RITE OF MARRIAGE Introductory Rite Entrance (Standing) Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and

d of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. People: And also with you. Priest: My brothers and sisters, todays Mass is (he introduces the Mass) Within the Mass we are going to have a wedding ceremony. Two members of our Christian community will be united in the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony. They are N.N. and N.N. Both the Mass and the Wedding are public ceremonies. At a wedding the members of the congregation stand as witnesses. All of you, therefore, take an active part in the offering of this Mass. Let us unite as one and pray for the success of this marriage. Penitential Rite Priest: In order to make our offering to the Lord more acceptable in his presence, let us humbly recognize that we are sinners, and with all sincerity ask for forgiveness. All: I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me and to the Lord our God. Priest: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. People: Amen Priest: Lord, have mercy People: Lord, have mercy Priest: Christ, have mercy People: Christ, have mercy Priest: Lord, have mercy People Lord, have mercy The Gloria (when prescribed) Priest: Glory to God in the Highest, People: And peace to his people on earth. Lord, God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father: Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Prayer Priest: Let us pray. Father, when you created mankind, you willed that man and woman should be one. Bind N. And N. in the loving union of marriage, and make their love faithful, so that they may be living witnesses to your divine love in the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. People: Amen LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading (Sitting) Reader: A Reading from the book of Genesis (2, 18-24) Then the Lord God said It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him. So he took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds. Then he brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and that is how they all got their names. So the man named the birds and all the animals; but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him. Then the Lord God made the man fall into s deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the mans ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. Then the man said, At last, here is one of my own kind-bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh. Woman is her name because she was taken out of man. That is why a man leaves his father and mother, and united with his wife, and they become one. -The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 103, 1-5 Response: The Lord is kind and merciful. Reader: Praise the Lord, my soul! All my being praise his holy name! People: The Lord is kind and merciful. Reader: Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. People: The Lord is kind and merciful. Reader: He forgives all my sins, and heal all my diseases. People: The Lord is kind and merciful. Reader: He keeps me from the grave, and blesses me with love and mercy. People: The Lord is kind and merciful.

Reader: He fills my life with good things, so that I stay young and strong like an eagle. People: The Lord is kind and merciful. Second Reading Reader: A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians (3, 12-17) You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful. Christs message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Everything you do are say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father. -The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. ACCLAMATION 1 Jn 4, 12 (Standing) Reader: Alleluia, alleluia. People: Alleluia, alleluia. Reader: If we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. People: Alleluia, alleluia. GOSPEL Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Priest: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (19, 3-6) People: Glory to you, O Lord. Priest: Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him by asking, Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes? Jesus answered, Havent you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? And God said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and united with his wife, and the two will become one. Man must not separate, then, what God has joined together. The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

HOMILY (Sitting) The priest gives a homily. On Sundays and holidays of obligation the homily should be on the Mass of the day and addressed to the whole congregation. However, it should end with a few words addressed directly to the couple. THE RITE OF MARRIAGE (The couple stands, the congregation sits) ALLOCUTION Priest (addressing the couple): Dearly beloved N. and N., you are here today to seal your love with an eternal bond before the Church. I assure you of the prayer of our community, that God pour his abundant blessings on your love and help you to carry out the duties of the married state. Priest (addressing the congregation): And you, dear brothers and sisters, may I ask you to help them with prayers and as a new couple in our Christian community. SCRUTINY Priest (addressing the couple): May I now ask you to answer truthfully the following questions. Priest (to the Bride): N., did you come here of your own free will to bind yourself for ever in the love of and service of your husband? Bride: Yes, Father. Priest (to the Groom): N., did you come here of your own free will to bind yourself for ever in the love of and service of your wife? Groom: Yes, Father. Priest (to both): Are you both ready to raise as good Christians the children whom God will give you? Bride and Groom (answering separately): Yes, Father. (Note-the last question is omitted if both are advanced in age). EXCHANGE OF CONSENT Priest (to couple): N. and N., since you wish to contract Holy Matrimony, please join your right hands and express your intention before God and his Church. They join their right hands.

