Catholic Wedding Readings Approved For Your Ceremony
A Catholic wedding is a celebration of faith, tradition, and love, and your Catholic wedding readings should be too. The Catholic Church encourages couples to personalize their wedding ceremony, but within strict limits. Your parish priest will be able to provide you with detailed information to plan your Catholic wedding—including suggested Catholic wedding readings. If your wedding does not fall on a Sunday or a holy day, you may choose your wedding readings. The Liturgy of the Word includes a reading from the Old Testament (the first reading), a responsorial psalm, a reading from the New Testament (the second reading), and finally the Gospel. Just as most churches do not allow secular music, many will not allow anything other than Catholic wedding readings. Keep in mind that a Catholic wedding is a liturgy, or a prayer. Thus, all music or readings used in the liturgy must be identified as a prayer. Your priest will likely recommend that you sit down as a couple and choose your Catholic wedding readings together, finding readings that you can identify with and that illustrate your love and faith.
Looking for more information on Catholic wedding ceremonies than just Catholic wedding readings? Check out our Catholic Wedding Ceremony Guide:
Catholic Wedding Ceremony
Old Testament Readings
Catholic wedding readings from the Old Testament, also called The Hebrew Bible, are universally recognized.
Catholic Wedding Reading #1: Genesis 1:26-28, 31
Male and female he created them.
A reading from the book of Genesis
Then God said: “Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.” God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.” God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #2: Genesis 2:18-24
And they will be two in one flesh.
A reading from the book of Genesis
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #3: Genesis 24:48-51, 58-67
Isaac loved Rebekah, and so he was consoled for the loss
of his mother.
A reading from the book of Genesis
Abraham's servant said to Laban, 'I blessed the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who had so graciously led me to choose the daughter of my master's brother for his son. Now tell me whether you are prepared to show kindness and goodness to my master; if not, say so, and I shall know what to do.' Laban and Bethuel replied, 'This is from the Lord; it is not in our power to say yes or no to you. Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has decreed.' They called Rebekah and asked her, 'Do you want to leave with this man?' 'I do,' she replied. Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. They blessed Rebekah in these words: 'Sister of ours, increase to thousands and tens of thousands! May your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!' Rebekah and her servants stood up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and departed. Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebecca looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant 'Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us? The servant replied, 'That is my master'; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebecca to his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #4: Tobit 7:9-10, 11-15
May God join you together and fill you with his
blessings.
A reading from the book of Tobit
Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a cordial reception. When they had bathed and reclined to eat, Tobiah said to Raphael, “Brother Azariah, ask Raguel to let me marry my kinswoman Sarah.” Raquel overheard the words, so he said to the boy: “Eat and drink and be merry tonight, for no man is more entitled to marry my daughter Sarah than you, brother. Besides, not even I have the right to give her to anyone but you, because you are my closest relative. But I will explain the situation to you very frankly. She is yours according to the decree of the Book of Moses. Your marriage to her has been decided in heaven! Take your kinswoman; from now on you are her love, and she is your beloved. She is yours today and ever after. And tonight, son, may the Lord of heaven prosper you both. May he grant you mercy and peace.” Then Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to Tobiah with the words: “Take her according to the law. According to the decree written in the Book of Moses she is your wife. Take her and bring her back safely to your father. And may the God of heaven grant both of you peace and prosperity.” He then called her mother and told her to bring a scroll, so that he might draw up a marriage contract stating that he gave Sarah to Tobiah as his wife according to the decree of the Mosaic law. Her mother brought the scroll, and he drew up the contract, to which they affixed their seals. Afterward they began to eat and drink.
The word of the lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #5: Tobit 8:5-7
May God bring us to old age together.
A reading from the book of Tobit.
On their wedding night Sarah got up, and she and Tobiah started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. He began to use these words: “Blessed are you, O God of our fathers; praised be your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever. You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.’ Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #6: Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16; 8:6-7
For love is as strong as death.
