Wedding Topics

Text of the blessing at the end of Mass for a Catholic wedding

Below is text from The Order for Celebrating of Matrimony (USCCB, 2016) for the blessing at the conclusion of a Catholic wedding celebration. To see where the blessing occurs during the wedding, check the outline of a Catholic wedding ceremony with Mass or the outline of a Catholic wedding ceremony without Mass.

Italics indicate the rubrics, the instructions to the presider.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony © 2013, ICEL. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. and some additional texts copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the permission in writing form the copyright holder.

Individuals who wish to reproduce text from The Order of Celebrating Matrimony for their own use (including reproduction in wedding programs) must follow the ICEL copyright permission procedures, which may be found at www.icelweb.org.

Blessing at the Conclusion of the Celebration

The Priest, with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom, says:

Option A (#77)

May God the eternal Father
keep you of one heart in love for one another,
that the peace of Christ may dwell in you
and abide always in your home.
Response: Amen.
May you be blessed in your children,
have solace in your friends
and enjoy true peace with everyone.
Response: Amen.
May you be witnesses in the world to God's charity,
so that the afflicted and needy who have known your kindness
may one day receive you thankfully
into the eternal dwelling of God.
Response: Amen.
And he blesses all the people, adding:
And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Response: Amen.

Option B (#213)

God the eternal Father
keep you in love with each other,
that the peace of Christ may dwell with you
and abide always in your home.
Response: Amen.
May you be blessed in your children
and have solace in your friends
and enjoy true peace with everyone.
Response: Amen.
May you always bear witness in the world to God’s charity,
so that the afflicted and the needy who have known your kindness
may one day receive you thankfully into the eternal dwelling of God
Response: Amen.
And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Response: Amen.

Option C (#214)

May God the all-powerful Father grant you his joy
and bless you in your children.
Response: Amen.
May the Only Begotten Son of God
stand by you with compassion in good times and in bad.
Response: Amen.
May the Holy Spirit of God
always pour forth his love into your hearts.
Response: Amen.
And he blesses all the people, adding:
And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Response: Amen.

Option C (#215)

May the Lord Jesus,
who graced the marriage at Cana by his presence,
bless you and your loved ones.
Response: Amen.
May he, who loved the Church to the end,
unceasingly pour his love into your hearts.
Response: Amen.
May the Lord grant
that, bearing witness to faith in his Resurrection,
you may await with joy the blessed hope to come.
Response: Amen.
And he blesses all the people, adding:
And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Response: Amen.

Option D (#141)

And may almighty God bless all you, who are gathered here,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Response: Amen.

For more information

Order of a Catholic wedding ceremony during Mass
A step-by-step walk through the complete order of the Catholic wedding Mass.

Order of a Catholic wedding ceremony outside Mass
A step-by-step walk through the complete order of a Catholic wedding outside of Mass.

Order of a wedding between a Catholic and an unbaptized person
A step-by-step walk through the complete order of a wedding between a Catholic and someone who has not been baptized as a Christian.

Choosing the form of your wedding
As you begin planning your wedding, one of the first things you will discuss with the priest or deacon at your parish is which form of the Rite of Marriage you will use during your wedding. Here are the three basic options.