
Ave Maria is a popular choice for Catholic weddings, but some people consider it inappropriate for weddings. The song is a prayer to the Virgin Mary, and the text is the Hail Mary in Latin. It is considered a beautiful and religious song, and it is liturgically appropriate to include it in Catholic weddings. However, some people associate it with funerals, and it may not fit the desired tone for a wedding. The song is commonly used in Brazil for the bride's entrance, and there are different versions of the song, including those by Schubert and Gounod, which are particularly well-suited for weddings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common in Catholic weddings | Yes |
| Secular weddings | Depends on the couple's preference |
| Lyrics | Latin for the Hail Mary prayer |
| Religious | Yes |
| Funeral song | Some people associate it with funerals |
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What You'll Learn

Ave Maria is a popular choice for Catholic weddings
"Ave Maria" is a popular choice for Catholic weddings, with many people considering it a beautiful piece of music. The song is a prayer to the Virgin Mary, and the text is the Hail Mary in Latin. It is often used as a prelude or during the ceremony, such as when the mothers are walking down the aisle before the mass.
In Catholic weddings, it is traditional to sing "Ave Maria" just after the blessing, once the couple has exchanged rings. There are two particularly lovely versions of the song: Gounod's and Schubert's. The song is a popular choice when the bride and/or groom have a close relationship with Mary, as it can be a special way to honour her.
However, some people consider "Ave Maria" to be inappropriate for weddings. Some liturgical purists insist that the song should never be sung during a wedding, especially if it is a Mass. It is also considered by some to be a funeral song. Additionally, some people believe that the song does not fit the "tone" of a wedding.
Despite these differing opinions, "Ave Maria" remains a popular and traditional choice for Catholic weddings. It is a song that many people find meaningful and moving, and it can be a special way to honour Mary, the mother of Christ. Ultimately, the decision to include "Ave Maria" in a wedding is a personal one, and there is no "official" ruling on whether it is an appropriate song for a processional.
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It is a religious song, which may not be suitable for secular weddings
"Ave Maria" is a popular choice for Catholic weddings, and it is liturgically appropriate to include it in the ceremony. It is a traditional Catholic prayer, with the Latin text translating to "Hail Mary". The song is often used to honour the mother of Christ, which ties into the idea of motherhood and raising children in a marriage.
However, the song's religious nature may not be suitable for secular weddings. While the original melody was written for an epic poem, it is now commonly associated with the Catholic prayer. As such, it may be considered inappropriate to use in a secular setting, especially if the purpose is not to bring people closer to the Church.
Some people view "Ave Maria" as a funeral song and may associate it with sadness. This perception could impact the overall mood and tone of the wedding, potentially ruining the experience for certain guests.
Additionally, there are differing opinions on the song's appropriateness within Catholic circles. While some consider it a beautiful and acceptable choice for a wedding, others argue that it should not be sung during the ceremony, especially if it is a Mass.
Ultimately, the decision to include "Ave Maria" in a wedding depends on the couple's personal preferences and the context of their ceremony. If the wedding is secular, an instrumental version might be more suitable to avoid the religious connotations of the song.
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It is often used as a prelude or during the ceremony
Ave Maria is a popular choice for Catholic weddings. It is often used as a prelude or during the ceremony, especially when the bride and/or groom have a close relationship with Mary, as the song is a prayer to the Virgin Mary. In this case, the song can be a special way to honour that relationship.
In Catholic weddings, it is traditionally sung just after the blessing, once the couple has exchanged rings. It is also used as an entrance song for the mothers of the bride and groom. In Brazil, it is customary for the bride to walk down the aisle to Ave Maria.
The song is considered to be a beautiful piece of music, but it is also very religious. The text of the song is the Hail Mary in Latin, and it is a prayer to the Virgin Mary. For this reason, some people consider it inappropriate for a wedding, especially a secular wedding. It is also used in funeral services, and some people associate it with sadness.
However, the tune of Ave Maria is originally secular, as it was written as part of an epic poem. Schubert wrote the melody as part of seven songs set to text from Walter Scott's "The Lady of the Lake". It was only later that the melody was set to the Catholic prayer. Therefore, using an instrumental version of the song in a secular setting is not necessarily a problem.
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It is considered inappropriate by some, who associate it with funerals
"Ave Maria" is a popular choice for Catholic weddings. It is considered inappropriate by some, who associate it with funerals.
The song is a Catholic prayer addressed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and so some believe it is unsuitable for weddings, especially if the ceremony is secular. The song is commonly used in funerals, and so some people may associate it with sadness and loss.
However, others argue that the song is not just for funerals and that it is a beautiful piece of music that is appropriate for weddings, especially for those with a close relationship to Mary. In Brazil, for example, it is customary for the bride to walk down the aisle to "Ave Maria".
The decision to include "Ave Maria" in a wedding ceremony is ultimately a personal choice. While some may find it inappropriate, others may find it meaningful and special. It is important to consider the views of those involved in the wedding and decide what is best for the couple and their families.
To make it more suitable for a wedding, some couples opt for an instrumental version of the song, as the melody is originally from a secular composition.
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There are two popular versions by Gounod and Schubert
There are two popular versions of Ave Maria, composed separately by Gounod and Schubert. The melody of Ave Maria was crafted by Gounod about 130 years after its accompaniment. He improvised the melody, and his future father-in-law, Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmerman, transcribed the improvisation. In 1853, Zimmerman made an arrangement for violin (or cello) with piano and harmonium. The same year, it appeared with the words of Alphonse de Lamartine's poem "Le livre de la vie" ("The Book of Life"). In 1859, Jacques-Léopold Heugel published a version with the familiar Latin text "Ave Maria", which became popular.
Gounod's version of Ave Maria is based on Bach's Prelude, which is a study in harmony in broken chords. He used the first four measures for a prelude, repeating them for the first entry of the voice. He added a tempo marking, pedal markings for the pianist, and dynamic markings. Gounod's composition was a self-commending fine specimen of a Bellini-esque "bel canto". It attracted a phenomenal level of acclaim, becoming immensely popular while improving Gounod's faltering reputation with the contemporary public. Gounod himself, however, never considered Ave Maria among his greatest accomplishments.
Schubert's Ave Maria was written as part of seven songs set to text from Walter Scott's epic poem, "The Lady of the Lake". It was originally published in German and English and was set to the Catholic prayer at a later date. The Latin performance is so prevalent now that many people, even musicians, forget that it was not the original setting. Schubert's Ave Maria is a common tune that people will recognize as Ave Maria, even as an instrumental.
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Frequently asked questions
Ave Maria is a popular choice for Catholic weddings, but it is a religious song, being a traditionally Catholic prayer, so it may not be suitable for a secular wedding. It is also reportedly used at funerals, so it may evoke sadness in some guests.
No, it is not. Sacrilegious means to make profane utterances against the Church, and Ave Maria is not that. However, it is a religious song, so it may not be suitable for a secular wedding.
It is traditional to sing Ave Maria just after the blessing, once the couple has exchanged rings. It can also be played as the bride walks down the aisle, or as an entrance song for the mothers of the bride and groom.



































