the season of Lent.
- If the wedding during Mass is chosen, the ritual Mass of the day is used. Presidential prayers, preface, and two of the readings are taken from the Mass of the day (Sunday of Lent). One reading may be chosen from the readings for the wedding Mass, and the Nuptial Blessing is given at the usual time. (GIRM #330 and the Rite of Marriage [OM] #11). The general law does not limit which reading may be changed.
Funeral Masses are not permitted. (GIRM # 380) |
Holy Week
April 5-11, 1998 |
It seems inappropriate to celebrate weddings during this time. Ritual Masses are prohibited. For further restrictions, cf. the Sacramentary (on Good Friday and Saturday morning all Masses are prohibited). In other circumstances, the Mass of the day is celebrated and one reading may be changed only on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. (OM #11)
The wedding ritual outside Mass may be used, keeping in mind the character of the week.
Funeral Masses permitted only on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. (GIRM #380) |
4/12/98
Easter Sunday |
Ritual Masses prohibited. A solemnity and a day of obligation:
- The wedding ritual outside Mass may be used with no restrictions.
- The ritual Mass of Easter with all its readings is used. No readings may be changed. The nuptial blessing is given at the usual time.
Funeral Masses not permitted. (GIRM #336) |
| Sundays of Easter |
Ritual Masses prohibited. cf. Options and restrictions for Sundays Of Lent. On reading may be changed for Mass with weddings (OM #11)
Funeral Masses not permitted. (GIRM #380) |
| 4/13 - 4/18, 1998 |
Ritual Masses prohibited, even on Saturday. Cf.. options for Sundays Octave of Easter of Lent.
- The wedding ritual outside Mass may be used with no restrictions.
- One reading may be changed for weddings. (OM #11)
Funeral Masses permitted. (GIRM #380) |
Thursday, 5/21/98
Ascension |
No restriction for the western states which celebrate Ascension on Sunday - except the prohibitions then apply to that Sunday. For most of the U.S., Thursday is a solemnity and day of obligation.
- The wedding ritual outside Mass may be used with no restrictions.
- For Mass, cf. options for Easter 1998 -- no readings may be changed where this is a day of obligation.
Funeral Masses not permitted where Thursday is a day of obligation. (GIRM #380)
Funeral Masses permitted in the western states on the Thursday - but not on Sunday when Ascension is celebrated. |
Saturday 8/15/98
Assumption |
Not a day of obligation, but a solemnity -- cf options for the Sundays of Lent. For Mass, the Mass of the Assumption is used. One reading may be changed. (GIRM #372, OM #11)
Funeral Masses permitted. (GIRM #380) |
Sunday, 11/1/98
All Saints |
A solemnity and day of obligation -- cf options and restrictions for Easter. For Mass, the Mass of All Saints is used and no readings may be changed. (GIRM #372, OM #11)
Funeral Masses not permitted. (GIRM #336) |
Sundays
Advent 1998 |
Ritual Masses prohibited. See options for Sundays of Lent 1998. For Mass - the Mass of the Sunday of Advent is used.
One reading may be changed. (GIRM #330, OM #11)
Funeral Masses not permitted. (GIRM #380) |
| Tuesday, 12/8/98 |
A solemnity and a day of obligation -- cf options and restrictions for
Immaculate Conception Easter or All Saints 1998. No readings changed.
Funeral Masses not permitted. |
| 12/25/98 Christmas |
A solemnity and day of obligation - cf options and restrictions for Easter or November 1, 1998.
For Mass, no readings changed.
Funeral Masses not permitted. |
Epiphany, Pentecost,
Corpus Christi |
The ritual of marraige outside Mass may be used with no restrictions. If Mass is chosen, it is the Mass of the Solemnity. No readings may be changed. (Rite of Marriage #11).
Funeral Masses permitted. (GIRM #380) |
Sundays - Ordinary Time &
Sundays - Christmas Season |
The wedding outside Mass may be celebrated with no restrictions. If the wedding during Mass is chosen, the Mass of the Sunday is used but one of the readings may be changed. If the Mass is not a parish Mass, the entire wedding Mass may be used. (Rite of Marriage, #11). |