THE RITE OF HOLY MATRIMONY

Marriage Rite:

Grooms full names and Bride’s full names, you have come together in this church, so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of the Church’s minister and this community. Christ abundantly blesses this love. He has already consecrated you in baptism and now he enriches and strengthens you by a special sacrament so that you may assume duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions.

Groom’s Christian name and Bride’s Christian name, I shall now ask you if you freely undertake the obligations of marriage, and to state that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.

Are you ready, freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

Groom:  I am
Bride:    I am

Priest: Are you ready to love and honour each other as husband and wife for the rest of your lives?

Groom:    I am
Bride:      I am

Priest: Are you ready to accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?

Groom:    I am
Bride:      I am

Groom: I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Groom’s full names, may not be joined in Holy Matrimony to Bride’s full names.

Bride: I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I Bride’s full names, may not be joined in Holy Matrimony to Groom’s full names.

(The priest then calls upon the Brother of the Bride to come and give her hand to the Groom. The Brother hands the Bride’s right hand to the Groom’s right hand and may say a few words)

CONSENT

Priest: Since it is your intention to enter marriage, declare your consent before God and before his Church.

Priest: Groom’s Christian name, will you take Bride’s Christian name here present for your lawful wife, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church?

Groom:             I will.

Priest: Bride’s Christian name, will you take Groom’s Christian name here present for your lawful husband, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church?

Bride:               I will.

(The Priest then instructs them to join their right hands)

Groom:  I call upon these persons here present to witness that I Groom’s full names, do take thee, Bride’s full names, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to  hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

(They separate their hands momentarily then re-join them)

Bride: I call upon these persons here present to witness that I Bride’s full names, do take thee, Groom’s full names, to be my lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

Priest: You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen you consent and fill you both with His blessings. What God has put together, let no man put asunder.

Congregation: Amen.

BLESSING AND EXCHANGE OF THE RINGS

Priest: Lord, bless these rings which we bless in your name. Grant that those who wear them may always have a deep faith in each other. May they do your will and always live together in peace, goodwill and love, through Christ our Lord.

Congregation: Amen

Groom places the ring on Bride’s finger saying:

Groom: Bride’s Christian name, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Congregation: Amen.

Bride places the ring on Groom’s finger saying:

Bride: Groom’s Christian name, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Congregation: Amen.

Priest: (Addresses the congregation)

In the presence of God, and before this congregation, Grooms full names and Bride’s full names, have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by joining of hands and giving and receiving of a ring. I, therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Congregation:       Amen.