Is "taste and see" too associated with Communion to use as a wedding psalm?

On the contrary, many couples find the resonance enriching. The psalm reminds us that the same God whose goodness is tasted in the Eucharist is the God who has brought you together at the altar.

Can the same musical setting be used for both the psalm and Communion?

Yes, and it can be a beautiful liturgical thread. Coordinate with your music director.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 34:2-9

"Taste and see the goodness of the Lord"

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Scripture text (World English Bible)

My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad. Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together. I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

Themes

taste and see
praise
divine goodness
sheltering trust
the Eucharist

Reflection

Psalm 34 is one of the most beloved psalms in Christian worship. The line "taste and see the goodness of the Lord" became, very early in the Church's life, an Eucharistic acclamation. To choose it for your wedding day is to invite that resonance into the liturgy: the same God who feeds his people in the bread and cup is the God who blesses your marriage.

The verses selected for the wedding lectionary are pure praise. They ring with the joy of someone who has experienced God's deliverance and cannot help but tell others. For a couple at the altar, the psalm becomes a personal confession: we have tasted, in the goodness of finding one another, something of the goodness of God himself. Marriage is a sign, a sacrament, precisely because finite human love can become a window onto infinite divine love.

The closing line of the selection, "Look to him, and be radiant", is a beautiful image to carry into your married life. The faces of the bride and groom on the wedding day often have a kind of lit-from-within quality that everyone notices. The psalm gently reminds us where that radiance comes from.

Best for

·Couples for whom the Eucharist is central to their life of faith
·Weddings during the Easter season, when "taste and see" carries paschal weight
·Liturgies with strong cantor or choral music
·Couples who appreciate a joyful, praise-filled psalm rather than a contemplative one

In the liturgy

Among the most universally known wedding psalms; nearly every parish music director has a setting at hand. The "taste and see" antiphon also serves liturgically as a Communion antiphon, creating a nice resonance if the same setting is used at both moments.

Pairs well with

Frequently asked questions

Is "taste and see" too associated with Communion to use as a wedding psalm?: On the contrary, many couples find the resonance enriching. The psalm reminds us that the same God whose goodness is tasted in the Eucharist is the God who has brought you together at the altar.
Can the same musical setting be used for both the psalm and Communion?: Yes, and it can be a beautiful liturgical thread. Coordinate with your music director.

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Other approved responsorial psalm options

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