The celebration of marriage between a Catholic and a non-Christian is likewise, a celebration of the Church. Though provision is always made to respect the non-Christian beliefs of the bride or groom who is part of another religious tradition, such a celebration remains an occasion of the Christian community to celebrate the mystery of divine love revealed in creation and symbolized in the marriage bond. Liturgical rites are always to be celebrated in the manner which is determined by the church and provided in the approved ritual books. The celebration of Christian marriage is no exception. The structural elements of the celebration and their order, the involvement of the assembly and particular ministers, the use of symbols, the texts for the proclamation and prayer, the ritual actions and songs to accompany them are all found in the liturgical books. Appropriate optional texts are provided for the particular circumstances, such as the celebration of a marriage between a baptized and a non-baptized person.
The original and greatest feast of the Christian community is the celebration of the Lord’s Day. Each Sunday the Christian community assembles to celebrate its common faith and its share in the death and resurrection of Jesus by listening to God’s word, remembering the saving actions of God revealed in Christ, and by giving thanks to God as it assembles around the Eucharistic table. The Sunday Eucharist is the principal public prayer of the church. It is therefore fitting, that the principles which guide the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist also guide the celebration of the other sacraments including Christian marriage. The hospitality shown to all, the choice of texts, the use of music, the exercise of ministries and the participation of everyone in the liturgy ought to be evident in the celebration of marriage.