BLESSING OF MARRIAGE

Processional:
Prelude
Entrance of Ministers
Bridal Entourage
Best Man Symbol Bearers
Groom w/ parents Maid of Honor
Principal Sponsors Flower Girls
Secondary Sponsors Bridal March
Groom's Men & Bride's Maids

(After the Hymn or processional music, all stand except the

bride & the groom, their parents and the principal
sponsors)

THE ADDRESS

Officiant: Dearly beloved, we have come together in the

presence of God to witness and bless the joining together
of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. God
established the bond and covenant of marriage in creation,
and our Lord Jesus adorned this manner of life by his
presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ
and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be
honored among all people.

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The union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind is
intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and
comfort given one another in prosperity and adversityand
when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and
their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly,
but reverently, deliberately and in accordance with the
purposes for which it was instituted by God.

Into this Holy union, John Paul and Rubelyn now come to
be joined, if any of you can show just cause why they may
not lawfully be married, speak now or else forever hold your
peace.

CHARGE TO THE COUPLE

Officiant: John Paul and Rubelyn you are going to make

vows before this congregation and before God who knows
the secrets of your hearts, if either of you know any reason
why you may not be united in marriage lawfully, and in
accordance with God's will, you do now confess it.

THE DECLARATION OF CONSENT

The celebrant says to the woman

Rubelyn will you take John Paul to be your husband, to

live together in the covenant of marriage; will you love him,
comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health,

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and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you
both shall live? Bride: I will

The celebrant says to the man

John Paul will you take Rubelyn to be your wife, to live

together in the covenant of marriage, will you love her,
comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health
and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you
both shall live?

Groom: I will.

THE PRESENTATION IN MARRIAGE

Officiant: Who presents John Paul and Rubelyn to be

married to each other?

Parents (relatives or friends of both parties answer saying):

WE DO

The officiant says to the sponsors: Will you as sponsors in

their marriage, support and uphold them, and be to them
examples of Christian living?

Sponsors: We will.

Officiant says to the people: Will all of you witnessing these

promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons
in their marriage?
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Congregation: We will.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

Celebrant: The Lord be with you

People: And also with you
Officiant: Let us pray

O gracious and ever-living God, you have created us male

and female in your image. Look mercifully upon John Paul
and Rubelyn who come to you for blessing, and assist
them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast
love they may honor and keep the promises and vows they
make, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; who lives and
reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God
forever and ever. People: Amen.

Then one or more of the following passages from Holy

Scriptures is read. If there is to he a Communion, a
passage from the Gospel concludes the reading)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Genesis 1:26-28 (Male and female He created them)

Genesis 2:4-9,15-24(A man cleaves to his wife and they
become one)
Song of Solomon 2:10-14; 8:6-7 (Many waters cannot
quench love)
Tobit 8:5-8 (That she and I may grow old together)
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Psalm: Psalm 67, Psalm 127 / Psalm 128 or a Hymn may
be sung (Before the reading)
Reader says: A reading from the book of Chapter
verses to

(After the Reading): Here ends the reading.

People: Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE READING

1 Corinthians 13:1-13(Love is patient and kind)

Ephesians 3:14-19(The Father from whom every family is
named)
Ephesians 5:1-2,21-33(You are the light... Let your light so
shine)
Colossians 3:12-17(Love which binds everything together
in harmony)

1 John 4:7-16 (Let us love one another for God is love)

Reader (before the reading): The Epistle of to
the Chapter verses to
(after) Here ends the reading.

People: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL READING
Matthew 5:1-10 (The Beatitudes)

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Matthew 5:13-16 You are the light... let your light so shine
Matthew 7:21,24-29 (Like a wise man who built his house
upon the rock)
Mark 10:6-9, 13-16 (They are no longer two but one)
John 15:9-12 (Love one another as 1 have loved you)

THE HOMILY

THE APOSTLE'S CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven

and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and buried. He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father. , He will come
again the judge the living and the dead. I believe in the
Holy Spirit; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of
saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting. Amen.

THE MARRIAGE

The couple stands with the Principal Sponsors and Parent

and standing behind them. The man, facing the woman and
taking her right hand in his says:

Groom: In the name of God, I, John Paul take you

Rubelyn to be my wife to have and to hold from
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 this day forward, for better and for worse, for
richer and poorer, in sickness.and in health to
love and to cherish, until we are parted by death,
this is my solemn vow. They loose hands and
the woman takes the right hand of the groom

Bride: In the name of God. I, Rubelyn take you John

Paul to be my husband, to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better and for worse,
for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish until we are parted by
death this is my solemn vow.

THE BLESSING c GIVING OF RINGS, COINS AND

BIBLE

Bless 0 Lord these rings, to be signs of the vows by which

this man and this woman bind themselves to each other,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

The giver places the ring on the ring. finger of the other's
hand and says: Rubelyn I give you this ring as a symbol of
my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor
you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.

Officiant: Bless, 0 Lord, your servants John Paul and

Rubelyn with sufficiency of material possessions, which
these coins symbolize and make them ever thankful for
God's many blessings as they celebrate life. May they live
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a life of caring and sharing, ever mindful of the needs of
others.AMEN.

