Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage
Welcome!
The Sacrament of Marriage is a beautiful and sacred vocation—an outward sign of God’s love made visible through the lifelong covenant between a man and a woman. In this holy union, couples are called to reflect Christ’s faithful, self-giving love, growing together in holiness as they build a life rooted in faith, hope, and charity.
We are truly honored and filled with joy to walk alongside you as you prepare for this sacred commitment. Marriage preparation is more than planning a wedding day—it is an invitation to deepen your relationship with one another and with God. Through this journey, we hope to support, guide, and encourage you as you lay a strong spiritual foundation for your life together.
The marriage preparation process is designed to guide engaged couples towards a sacramental marriage celebration and provide essential tools to live out this lifelong covenant. These guidelines for marriage preparation apply to all Catholics in the Diocese of Orlando.
If you are considering marriage in our church, please complete the intake form below, and we will contact you within 5 business days.
*Please note, we are unable to accommodate anyone residing outside our parish boundaries, and we do not book destination weddings.
Before completing the intake form, couples must read our policy package to ensure a marriage at St. Thomas Aquinas is right for you.
Nuptial Mass Readings
The readings at a Catholic wedding liturgy are a proclamation of God’s Word and of the Church’s faith about marriage. For this reason, they are limited to readings from the scriptures (the Bible). There are nine options for the first reading from the Old Testament and thirteen options for the second reading from the New Testament. You choose one from each of these categories.
You may find it helpful to reflect prayerfully on each reading and to choose those that speak to you. The links below include the reading options in their entirety, as well as commentary to provide some context and highlight key themes in each reading.
Old Testament
- Male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26-28, 31a)
- The two of them become one body (Genesis 2:18-24)
- In his love for Rebekah, Isaac found solace after the death of his mother (Genesis 24:48-51, 58-67)
- May the Lord of heaven prosper you both. May he grant you mercy and peace (Tobit 7:6-14)
- Allow us to live together to a happy old age (Tobit 8:4b-8)
- The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31)
- Stern as death is love (Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16a; 8:6-7a)
- Like the sun rising in the Lord’s heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home (Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16)
- I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jeremiah 31:31-32a, 33-34a)
Antiguo Testamento
- Hombre y mujer los creó (Génesis 1:26-28, 31a)
- Los dos se convierten en un solo cuerpo (Génesis 2:18-24)
- En su amor por Rebeca, Isaac encontró consuelo tras la muerte de su madre (Génesis 24:48-51, 58-67)
- Que el Señor del cielo os prospere a ambos. Que os conceda misericordia y paz (Tobías 7:9-10 y 11-17)
- Permítenos vivir juntos hasta una feliz vejez (Tobías 8:4-9)
- Severo como la muerte es el amor (Cantar de los Cantares 2:8-10, 14, 16 y 8:6-7)
- La esposa buena es una bendición para su esposo (Sirácides 26:1-4 y 13-16)
- Haré un nuevo pacto con la casa de Israel y la casa de Judá (Jeremías 31:31-34)
New Testament
- What will separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39)
- Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1-2, 9-18)
- Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you (Romans 15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13)
- Your body is a temple of the Spirit (Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20)
- If I do not have love, I gain nothing (Corinthians 12:31-13:8a)
- One Body and one Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-6)
- This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:2a, 21-33)
- The God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:4-9)
- And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:12-17)
- Let marriage be held in honor by all (Hebrews 13:1-4a, 5-6b)
- Be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another (1 Peter 3:1-9)
- Love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18-24)
- God is love (1 John 4:7-12)
- Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1, 5-9a)
Nuevo Testamento
- ¿Qué nos separará del amor de Cristo? (Romanos 8:31-35, 37-39)
- Ofrezcan sus cuerpos como sacrificio vivo, santo y agradable a Dios (Romanos 12:1-2, 9-18)
- Tu cuerpo es templo del Espíritu (1 Corintios 6:13-15, 17-20)
- Si no tengo amor, de nada me sirve (1 Corintios 12:31 y 13:1-8)
- Este es un gran misterio, pero hablo en referencia a Cristo y a la Iglesia (Efesios 5:2 y 21-33)
- Y sobre todos estos, vístanse de amor, que es el vínculo de la perfección (Colosenses 3:12-17)
- Tened un mismo sentir, compasivos y amorosos los unos con los otros (1 Pedro 3:1-9)
- Amor en obras y en verdad (1 Juan 3:18-24)
- Dios es amor (1 Juan 4:7-12)
- Bienaventurados los que han sido llamados al banquete de bodas del Cordero (Apocalipsis 19:1 y 5-9)
For general information on Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Orlando, please visit this link: