THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE WITH IN THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE WITH IN THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION INTRODUCTORY RITES Commentator: Good day, brothers and sisters. Today, we gather as a community to participate in the Holy Eucharist and to witness the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage between N. (Groom) and N. (Bride). Please stand as we begin the Eucharistic Celebration. ENTRANCE In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And with your spirit. Dear brothers and sisters, we gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and to witness the Sacrament of Marriage between N. (Groom) and N. (Bride). As their Christian family, we remind them that they are called to a life of holiness and fidelity as husband and wife. Let us rejoice with them and ask God s blessing for them and their future children. PENITENTIAL RITE Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do (striking their breast) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. THE KYRIE ELEISON: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 1

Lord, have mercy. COLLECT Let us pray. Be attentive to our prayers, O Lord, and in your kindness pour out your grace on these your servants N. (Groom) and N. (Bride)., that, coming together before you altar, they may be confirmed in love for one another. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Commentator: Please be seated and let us open our hearts to the Word of God. First Reading (Genesis 2:18-24 ) LITURGY OF THE WORD A reading from the Book of Genesis. Then the LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Let our response be, Happy are those who fear the Lord. Happy are those who fear the Lord Happy are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways! For who shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; happy shall you be, and favored. Happy are those who fear the Lord Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, in the recesses of your home. 2

Your children like olive plants around your table. Happy are those who fear the Lord Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Sion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Happy are those who fear the Lord. Commentator: Please stand to honor the Gospel. GOSPEL Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, Alleluia God is love; let us love one another as he has loved us. Alleluia, Alleluia Gospel (Matthew 19:3-6) The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew +. Glory to you, O Lord. Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?" Jesus said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Commentator: Please be seated and listen to the Homily. HOMILY Commentator: Please remain seated. RITE OF MARRIAGE Commentator: The Bride and the Groom please stand for the Rite of Marriage. May I request the principal sponsors to stand beside the couple. 3

ALLOCUTION Dearly beloved N. (Groom) and N. (Bride)., you are here today to seal your love with an eternal bond before the Church. I assure you of the prayers of our community, that God may pour his abundant blessings on your love and help you carry out the duties of the married state. And you (addressing the congregation) dear brothers and sisters, may I ask you to help them with your payers and accept them as a new couple in our Christian community. SCRUTINY N.bride: N.groom: Couple: May I now ask you N. (Groom) and N. (Bride) to answer truthfully the following questions. (N. Bride), did you come here of your own free will to bind yourself for ever in the love and service of your husband? Yes, Father. (N. Groom), did you come here of your own free will to bind yourself for ever in the love and service of your wife? Yes, Father. Are you both ready to raise as good Christians the children whom God will give you? Yes, Father. EXCHANGE OF CONSENT N.bride: N.bride: N.bride: N.groom: N.groom: N. (Groom) and N. (Bride)., since you wish to contract Holy Matrimony, please join your right hands and express your intension before God and his Church. (N. Bride) do you take (N. Groom) here present, for your lawful husband, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church? Yes, I do. Do you give yourself to him as his wife? Yes, I do. Do you accept him as your lawful husband? Yes, I do. (N. Groom) do you take (N. Bride) here present, for your lawful wife, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church? Yes, I do. Do you give yourself to her as her husband? Yes, I do. 4

N.groom: Couple: Do you accept her as your lawful wife? Yes, I do. Now, please recite this prayer: 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 do us part. CONFIRMATION OF THE MARRIAGE BOND And I, by the authority of the Church, calling on all those present here as witnesses, 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. BLESSING OF RINGS AND ARRHAE N. (Groom) and N. (Bride)., we shall now bless your rings and arrhae. Our help is in the name of the Lord. He made heaven and earth. Let us pray. Bless, + O Lord, these rings, so that your servants N. (Groom) and N. (Bride), who wear them, may ever live in mutual love and in unbroken loyalty. Through Christ our Lord. Let us pray. Bless, + O Lord, your servants N. (Groom) and N. (Bride). with sufficiency of material possessions, which these arrhae symbolize, so that they may use them to attain eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Now give these rings to each other. (N. Groom): (N. Bride), wear 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. (N. Bride): (N. Groom), wear 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. (N. Groom): (N. Bride), I give you these arrhae as a pledge of my dedication to your welfare. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (N. Bride): And I accept them. Commentator: Please, all stand for the Prayers of the Faithful. 5

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL Leader: Dear brothers and sisters, let us now pray for the Church and for the newly-wedded couple, whose marriage reflects the union of Christ and his Church. For every petition we will say: Lord, hear our prayer. Let us pray for the Church which is the bride of Christ that she may always be faithful in her mission of spreading the Good News of our salvation and Christ s love for us. We pray. Lord, hear our prayer. Let us pray for our government leaders that they may become God s instrument in protecting the family and defend life at all cost. We pray. Lord, hear our prayer. Let us pray for all the needs of our brothers and sisters, the sick, the handicapped, the prisoners and all those abandoned by their loved ones, that through their presence in our community we may be enlightened and show our charity with love. We pray. Lord, hear our prayer. Let us pray for N. (Groom) and N. (Bride). united today in God s love, founding a new family in our Christian community. May they become faithful God s stewards and collaborators of God in rearing their future children. We pray. Lord, hear our prayer. Let us pray for the young people who will embrace the vocation to married life that they may learn from life and experiences of others the beauty of love that comes from generosity. We pray. Lord, hear our prayer. God our Father, look down with favour upon your servants. Grant them to remain faithful to you and to one another. At the end of a long and well-spent life, reward them with eternal happiness, together with their children and with all those who love them. Through Christ our Lord. Please, be seated for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES, PLACING THE VEIL AND CORD Commentator: May we request the Candle Sponsors to light the wedding candles, the Veil Sponsors to place the veil, to be followed by the Cord Sponsors. OFFERTORY PREPARATION OF GIFTS 6

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you; fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life. Blessed be God for ever. By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink. Blessed God for ever. With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God. Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Commentator: Please stand. Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS Receive in your kindness, Lord, the offerings we bring in gladness before you, and in your fatherly love watch over those you have joined in a sacramental covenant. Through Christ our Lord. PREFACE (The Great Sacrament of Matrimony) The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and just. 7

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, Through Christ our Lord. For in him you have made a new covenant with your people, so that, as you have redeemed man and woman by the mystery of Christ s Death and Resurrection, so in Christ you might make them partakers of divine nature and joint heirs with him of heavenly glory. In the union of husband and wife You give a sign of Christ s loving gift of grace, so that the Sacrament we celebrate might draw us back more deeply into the wondrous design of your love. And so, with the Angels and all the Saints, we praise you, and without end we acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Commentator: Please Kneel CONSECRATION You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us The Body and + Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, He took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. In a similar way, when supper was ended, He took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, He gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. Commentator: Please stand. The mystery of faith. We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again. Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit. 8

Remember, Lord, your Church spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Francis our Pope, and Honesto our Bishop and all the clergy. Be mindful also, Lord, of N. (Groom) and N. (Bride)., whom you have brought to their wedding day, so that by your grace they may abide in mutual love and in peace. Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him, and with Him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory, and honor is yours, for ever and ever. THE COMMUNION RITE THE LORD S PRAYER At the Savior s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. NUPTIAL BLESSING (C) Let us humbly invoke by our prayer, dear brother and sisters, God s blessing upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may favour with his help those on whom he has bestowed the Sacrament of Matrimony. (The priest with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom) Holy Father, maker of the whole world, who created man and woman in your own image and willed that their union be crowned with your blessing, we humbly beseech you for these you servants, who are joined today in the Sacrament of Matrimony. May your abundant blessing, Lord, come down upon this bride, (N. Bride) and upon (N. Groom) her companion for life, and may the power of your Holy Spirit set their hearts aflame form on high, so that, living out together the gift of Matrimony, they may (adorn their family with children and) enrich the Church. In happiness may they praise you, O Lord, in sorrow may they seek you out; may they have the joy of your presence to assist them in their toil, and know that you are near to comfort them in their need; let them pray to you in the holy assembly and bear witness to you in the world, and after a happy old age, together with the circle of friends that surrounds them, may they come to the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. 9

Lord Jesus Christ, Who said to your Apostles: peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with you will. Who live and reign for ever and ever. The peace of the Lord be with you always And with your spirit. Let us offer each other the sign of peace. May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Grant us peace. Commentator: Please kneel. May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy be for me protection in mind and body and a healing remedy. Behold the Lamb of God; Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. Commentator: Please seated. Those who wish receive Holy Communion may now fall in line. COMMUNION ANTIPHON Commentator: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another As I have loved you, says the Lord (Easter Time, alleluia). The Body of Christ. Individuals: (After Communion) Commentator: May we request the Cord and the Veil sponsors to remove the cord and the veil. Commentator: Please stand. 10

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Let us pray. Having been made partakers at your table, We pray, O Lord, That those who are united by the Sacrament of Marriage May always hold fast to you And proclaim your name to the world. Through Christ out Lord. CONCLUDING RITES ADMONITION N. (Groom) and N. (Bride)., now that you have received the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony, I admonish you to remain faithful to one another. (N. Bride), love your husband and be a good housewife; persevere in faith and love and holiness. (N. Groom), love your wife as Christ loves his Church and live with her in the holy fear of the Lord. SOLEMN BLESSING AT THE END OF THE MASS (The Priest, with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom) The Lord be with you. And with your spirit N. (Groom) and N. (Bride), please bow your heads for the blessings. (The priest extends his hands over the bride and the groom). May God the all-powerful Father grant you his joy and bless you in your children. May the Only Begotten Son of God stand by you with compassion in good times and in bad. May the Holy Spirit of God, always pour forth his love into your hearts. And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. 11

Thanks be to God. My brothers and sisters may I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. [N. (Groom) and N. (Bride) and surname]. (N. Groom), you may now kiss your bride. SIGNING OF THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT PICTORIALS + + + 12