Rite of Marriage

(The couple stands and the community sits)

Commentator:  
LIAM and GRACE will now pledge their commitment for each other in the Sacrament of Matrimony.  Let us join them in prayer as we witness this significant moment in their journey of faith, love and life.  May I request the parents and principal sponsors to come to the altar to act as witnesses of the ceremony.

Priest:  Dearly beloved LIAM and GRACE, you are here today to seal your love with an eternal bond before the Church.  I assure you of the prayers of the community that God may pour His abundant blessings on your love and help you carry out the duties of the married state.  And you dear sponsors, parents, brothers, and sisters, relatives and friends of LIAM and GRACE may I ask you to help them with your prayers and accept them as a new couple in our Christian community.

STATEMENT OF INTENTIONS

Priest:  May I ask you to answer truthfully the following questions.  Grace, did you come here of your own free will, to bind yourself forever in the love and service of your husband?

Grace:  Yes, Father.

Priest:  Liam, did you come here of your own free will, to bind yourself forever in the love and service of your wife?

Liam:  Yes, Father.

Priest:  Are you both ready to raise as good Christians, the children whom God will give you?

Liam & Grace:  Yes, Father.

EXCHANGE OF CONSENT

Priest:  LIAM and GRACE, since it is your intention to contract Holy Matrimony, please join your right hands and declare your consent before God and His Church.

Grace do you take Liam, here present, as your lawful husband, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church?

Grace:  Yes, I do.

Priest:  Do you give yourself to him as his wife?

Grace:  Yes, I do.

Priest:  Do you accept him as your lawful husband?

Grace:  Yes, I do.

Priest:  Liam do you take Grace, here present, as your lawful wife, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church?

Liam:  Yes, I do.

Priest:  Do you give yourself to her as her husband ?

Liam:  Yes, I do.

Priest:  Do you accept her as your lawful wife?

Liam:  Yes, I do.

Priest:  May I now request you to recite this prayer together.

Liam & Grace:  Guide us Almighty Father, a strive to fulfill our marriage vows.  Grant us O Lord, to be one heart and one soul from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death to us part.  We put ourselves in your hands, as husband and wife, and share this covenant with all those who are present.

COMMITMENT OF THE SPONSORS:

Priest:  May I request the principal sponsors to pledge their support for LIAM and GRACE  to the Holy Mother, the Church and to the loving community here present.

Sponsors:  Dearly beloved LIAM and GRACE, heaven and earth are witness to the covenant you have made.  In the name of the community here present, we testify before God and Man that you are now husband and wife.  We wholeheartedly accept you and you can count on our prayers and support.

CONFIRMATION OF THE MARRIAGE BOND

Priest:  LIAM and GRACE, you have declared your consent before the church.  May the Lord, in His goodness, strengthen His blessings.

And I, by the authority of the Church, calling on all those present here witness, confirm and bless the bond of marriage, which you have contracted.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All:  Amen.

BLESSING AND GIVING OF THE RINGS

Commentator:  May we request the Ring bearer, Henry Angelo to bring the wedding rings.

Priest:  LIAM and GRACE, we shall now bless your rings.  Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All:  He who made heaven and earth.

Priest:  Let us pray.  Bless, O Lord these rings that your children, LIAM and GRACE, who will wear them, may ever live in mutual love and unbroken loyalty.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

Priest:  The ring is a symbol of the love you have for each other.  Its unending circle represents the eternal quality of the love to which you are called by Christ.  Now you my seal your promises to each other by giving and receiving each other's ring.

Liam:  Grace, take and wear this ring as a reminder of my promises to you today and as a symbol of my love and fidelity in my sincerest desire to live the rest of my life with you, in trust, in goodwill and in love.  Wear it with love and joy.  I choose you to be my wife now and forever.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Grace:  Liam, take and wear this ring as a reminder of my promises to you today and as a symbol of my love and fidelity in my sincerest desire to live the rest of my life with you, in trust, in goodwill and in love.  Wear it with love and joy.  I choose you to be my husband now and forever.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.



BLESSING AND GIVING OF ARRHAE

Commentator:  May we request Johann to bring the arrhae.

Priest:  We shall now bless your arrhae.  Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All:  He who made heaven and earth.

Priest:  Let us pray.  Bless, O Lord, LIAM and GRACE with material possessions to support and sustain them in their married life, which this arrhae symbolizes.  May they be responsible stewards of your blessings as they choose the path of generosity and self-giving.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

Liam:  Grace, I give you this arrhae a pledge of my dedication to you and our children's well-being and welfare.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Grace:  Liam, I gratefully and joyfully, accept them as a symbol of my responsibility of building a family and truly Christian home with you.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

BLESSING AND GIVING OF THE BIBLE

Commentator:  May we request Franz to bring the Holy Bible

Priest:  Let us pray.  Bless, O Lord, this Holy Bible. May this Holy Bible always be the source of strength, guidance and wisdom for LIAM and GRACE.  Help them to anchor their marriage on your loving words, through Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE COUPLE IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Commentator:  May we request everybody to stand and let us pray for the acceptance of the couple into the Christian community.

All:  LIAM and GRACE, we shared your life and love, and now, we send you on praying that the love you have pledged for each other  before God and His people.  We give witness before God, His Church and this community that LIAM and GRACE are now married to each other.

Commentator:  We now welcome them as a new couple in our Christian Community with our warm applause.

Principal Sponsors, bearers, and parents may now go back to their seats.

May we request the offerers, to please approach the offertory table.

All please remain standing for the Prayers of the Faithful.



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