Marriage Resources for Parish Ministers

Below you will find various marriage resources for parish ministers published by Ave Maria Press. We recommend all of these books to prepare couples for marriage, marriage enrichment, and specific topics like communication.

Resources for the Catholic Wedding Ceremony

Together for Life
If you were married in the Catholic Church in the last forty years, chances are you used Together for Life in preparation for your wedding day. Over nine million couples have used this small book to select their catholic wedding readings, prayers, and blessings. The book also offers reflections about marriage that accompany the readings and prayers to make the Mass more meaningful to the couple.

Together for Life has been the most trusted source for wedding planning in the Catholic Church for more than forty-five years. This new edition of Together for Life contains the new texts of the most recent translation of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony. It includes all the tools engaged couples use when meeting with a priest, deacon, or lay parish minister to plan their weddings and prepare for living the sacrament of Marriage.

Each reading choice is accompanied by a reflection written by lay married theologians or pastoral leaders who are committed to the sacramental life of the Church. Contributors include Ann M. Garrido, Msgr. Michael Heintz, Diana Macalintal, H. Richard McCord, Geoffrey D. Miller, Tim Muldoon, Julie Hanlon Rubio, and Deacon William F. Urbine.

The Spanish Edition of Together for Life: Juntos Para Toda La Vida 

Juntos Para Toda La Vida is the Spanish edition of the best-selling marriage resource, Together for Life. It is a direct translation of the English text meant to be used by Spanish-speaking couples preparing for the Rite of Marriage.

This booklet includes:

  • all approved liturgical text and prayers needed for planning weddings during Mass, outside Mass, or between a Catholic and an unbaptized person
  • sample intercessions
  • how-to guides for parish ministers
  • catechetical commentary by Rev. Peter Jarret, C.S.C., to help couples deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony
  • scripture commentaries from married Catholic leaders
  • hints for incorporating ethnic and cultural devotions and practices into the ceremony
  • information regarding having a civil marriage blessed or validated by the Church.

The Order of Celebrating Matrimony Ritual Cards
Many priests and deacons like to use the ritual cards and ceremonial binder to conduct the wedding ceremony. These cards contain the prayers of the Nuptial Mass.

The Order of Celebrating Matrimony Ritual Cards have been approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as an official liturgical document.

This all-in-one wedding resource for parish ministers directly corresponds to the new edition of Together for LifeThe Order of Celebrating Matrimony Ritual Cards (formerly Rite of Marriage Ritual Cards) are revised to include the new, expanded introduction, a new scripture reading, optional blessings for the arras and lazo, and new appendices for blessing an engaged couple and for blessing a married couple on the anniversary of marriage. With the changes to The Order of Celebrating Matrimony, the number of ritual cards has increased from 88 to 144, and the number of tabs increased from 15 to 19.

Ideal as an ordination, anniversary, or all-occasion gift for any priest or deacon, The Order of Celebrating Matrimony Ritual Cards directly correspond to Together for Life.

Marriage Preparation Resources

Joined by Grace

Preparing for the Sacramental Journey of Marriage

A Marriage Preparation Program from Ave Maria Press

Joined by Grace was developed with one goal in mind: to help engaged couples build strong, life-giving, and lasting unions by inspiring them to welcome God into their marriages more completely.

Offering couples the tools they need for life after their wedding day, Joined by Grace shows how the seven sacraments can help build marriages that are rooted in Christ by teaching couples to accept and be fully present to one another, give themselves completely, and serve and forgive each other.

Learn more at joinedbygrace.com