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Groom: Accept these coins as a pledge of my dedication
and constant concern for you and to the welfare
of the family we shall be establishing.(re/eases
coins 10 the woman's hand)

Bride: I appreciate the gesture, the symbol of your

generosity and dedication. Thank you. I will
treasure them and use them in building with you
a truly Christian family.

(Cupping their hands together over the coins)

Bride & Groom: We shall keep these coins as a token

of our solemn pledge to dedicate
ourselves to honest labor so that the
rice basket may always be full and
the jars filled with the sweetest wine
not only for ourselves and our friends
but also for the hungry, the thirsty and
the weary stranger who may knock
on our door. May we be responsible
stewards of God's creation,
remembering in our hearts that faith
grows from the future nurture of
tender seeds. Bride: Accept this
flower as a token of my solemn
pledge to keep myself pure and to
pursue the keeping of a home filled
with godly love, a haven of peace and

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 comfort and where God dwells in its
four corners.
THE GIVING OFTHEBIBLE

The officiant hand a copy of the Holy Bible saying:

God has given us His Holy Word to be a lantern of our feet

light of our path. Receive it and read it that your hearts and
minds may be enlightened and that you may come to know
the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Husband & Wife: We do believe that the Holy

Scriptures of the Old and New
Testament contain all the things
necessary to salvation and we shall
order our life and that of our family
according to the precepts contained
herein.

THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES

(The couple kneel and the candle sponsors light the

candles)

Officiant: Jesus said "I am the light of the world, he who

follows me will not walk in darkness, but will
have the light of life. John Paul and Rubelyn as
these candles are lighted at the start of your
married life, may you always walk in His light

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 and your family from now on serve as God's light
in your neighborhood.

THE VEILING

(The veil sponsors place the veil)

Officiant: The veil symbolizes that John Paul and

Rubelyn shall be one and live as one under the
canopy of God's love and abiding presence. It
also symbolizes the home which they are
establishing to the deep affections of the family
circle, and to all friendly hospitalities, to all
beautiful things of heart, mind and soul; to
happiness, to hopefulness and to health.

THE PLACING OF CORDS

(The cord sponsors place the cord)

Officiant: May your souls find union in the Spirit, that you
shall be one and no one shall break the tie. The
cord symbolizes the bringing together of John
Paul and Rubelyn because of their love for one
another. They shall be one and no one shall
break the tie for as the Lord has said: "Those
whom God has joined together, let no one put
asunder." John Paul and Rubelyn as the cord
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 carries with it strength to bind, elasticity to
accept and bend and most of all symbolizes a
yoke upon your shoulders, with Christ, work
together as husband and wife, and all the
burdens of life become easier to carry.

THE PRONOUNCEMENT

Then the Solemnizing Minister joins the hands of husband

and wife and says :Now that John Paul and Rubelyn have
given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the
joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings and
other symbols, I pronounce that they are husband and wife,
in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put
asunder!

THE PRAYERS

Leader: Let us pray

Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life,
author of salvation and giver of all grace. Look
with favor upon the world you have made, and
for which your Son gave His life and especially
upon these your servants N. and N. whom you
made one flesh in Holy Matrimony. (At the end
of each prayer, people say)

People: Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Leader:

Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering
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 of their common life, that each may be to the
other a strength in need, a counselor in
perplexity, a comfort in sorrow and a companion
in joy.

Leader: Grant that their wills may be so knit together in

your will and their spirits in your Spirit, that they
may page 9 grow in love and peace with you
and one another all the days of the lives Leader:
Make their life together a symbol of Christ's love
to this sinful and broken world, that unity may
overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy conquer despair.

Leader: Give them such fulfillment of their mutual

affection that they may reach out in love and
concern for others.

Leader: Bestow upon them, if it is your will, the gift and

heritage of children, and the grace to bring them
up to know you, to love you, and to serve you.

Leader: Grant that all married persons who have

witnessed these vows may find their lives
strengthened and their loyalties confirmed.

Leader: Grant that the bonds of our common humanity,

by which all your children are united as one to
another, and the living to the dead, may be so
transformed by your grace, that Your will may be
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 done here on earth as in heaven, where the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, live and
reign in perfect unity now and forever.

All: AMEN

THE BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE

Officiant: Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your

Tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come
among us, to be born of a human mother, and to
make the page 10 way of the cross — the way
of life. We thank you also for consecrating the
union of man and woman in His name. By the
power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the
abundance of your blessing upon John Paul
and Rubelyn. Defend them from every enemy.
Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each
other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about
their shoulders, and a Crown upon their
foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their
companionship,-in their sleeping and in their
waking; in their joys and in their sor-rows; in
their life and in their death Finally, in Your
mercy, bring them to that table where your your
saints feast forever in your heavenly home,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and
the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever

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 and ever . Amen. (The husband and wife still
kneeling, the Officiant adds this blessing)

Officiant; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you. The Lord
mercifully in his favor look upon you, and fill you
with all spiritual benediction and grace: that you
may faithfully live together in this life and in the
age to come have life everlasting. Amen.
(Solo music may follow; meanwhile the veil and cord are
removed. Candles are put on the sides of the altar. If there
is a Unity Candle, the couple shall light it at this time.)

