Glass window of Bernadette Bihin (first page of the order of service): "The Parable of the Mustard-seed" (Church of Saint Catherine in Bonlez). The text on the window says: "Elle pousse, devient un grand arbre et les oiseaux du ciel y font leur nid."
The Wedding Mass is presided over by:
and concelebrated by:
With the musical collaboration of:
Welcoming the guests
Opening of the ceremony and Welcome
Toccata con Fuga in d, BWV 565 - J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Welcome
Cardinal: In name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Cardinal: The mercy of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the society of the Holy Spirit are with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Cardinal: We are gathered here in the House of the Lord united around Laurent and Claire who will say yes to each other today. On this critical moment of their lifes, we want to be near them with our affection and friendship, but also with our prayer.
Be welcome here, you all to share in the happiness of those two people, to witness them saying yes, and to confirm with them. And to thank together with them in this celebration the God of love.
We heartily welcome bride and groom and all present here. May God fulfill us with joy about this gathering, let us praise and thank Him for Laurent and Claire who today receive the sacrament, sign of God's good.
We also welcome the family of Claire and invite them to take part in this celebration. Let us now praise God, because He is the source of all love among the people.
Messe Opus 11: Kyrie - A. Guilmant (1837-1911) - Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae conducted by W. Ceuleers
Opening prayer
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Genesis 6, 13-14a. 18-22 - By Duchess Sophie d'Arenberg née Princess of Bavaria (godmother of Prince Laurent) - In German.
The Lord said to Noah: "The days of the people are numbered, because they are to blame that the earth is full of violence. I am going to destroy them with the earth. You need to build an ark of pinewood. You have to embark at the ark, with your sons, with your wives and the wives of your sons. Further you have to bring one pair from all living creatures in the ark, to make them staying alive with you; one male and one female animal there must be. From the various kind of birds, from the various kind of cattle, from the various kind of animals that crawl on the ground, one pair has to go with you and thus stay alive. Further bring all kind of food together and store it, so that yourself and the animals have something to eat." Noah did this all; all what God had ordered him, he carried out.
"The Creation: Achieved is the Glorious Work" - J. Haydn (1732-1809) - The Brussels Choral Societ, led by E. Delson
Second Reading: First letter of John 4, 19-21
Brothers and Sisters, we love each other because God has loved us first. But if someone says he loves God, while he hates his brother, he is a lyar. Because if he doesn't love his brother whome he sees, he can't love God whom he has never seen. This command we received of Him: who loves God, also needs to love his brother.
Choral - Jesus bleibt meine Freude (Jesus stay my joy) - BWV 147 - J.S. Bach (1685-1750) - J. Sluys, Organ and L. Wouters, trumpet
Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe Redemptor - Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae conducted by W. Ceuleers and J. Sluys, Organ
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 13, 31-32
In those days Jesus held before the crowd this parable: "The realm of the heavens looks like a mustard-seed, that someone sowed on his field. That is then the smallest seed, but when it has progressed, it is bigger than the other garden-vegetation; it becomes a tree, so that the birds come nesting in its branches."
Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe Redemptor - Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae conducted by W. Ceuleers and J. Sluys, Organ
Homily (by Cardinal Danneels)
Divertimento KV 196-Romance - W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) - Woodwind Ensemble of the Orchestre National de Belgique
Marriage Sacrament
Questioning: marriage-vows, confirmation
Cardinal: Laurent and Claire, you have been able to listen to the Word of God who has revealed to the people the sense of love and of the marriage. You are going to enter into matrimony. Have you both come here out of free will and with the full approval of your heart to marry each other?
Engaged couple: Yes.
Cardinal: You are going to promise each other faith. Is this for your whole life?
Engaged couple: Yes, for our whole life.
Cardinal: Do you accept the responsibility as man and wife and parents in the family you are going to found?
Engaged couple: Yes, we accept.
Cardinal: In presence of God, who is the source of your love and who will always be with you, for all present here, I ask you to speak out your marriage-vows.
Laurent (in Dutch): Claire, I want to be your husband and I promise to stay loyal to you in good and bad days, in poverty and wealth, in illness and health. I promise to love you and to appreciate you all days of my life.
Claire (in French): Laurent, I want to be your wife and I promise to stay loyal to you in good and bad days, in poverty and wealth, in illness and health. I promise to love you and to appreciate you all days of my life.
Cardinal: I declare you married by God.
Blessing and giving of the wedding rings
Father Guy Gilbert: Lord, bless Laurent and Claire, glorify them in their love. Let their rings that are the sign of their faith, also remember them always to their love. By Jesus, Christ, Our Lord.