A reading from the Song of Songs
Hark! My lover-here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! “For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! “O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.” My lover belongs to me and I to him. He said to me: Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #7: Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16
A reading from the book of Sirach
Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days; a worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life. A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD; be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face. A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones; a gift from the LORD is her governed speech, and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth. Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person. Like the sun rising in the LORD’S heaven, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #8: Jeremiah 31:31-32, 33-34
I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and
Judah.
A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD.
The word of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalms
The Psalms are the songs of the bible and are Catholic wedding readings that are sung.
Catholic Wedding Reading #9: Psalm 33:12, 18, 20-21, 22
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
Happy the nation whose God is the LORD, the people chosen as his very own. But the LORD’S eyes are upon the reverent, upon whose hope for his gracious help.
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and shield.
For in God our hearts rejoice, in your holy name we trust.
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
May your kindness, LORD, be upon us; we have put our hope
in you.
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
Catholic Wedding Reading #10: Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
I will bless the LORD at all times.
I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the LORD that the poor may hear and be glad.
I will bless the LORD at all times.
Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.
I will bless the LORD at all times.
Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame. In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress.
I will bless the LORD at all times.
The angel of the LORD, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God. Learn to savor how good the LORD is; happy are those who take refuge in him.
I will bless the LORD at all times.
Catholic Wedding Reading #11: Psalm 103: 1-2, 8, 13, 17-18
The LORD is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God.
The LORD is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on the faithful.
The LORD is kind and merciful.
But the LORD’S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age. He favors the children’s children of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.
The LORD is kind and merciful.
Catholic Wedding Reading #12: Psalm 112: 1-2, 3-4, 5-7, 7-8, 9
Happy are those who do what the LORD commands.
Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in God’s commands. Their descendants shall be mighty in the land, generation upright and blessed.
Happy are those who do what the LORD commands.
Wealth and riches shall be in their homes; their prosperity shall endure forever. They shine through the darkness, a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful and just.
Happy are those who do what the LORD commands.
All goes well for those gracious in lending, who conduct their affairs with justice. They shall never be shaken; the just shall be remembered forever.
Happy are those who do what the LORD commands.
They shall not fear an ill report; their hearts are steadfast, trusting the LORD. Their hearts are tranquil, without fear, till at last they look down on their foes.
Happy are those who do what the LORD commands.
Lavishly they give to the poor; their prosperity shall endure forever; their home shall be exalted in honor.
Happy are those who do what the LORD commands.
Catholic Wedding Reading #13: Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Happy are those who fear the LORD.
Happy are all who fear the LORD, who walk in the ways of God. What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper.
Happy are those who fear the LORD.
Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table.
Happy are those who fear the LORD.
Just so will they be blessed who fear the LORD. May the LORD bless you from Zion, all the days of your life That you may share Jerusalem’s joy.
Happy are those who fear the LORD.
Catholic Wedding Reading #14: Psalm 145: 8-9, 10, 15, 17-18
The LORD is compassionate to all his creatures.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature.
The LORD is compassionate to all his creatures.
All your works give you thanks, O LORD and your faithful bless you. The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season.
The LORD is compassionate to all his creatures.
You, LORD, are just in all your ways, faithful in all your works. You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you in truth.
The LORD is compassionate to all his creatures.
Catholic Wedding Reading #15: Psalm 148: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12, 12-14
Let all praise the name of the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens; give praise in the heights. Praise him, all you angels; give him praise, all you hosts.
Let all praise the name of the LORD.
Praise him, sun and moon; give praise, all shining stars. Praise him, highest heavens, you waters above the heavens.
Let all praise the name of the LORD.
You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; You animals wild and tame, you creatures that crawl and fly.
Let all praise the name of the LORD.
You kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all who govern on earth; Young men and women too, old and young alike.
Let all praise the name of the LORD.
Let them all praise the LORD’S name, for his name alone is exalted, majestic above earth and heaven. The LORD has lifted high the horn of his people; to the glory of all the faithful, of Israel, the people near to their God.
Let them all praise the name of the LORD.
New Testament Readings
New Testament Readings are Catholic wedding readings from the second part of the Christian Bible, also called the Greek Testament or Greek Scriptures.
Catholic Wedding Reading #1: Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for of us all,
will he not also give us everything else
along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn?
