The Nuptial Mass uniting Franz Simon Klein and Rosemary Therese Korish in the Indissoluble Bond of Holy Matrimony at St. Peter's Church in Middle Ridge, Wisconsin was yesterday.  Having forgotten the video camera, my husband and I made a quick investment in a digital audio recorder which will also come in handy for work on our parish's Catholic blog.  We are pretty happy with the results.  With a little editing including some virtual reverb, these sound fairly good.

On these chants, the solo voice you hear singing the verses is Father D. Joseph Redfern, who directed our small schola.  The rest of the group was made up of Samantha Parker, David Palm, Christopher Ruff, Jonathan Sorensen, Johanna Klein, Nathan Sward and me.

The introit Deus Israel conjungat vos was sung as the priests came in from the sacristry into the sanctuary.  The text is Deus Israel conjungat vos, et ipse sit vobiscum, qui misertus est duobus unicis: et nunc, Domine, fac eos plenius benedicere te. That is to say, "May the God of Israel join you together, may the One Who joined two in one be with you: And now, O Lord, make them to bless You more fully."  Here is the chant:

We sang the Gloria from Missa de angelis. 

The Responsorial Psalm was Psalm 8: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 with the refrain "O Lord, our God, how wonderful Your name in all the earth!"  Given only the text, it was up to the schola to come up with a way to sing this. I vaguely remembered a melody for that refrain from the GIA resource we use at St. Peter's in Stevens Point, to which I made up an alto line and Samantha Parker improvised a descant.  I really like how this came out.  It reminds me of Faux bourdon.  Maybe we can start doing this at our parish.

This link for the Alleluia and verse is connected to the gospel (which was recited). The verse of the Alleluia was chanted in Latin by Fr. Redfern: Si diligamus invicem, Deus in nobis manet, et caritas Ejus in nobis consummata est.  That is, "If we love each other, God remains in us, and His love is in us consummated" (I John 4:12).

The offertory was a hymn set to Wesley's AURELIA, but these words were written by the groom, Franz S. Klein, 1981- . I love what he has written here, what a perfect text for a wedding hymn.  Here are the words so you can sing along after you click the link at the beginning of this paragraph.

Of rib of Adam coming, true woman Eve was named,
to his found wife fast cleaving, in fleshly union claimed.
God blest their happy marriage, by nature wrought secure,
father and mother leaving, God's gift to man made pure.

By choice the gift foresaken in primal couple's sin,
their blest bond freely broken and sadness found therein:
Thus mankind lost did wander through desert dryness years,
but God His blessings never withdraw in vale of tears.

To Mary's bosom clinging, a baby Jesus grew,
the Holy Fam'ly forming a marriage bond He knew.
At Mary's plea He acted to bless the Cana wine,
on the cross His blood shedding for gift thus made divine.

So for this new-wed couple, thy pray'rs now raise on high:
A union true and noble and world's cares to defy. 
All praise to God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son,
Who send Their Holy Spirit to live in two made one.

The Sanctus was also from the Missa de angelis.

The Memorial Acclamation Mortem tuam.  (The priest celebrant is Father Francis Abuah Quansah.)

The Pater Noster was also chanted in Latin. 

The Agnus Dei from Missa de angelis. 

The Communion chant Ecce sic benedicetur went on throughout the reception of Holy Communion of the whole congregation. The translation is "Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord; may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!" Here is the chant:

The post-Communion reflection Sancta Mater Ecclesia was written by yours truly, based on the conversion story of one of the professors for the Institute of Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University, David Twellman.  I was (very happily) joined by Samantha Parker in singing this.  The song, which is included on a CD of my original compositions which I expressly indicated were not intended for liturgical use, was nevertheless requested by the bride and I agreed to sing it during the Mass if it were approved by the priest.  I figured given some of the things I've been asked to sing at weddings in the past, this was on the less-evil end of the spectrum.

The final chant was the Salve Regina, as the couple presented flowers to and knelt before the Blessed Mother. 

I am glad I was asked to participate in this dignified Mass, and especially to have been able to sing in the schola.  It was my first meeting with Fr. Redfern, which will hopefully lead to more collaboration in the future, possibly with solemn vespers at my parish.  And it was a joy to see Franz happily ensconced in his true vocation.  Deo gratias!