Inseparable Love

Paul Turner is pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri, and director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Kansas City––St. Joseph. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from Sant’ Anselmo in Rome. He is a former president of the North American Academy of Liturgy and a member of Societas Liturgica and the Catholic Academy of Liturgy. He is the author of numerous books published by Liturgical Press and a contributor to Give Us This Day. Most recently, he is the recipient of four awards from the 2025 Catholic Media Association Book Awards, including First Place for Author of the Year. Visit his website at https://paulturner.org.

• ContentsAcknowledgments   xiAbbreviations   xii   Prologue   xiiiPreface   xvThe Title   1Introduction   7I. The Importance and Dignity of the Sacrament of Matrimony   8II. Duties and Ministries   14III. The Celebration of Marriage   28The Preparation   28The Rite to Be Used   33IV. Adaptations to Be Prepared by the Conferences of Bishops   41I. The Order of Celebrating Matrimony within Mass   51The Introductory Rites   52The First Form   52The Second Form   68The Liturgy of the Word   74The Celebration of Marriage   78The Questions before the Consent   82The Consent   88The Reception of Consent   97The Blessing and Giving of Rings   102The Blessing and Giving of the Arras   111The Universal Prayer   116The Liturgy of the Eucharist   120The Blessing and Placing of the Lazo or the Veil   123The Nuptial Blessing   125The Conclusion of the Celebration   154II. The Order of Celebrating Matrimony without Mass  163The Introductory Rites   168The First Form   168The Second Form   171The Liturgy of the Word   175The Celebration of Matrimony   176The Questions before the Consent   178The Consent   178The Blessing and Giving of Rings   180The Blessing and Giving of the Arras   180The Universal Prayer   181The Blessing and Placing of the Lazo or the Veil   182The Nuptial Blessing   183Holy Communion   187The Conclusion of the Celebration   192Editio typica altera III. The Order of Celebrating Matrimony in the Presence of an Assisting Layperson   195The Introductory Rites   197The Liturgy of the Word   198The Celebration of Marriage   198The Questions before the Consent   199The Consent   199The Reception of the Consent   200The Blessing and Giving of Rings   200The Universal Prayer   201The Nuptial Blessing   201 Holy Communion   202The Conclusion of the Celebration   205III. The Order of Celebrating Matrimony between a Catholic and a Catechumen or a Non-Christian   207The Rite of Reception   212The Liturgy of the Word   213The Celebration of Matrimony   214The Questions before the Consent   214The Consent   215The Reception of the Consent   216The Blessing and Giving of the Arras   217The Universal Prayer   217The Blessing and Placing of the Lazo or the Veil   218The Nuptial Blessing   219The Conclusion of the Celebration   220IV. Various Texts to Be Used in the Rite of Marriage and in the Mass for the Celebration of Marriage   223I. Biblical Readings   223Readings from the Old Testament   225Readings from the New Testament   228Responsorial Psalms   234Alleluia Verses and Verses before the Gospel   237Gospel Readings   238II. Collects   241III. Other Prayers for the Blessing of Rings   246IV. Prayers over the Offerings   247V. Prefaces   249VI. Commemoration of the Couple in the Eucharistic Prayer   252VII. Other Prayers of Nuptial Blessing   255VIII. Prayers after Communion   261IX. Blessings at the End of the Celebration   263Appendices   267I. Examples of the Universal Prayer   267II. The Order of Blessing an Engaged Couple   270The Introductory Rites   271Reading of the Word of God   273Prayers   275Prayer of Blessing   276Conclusion of the Rite   278III. The Order of Blessing a Married Couple within Mass on the Anniversary of Matrimony   278The Blessing of Rings   283Afterword   289Bibliography   291Index   295

"Fr. Paul Turner's Inseparable Love is one of those rare books that is both scholarly and pastoral. For scholars he offers deep background on the reformed rites of marriage, particularly by making available the discussions and debates among the drafters of the reformed rites on various aspects of the theology and practice of Christian marriage. For those with pastoral responsibilities he offers a host of practical suggestions, born of years of experience, for carrying out the rites with fidelity and grace. This is a splendid and indispensable resource."Deacon Frederick C. Bauerschmidt, Professor of Theology, Loyola University Maryland