Laurent (in French): Claire, take this ring, as a sign of my love and faith.
Claire (in Dutch): Laurent, take this ring, as a sign of my love and faith.
Father Guy Gilbert: Laurent and Claire, live in joy, and love each other like you just promised.
Prayer of the married couple (from Michel Kesterman)
Lord, We want to build a serene world, a free world, a world where peace and love rule.
We wish not necessary an easy world, a dream world but a world in which everyone respects others, where there is a future for everyone.
That is not possible not today, and even not tomorrow, but help us to work so that your Kingdom will come, and your wish can happen.
Give us desire, faith and hope in such a future.
Forgive us our shortcomings and help us to forgive this also in others.
Give us the courage not to let down the poor if everything seems to go wrong. Show us your face at the intersections of our paths.
Fanfare pour précéder "La Péri" - P. Dukas (1865-1935) - Brass Ensemble of the Orchestre National de Belgique led by M. Franck
Intentions
Acclamation: Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est - Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae, conducted by W. Ceuleers, and J. Sluys, organ
Father Guy Gilbert: The holy Therese of Avila said with certain humor to Christ: "If you treat your friends like this, I understand that you have so little."
This saint declared the mystery of the suffering and the questions it raises.
God hates the suffering. He however has allowed it in a mysterious way. Only the Cross and the Rising of Christ can overrise the suffering.
Lord, learn us to understand the mystery of the suffering!
Each family has its own part in suffering and joy.
May the Lord help us to carry our cross and also that of others!
May Claire and Laurent carry the crosses of life together and may they be filled with joy.
Laurent: Thank you Mr Cardinal and all present here who are witnesses of our Love! (He also congratulated the Deacon with his 50th anniversary as a Priest, and the Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt with his 50th birthday)
Guy, our friendship crosses all borders, all cultures, all languages and religions.
Thank, Guy because of who you are thanks to your youths! When I see you, I understand better that there is a Creator who loves us.
Father Guy Gilbert: You, who are the Creator of the universe.
You who created the miracle of Man and Woman.
You who surprised us with the flowers, the trees and the splendour of the nature.
You who created the lady-bird and the elephant.
Give each of us, a huge respect for the nature!
Let us pray for our children, that they because of our fight for the Life, don't have to live with gas-masks on their face within 50 years!
Make of each of us, Lord, fighters for the Life, for all Life!
Eucharist Liturgy
Offertory
Ave Verum Corpus KV 618 - W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) - The Brussels Choral Society, led by E. Delson
Prayer over the offerings
Preface The Lord is with you. And with your spirit. Raise your heart. We are with our heart with the Lord. We bring thanks to the Lord, our God. He is worth our gratitude.
Sanctus
Messe Opus 11: Sanctus - A. Guilmant (1837-1911) - Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae, conducted by W. Ceuleers
After the consecration
Lord Jesus, we preach your death and we confess until you return, that you have arosen.
Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae conducted by W. Ceuleers and J. Sluys, organ
Our Father (Gregorian)
Pater noster, qui es in caelis;
Sanctificetur nomen Tuum;
Adveniat regnum Tuum;
Fiat voluntas Tua, sicut in caelo et in terra;
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie;
Et domitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.
Sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae conducted by W. Ceuleers and J. Sluys, organ
Marriage blessing
Wishes for peace
Messe Opus 11-Agnus Dei - A. Guilmant (1837-1911) - Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae, conducted by W. Ceuleers
Communion
Ostet op 103, Andante - L. van Beethoven (1770-1827) - Woodwind Ensemble of the Orchestre National de Belgique
Abdijvrede - F. Peeters (1903-1986) - J. Sluys, Organ
Meditation (By Father Guy Gilbert)
Choral-Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (Deares Jesus, we are here)-BWV 730 - J.S. Bach (1685-1750) - J. Sluys, organ
Ave Maria - Ch. Gounod (1818-1893) - Yvette Fanna, Soprano and J. Sluys, organ
Prayer after the communion
Signing of the wedding register
Psalm 150 - C. Franck (1822-1890) - The Brussels Choral Society, led by E. Delson
Papal Blessing
Sit nomen Domini benedictum
Ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.
Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
Qui fecit caelum et terram.
Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater et Filius et Spiritus Sanctus.
Amen.
Capella Sanctorum Michaëlis et Gudulae, led by W. Ceuleers
Brabançonne (Belgian national anthem) - Brass Ensemble of the Orchestre National de Belgique, conducted by M. Franck
Leaving of the Cathedral
Toccata (Symphony V) - Ch.-M. Widor (1844-1937) - J. Sluys, organ
Toccata - J. Jongen (1873-1953) - J. Sluys, organ