Wedding Topics

Text of the Celebration of Matrimony

Following is the text of the Celebration of Matrimony (The Order of Celebrating Matrimony #58-69). Click on the following link for a description and explanation of the complete outline of the Order of Celebrating Marriage With 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.

The Celebration of Matrimony

All stand, including the couple and the witnesses, who are positioned near them, the Priest addresses the couple in these or similar words:

Dearly beloved, you have come together into the house of the Church so that in the presence of the Church’s minister and the community your intention to enter into Marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal. [If both parties are Christian: Christ abundantly blesses the love that binds you. Through a special Sacrament, he enriches and strengthens those he has already consecrated by Holy Baptism, that they may; If one party is unbaptized (#124): and your love be enriched with his blessing you, so that you may have strength to] be faithful to each other for ever and assume all the responsibilities of married life. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions.

The Questions before the Consent

The Priest then questions them about their freedom of choice, fidelity to each other, and the acceptance and upbringing of children, and each responds separately.

(Name) and (Name), have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
The bridegroom and bride each say: I have.

Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, tolove and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?
The bridegroom and bride each say: I am.

The following question may be omitted if circumstances suggest this, for example, if the couple is advanced in years.

Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?
The bridegroom and bride each say: I am.

Consent

The priest invites them to declare their consent:
Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.

They join their right hands.

Option A

The bridegroom says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.

The bride says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.

Option B

The following alternative form may be used:

The bridegroom says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

The bride says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

If, however, it seems preferable for pastoral reasons, the priest may obtain consent from the couple through questions.

Option A

First, he asks the bridegroom:
(Name), do you take (Name) to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?
The bridegroom replies: I do.

Next, the Priest asks the bride:
(Name), do you take (Name) to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?

The bride replies: I do.

Option B

First, he asks the bridegroom:
(Name), do you take (Name) for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?
The bridegroom replies: I do.

Next, the Priest asks the bride:
(Name), do you take (Name) for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?
The bride replies: I do.

The Reception of Consent

Receiving their consent, the priest says to the bride and bridgegroom:
May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the Church and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessings within you. What God has joined, let no one put asunder.
May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God who joined together our first parents in paradise, strength and bless in Christ the consent you have declared before the Church, so that what God joins together, no one may put asunder.

The Priest invites those present to praise God: Let us bless the Lord.
All reply: Thanks be to God.
Another acclamation may be sung or said.

Blessing and Giving of Rings

Option 1

Priest: May the Lord bless these rings,
which you will give to each other
as the sign of your love and fidelity.
Response: Amen.

Option 2 (#194)

Priest: Bless, O Lord, these rings
which we bless in your name.
so that those who wear them
may remain entirely faithful to each other,
abide in peace and in your will,
and live always in mutual charity.
Through Christ our Lord.
Response: Amen.

Option 3 (#195)

Priest: Bless and sanctify your servants
in their love, O Lord,
and let these rings, a sign of their faithfulness,
remind them of their love for one another.
Through Christ our Lord.
Response: Amen.

The Priest sprinkles the rings, as the circumstances so suggest, and gives them to the bride and bridegroom.
The husband places his wife's ring on her ring finger, saying, as the circumstances so suggest:

(Name), receive 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.

Likewise, the wife places her husband's ring on his ring finger saying, as the circumstances so suggest:

(Name), receive 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.

Optional: The Blessing and Giving of Arras

If the occasion so suggests, the rite of blessing and giving of arras (coins) may take place following the giving of rings.

The Priest says: Bless, O Lord, these arras that (Name) and (Name) will give to each other and pour over them the abundance of your good gifts.

The husband takes the arras and hands them over to his wife saying:
(Name), receive these arras as a pledge of God’s blessing and a sign of the good gifts we will share.

The wife takes the arras and hands them over to his wife saying:
(Name), receive these arras as a pledge of God’s blessing and a sign of the good gifts we will share.

Then a hymn or canticle of praise may be sung by the whole community.

The Universal Prayer

The Universal Prayer then takes place in the usual manner. After this the Symbol or Creed is said, if required by the rubrics.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony are copyright © 2013, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.

For more information

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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.

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