It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things, we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #2: Romans 12:1-2, 9-18
Offer to God your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to him.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal
be fervent in spirit;
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones;
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice whit those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil;
be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all.
If possible, on your part, live at peace with all.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #3: 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
Your body is a temple of the Spirit.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Corinthians
The body is not for immorality; but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body.
God raised up the Lord and will also raise us by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit
with him.
Avoid immortality.
Every other sin a man commits is outside his body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not
your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #4: 1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:1- 8a
If I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Corinthians
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in human and angelic tongues
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over
injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things
Love never fails.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #5: Ephesians 5: 2, 25-32
This mystery has many implications and I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians
Live in love, as Christ loved us
and handed himself over for us.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word
that he might present to himself the Church
in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives
as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his
mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #6: Colossians 3: 12-17
Above all have love, which is the bond of perfection.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.
Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all the wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #7: 1 Peter 3:1-9
You should agree with one another, be sympathetic and love the brothers.
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
You wives should be subordinate to your
husbands so that,
even if some disobey the word,
they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct
when they observe your reverent and chaste behavior.
Your adornment should not be an external one:
braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in fine clothes,
but rather the hidden character of the heart,
expressed in the imperishable beauty
of a gentle and calm disposition,
which is precious in the sight of God.
For this is also how the holy women who hoped in God
once used to adorn themselves
and were subordinate to their husbands;
thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him "lord."
You are her children when you do what is good
and fear no intimidation.
Likewise, you husbands should live with your
wives in understanding,
showing honor to the weaker female sex,
since we are joint heirs of the gift of life,
so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic,
loving toward one another, compassionate, humble.
Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult;
but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this
you were called,
that you might inherit a blessing
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #8: 1 John 3: 18-24
Our love is to be something real and active.
A reading from the first letter of John.
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong
to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows
everything.
Beloved, if your hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him,
and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit that he gave us.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #9: 1 John 3: 18-24
God is love.
A reading from the first letter of John.
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God
and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God,
for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
The word of the Lord.
Catholic Wedding Reading #10: Revelation 19:1, 5-9a
Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
A reading from the book of Revelation.
I, John, heard what sounded like the loud voice
of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
"Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God."
A voice coming from the throne said:
"Praise our God, all you his servants,
and you who revere him, small and great."
Then I heard something like the sound
of a great multitude
or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals
of thunder,
as they said:
"Alleluia!
The lord has established his reign,
our God, the almighty.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory.
For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,
his bride has made herself ready.
She was allowed to wear
a bright, clean linen garment."
(The linen represents the righteous deeds of the
holy ones.)
Then the angel said to me,
"Write this:
Blessed are those who have been called
to the wedding feast of the Lamb."
The word of the Lord.
Readings From the Four Gospels
The Four Gospels are Catholic wedding readings taken from one of four canonical books of the New Testament that describe the birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.
Catholic Wedding Reading #11: Matthew 5:1-12
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Catholic Wedding Reading #12: Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
Catholic Wedding Reading #13: Matthew 7:21, 24-29
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, not as their scribes.
Catholic Wedding Reading #14: Matthew 7:21, 24-25
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
Catholic Wedding Reading #15: Matthew 19:3-6
Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother to be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
Catholic Wedding Reading #16: Matthew 22:35-40
One of the Pharisees (a scholar of the law) tested Jesus by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, will all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Catholic Wedding Reading #17: Mark 10:6-9
Jesus said “From the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
Catholic Wedding Reading #18: John 2:1-11
There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” (And) Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there are six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
Catholic Wedding Reading #19: John 15:9-12
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love on another as I love you.”
Catholic Wedding Reading #20: John 15:12-16
Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.”
Catholic Wedding Reading #21: John 17:20-26
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed: “Holy Father, I pray not only for my disciples, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
A Friendly Reminder About Catholic Wedding Readings!
Each church and/or priest has different rules and requirements regarding Catholic wedding readings! Always speak with your priest early on in your planning stages to determine which Catholic wedding readings are right for you.
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Catholic Wedding Ceremony
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