At a Catholic wedding the couple chooses the Scripture readings from the list in the Lectionary for the Celebration of Marriage: usually one Old Testament reading, a responsorial psalm, one New Testament reading and a Gospel, which is proclaimed by the priest or deacon. The readings speak of God’s plan for man and woman, of faithful love, and of Christ’s love for his Church. Below is the full list of Catholic wedding readings with a short description of each, the most popular passages in full (Douay-Rheims translation), the responsorial psalms, and tips for choosing readers.
How the readings are chosen
| Reading | Who usually reads | Number |
|---|---|---|
| First reading (Old Testament; in Easter Time, Revelation may be used) | A family member or friend | One |
| Responsorial psalm | Cantor or reader | One |
| Second reading (New Testament) | A family member or friend | One |
| Gospel | The priest or deacon | One |
If the wedding takes place without Mass, there may be one or two readings before the Gospel. Your parish will give you the texts in the current Lectionary translation; references below follow the Lectionary, with the Douay-Rheims book names in brackets where they differ.
Old Testament readings
| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Genesis 1:26–28, 31a | God created man and woman in his image |
| Genesis 2:18–24 | “They shall be two in one flesh” |
| Genesis 24:48–51, 58–67 | Isaac and Rebekah |
| Tobit 7:6–14 [Tobias] | The marriage of Tobias and Sarah |
| Tobit 8:4b–8 [Tobias] | The prayer of Tobias and Sarah on their wedding night |
| Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31 | The valiant woman |
| Song of Songs 2:8–10, 14, 16a; 8:6–7a [Canticle of Canticles] | “Love is strong as death” |
| Sirach 26:1–4, 13–16 [Ecclesiasticus] | The blessing of a good wife |
| Jeremiah 31:31–32a, 33–34a | The new covenant written on the heart |
Genesis 2:18–24 (Douay-Rheims):
And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself.
And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature the same is its name.
And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself.
Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it.
And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam.
And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.
Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.
The prayer of Tobias and Sara (Tobias 8:4–8, Douay-Rheims):
Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God today, and tomorrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock.
For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.
So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them,
And Tobias said: Lord God of our father, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.
Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.
Canticle of Canticles 8:6–7 (Douay-Rheims):
Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are fire and flames.
Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he shall despise it as nothing.
Responsorial psalms
| Psalm (Lectionary) | Refrain theme |
|---|---|
| Psalm 33 | The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord |
| Psalm 34 | I will bless the Lord at all times |
| Psalm 103 | The Lord is kind and merciful |
| Psalm 112 | Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands |
| Psalm 128 | Blessed are those who fear the Lord |
| Psalm 145 | The Lord is compassionate toward all his works |
| Psalm 148 | Let all praise the name of the Lord |
Psalm 128 is a favorite (Psalm 127:1–3 in the Douay-Rheims):
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.
Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.
New Testament readings
| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Romans 8:31b–35, 37–39 | Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ |
| Romans 12:1–2, 9–18 | Let love be sincere |
| Romans 15:1b–3a, 5–7, 13 | Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you |
| 1 Corinthians 6:13c–15a, 17–20 | Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:8a | “Love is patient, love is kind” |
| Ephesians 4:1–6 | One body and one Spirit |
| Ephesians 5:2a, 21–33 | Christ’s love for the Church |
| Philippians 4:4–9 | Rejoice in the Lord always |
| Colossians 3:12–17 | Put on love, the bond of perfection |
| Hebrews 13:1–4a, 5–6b | Let marriage be held in honor |
| 1 Peter 3:1–9 | Husbands and wives, be of one mind |
| 1 John 3:18–24 | Love in deed and in truth |
| 1 John 4:7–12 | God is love |
| Revelation 19:1, 5–9a | The wedding feast of the Lamb |
“Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:1–8, Douay-Rheims, where “charity” is the old word for love):
If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up;
Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed.
1 John 4:7–12 (Douay-Rheims):
Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is charity.
By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.
In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.
My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us.
Colossians 3:12–15 (Douay-Rheims):
Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.
But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection:
And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
Gospels
| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Matthew 5:1–12a | The Beatitudes |
| Matthew 5:13–16 | You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world |
| Matthew 7:21, 24–29 | The house built on rock |
| Matthew 19:3–6 | What God has joined, let no man put asunder |
| Matthew 22:35–40 | The great commandment |
| Mark 10:6–9 | The two shall become one flesh |
| John 2:1–11 | The wedding at Cana |
| John 15:9–12 | Remain in my love |
| John 15:12–16 | Love one another as I have loved you |
| John 17:20–26 | That they may be one |
The wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11, Douay-Rheims):
And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there.
And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage.
And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine.
And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come.
His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.
Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece.
Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it.
And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom,
And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Matthew 19:3–6 (Douay-Rheims):
And there came to him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? And he said:
For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.
Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
John 15:9–12 (Douay-Rheims):
As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do abide in his love.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled.
This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
Tips for choosing readings and readers
- Read them aloud together as a couple and choose the ones that speak to you.
- Balance a reading about God’s plan (Genesis) with one about everyday love (1 Corinthians 13 or Colossians 3).
- Choose readers who are comfortable reading in public and are practicing Christians; give them the text weeks ahead.
- Practice in the church, with the microphone, at the rehearsal.
Frequently asked questions
How many readings are there at a Catholic wedding?
Usually three readings and a psalm: an Old Testament reading, a psalm, a New Testament reading and a Gospel.
Can we choose a reading that is not from the Bible?
No. In the Catholic wedding liturgy only Scripture readings from the approved list are proclaimed. A poem or text can be read at the reception.
Who reads the Gospel?
The priest or deacon who celebrates the wedding.
More wedding pages
- Catholic marriage preparation
- Catholic wedding prayers
- Catholic wedding guide
- Catholic wedding program
- Prayers of the faithful for a Catholic wedding
- Catholic prayer for marriage
- Responsorial psalm
- Patron saint of marriage
Texts and sources
- The list follows the Lectionary for the Celebration of Marriage (references only).
- Scripture texts: Genesis 2:18–24; Tobias 8:4–8; Canticle 8:6–7; Psalm 127:1–3; 1 Corinthians 13:1–8; 1 John 4:7–12; Colossians 3:12–15; John 2:1–11; Matthew 19:3–6; John 15:9–12 (Douay-Rheims).