THE PEACE

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

(the newly wed couple exchange the peace and greet each
other's family, the congregation follows and exchange the
peace)

THE OFFERTORY

Celebrant: Walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself

for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, that is,
the fruit of our lips that acknowledge His Name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you
have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

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 Let us with gladness present the offerings of our life
and work to the Lord.

All sit, alms are collected, and the marriage register is

signed. Meanwhile hymns/songs are sung, the married
couple may present the offering the offerings along with the
duly signed marriage register.
As the offerings are placed on the altar, the following
prayers may be said by the Celebrant and People:
Celebrant: Holy Father, through the blood of your Son
you have consecrated for us a new and
living way to your throne of grace. We
come to you unworthy as we are, humbly
asking you to accept us and these our gifts
for your glory.

People: All that is in heaven and earth is yours and

of your own do we give you.

Incense may be offered. The offerings, Altar, Ministers and

People may be tensed. Or incense may be burned near the
Altar. The following prayer may he said at the kindling of
incense:

THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
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Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

The celebrant continues:

It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and

every-where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator
of heaven and earth. Because in the love of husband and
wife you have given us an image of the heavenly
Jerusalem, adorned as a bride for her Bridegroom, Jesus
Christ our Lord, who gave himself for her and who loves
her that he with us might make the whole creation new.

Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the

company in heaven, we joyfully proclaim your glory,
evermore praising you and saying:

THE SANCTUS

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might

heaven and earth are fill of your glory:
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest.

Then the celebrant continues:

Holy and gracious Father, in your infinite love you made us

for yourself and, when we had fallewinto sin and become
subject to evil and death, You ,in your mercy; sent, Jesus
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Christ, Your only and eternal Son, to share our human
nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you,
the God and father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered

himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the
whole world On the night he was handed over to suffering
and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he
had given thanks to You, he broke it and gave it to his
disciples; and said, 'Take, eat: This is my Body, which is
given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine: and when he had

given Thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all
of you: This is my blood of the New Covenant, which is
shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Celebrant and People:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues:

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We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, 0 Father, in
this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his
death
Resurrection and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by our Holy Spirit to be for your people the

Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new
and unending life in Him.

Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this Holy

Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace;
and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy
of your eternal kingdom.

All these we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: by Him

with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all
honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever
The Celebrant says: As our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we now pray,

THE LORD'S PRAYER (May be said or sung) Our Father

in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our
daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who
sin against us. Save us from trial, and deliver us from from
evil. For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD The celebrant may say:

Lord we ask you to deliver us from evil, and to grant peace
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in our time. In your mercy, keep us from sin and safe from
anxiety as we await in joyful hope the coming of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread saying:

Broken is the Lamb of God, broken but not divided; ever

eaten yet never consumed. Sanctifying all who partake of
it. Amen.

Celebrant: (Alleluia) Christ our Passover is sacrificed

for us:

People: Therefore let us keep the feast. (Alleluia)

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The celebrant says:

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you
and
Feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

COMMUNION HYMNS

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

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Together: 0 God, the giver of all that is lovely and
gracious, we give you thanks for binding us together in
these Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Son,
Jesus Christ. Grant that by your Holy Spirit. John Paul and
Rubelyn now joined in Holy Matrimony, may become one
in heart and soul in fidelity and peace and obtain those
eternal joys.

THE FINAL BLESSING

Celebrant: May the Lord bless you until the end of

your days.
All: Amen.

Celebrant: May He unite your hearts in an unending

bond of pure love.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: May the peace of Christ dwell always in

your hearts, and in your home. May you
have tnie friends to stand by you both in
joy and in sorrow.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: May you be blessed in your work and enjoy

its fruits. May care never cause distress,
nor the desire for earthly possessions lead
you astray, but may your heart's concern
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 be always for the treasures laid upon for
you in the life of Heaven.

All: Amen. Celebrant may end with either of

these: May Almighty God bless you, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (or)

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep

our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God
and Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God
Almighty, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you and
remain with you always. AMEN.

THE DISMISSAL

Deacon: Let us go in peace rejoicing in the power of the

Holy Spirit.

Congregation: Thanks be to God. Celebrant: The Mass is

ended, service begins.

THE PRESENTATION OF HUSBAND AND WIFE

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I present to you John Paul

and Rubelyn. husband and wife. Let us rejoice in this their
wedding day.

FINAL HYMN/SONG

Order of Picture-taking:
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Couple
Couple w/ Ministers
Couple w/ Bride's Parents
Couple w/ both parents
Couple w/ Groom's parents
Couple w/ Female Principal Sponsors
Couple w/ Male and Female Sponsors
Couple w/ Male Sponsors
Couple w/ Secondary Sponsors
Couple w/ Best Man & Maid of Honor
Couple w/Groom 's Men & Bride 's Maids
Couple w/ Symbol Bearers & Flower Girls
Couple w/ Choir & Musicians
Couple w' Bride's Immediate Family W/ Bride' Relatives
Couple w/ Groom's Immediate Family W/ Groom's
Relatives W/ Friends

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