Priest (to the bride): N. do you take N., here present, for your lawful husband, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church? Bride: Yes, I do. Priest: Do you give yourself to him as his wife? Bride: Yes, I do. Priest: Do you accept him as your lawful husband? Bride: Yes, I do. Priest (to the Groom): N. do you take N., here present, for your lawful wife, according to the rite of our Holy Mother, the Church? Groom: Yes, I do. Priest: Do you give yourself to her as her husband? Groom: Yes, I do. Priest: Do you accept her as your lawful wife? Groom: Yes, I do. Priest (to couple): Now, please say after me: Priest and Couple: Grant us, O Lord, to be one heart and one soul, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for pourer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. CONFIRMATION OF THE MARRIAGE BOND Priest: And I, by the authority of the Church, calling on all those here present 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. People: Amen. BLESSING OF THE ARRHAE AND THE RINGS Priest: N. and N., we shall now bless your arrhae and rings. Our help is in the name of the Lord. People: Who made heaven and earth. Priest (blessing the arrhae): Let us pray. Bless, + O Lord, your servants N. and N., with sufficiency of material possessions, which these arrhae symbolize, so that they may use them to attain eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. People: Amen. Priest (blessing the rings): Let us pray. Bless, + O Lord, these rings, so that your servants N. and N., who wear them, may ever live in mutual love and in unbroken loyalty. Through Christ our Lord. People: Amen.

The priest sprinkles the arrhae and the rings with holy water. GIVING OF THE RINGS AND THE ARRHAE Priest: Now give these rings to each other. The priest takes the Brides ring and gives it to the Groom, who places it on the ring finger of the Bride, saying after the priest: Groom: N., wear this ring as a sign of my love and loyalty. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now the priest gives the Grooms ring to the Bride. She puts it on the ring finger of the Groom, saying after the priest: Bride: N., wear this ring as a sign of my love and loyalty. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Priest: Now the Groom gives the arrhae to the Bride. The Groom takes the arrhae in both hands. The Bride places her cupped hands under those of the Groom. The Groom lets the arrhae fall into the hands of the Bride, saying after the priest: Groom: I gave 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. Bride: (after the priest): And I accept it. The Bride places the arrhae on the tray. THE CREED- when prescribed (Standing) Priest and People: 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, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, HE SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND HE WAS BURIED: HE DESCENDED INTO DEAD; ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD; HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY,FROM
THEN HE SHALL COME AGAIN TO 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. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL (Standing)

Priest: (addressing the congregation): My brothers and sisters let us now pray for the Church and for our newly-wedded couples, whose marriage reflects the Churchs union with Christ.

Leader: for the Holy Church, spread all over the world, for its leaders and for the rulers of our nation, let us pray to the lord. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Leader: For the poor and the sick and for all those in trial and affliction; let us pray to the Lord. Leader: For N. and N., that he may keep their hearts united forever; let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Leader: That he may protect them from evil, lighten their burdens and fortify them in their trials; let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Leader: That he may stir up the grace of the sacrament in all the married couples here present; let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Priest: almighty eternal God, look down with the favor 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. People: Amen THE OFFERTORY (Sitting) Offering of the Gifts The male sponsor takes the cruets and gives them to the Groom. Likewise, the lady sponsor gives the chalice and the ciborium to the Bride. Then the Bride and the Groom present them to the priest. Priest (offering of bread): Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life. People: Blessed be God forever. Priest (pouring wine and water into the chalice, says quietly): 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.

Priest (offering the chalice): Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink. People: Blessed be God forever. Priest (bows and says quietly): Lord, God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite heart. Priest (washing of hands, says quietly): Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sins. Priest (facing the congregation): Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. People: May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his Church. Prayer over the Gifts (Standing) Priest: Lord, accept our offering for this newly-married couple N. and N. By your love and providence you have brought them together; now bless them all the days of their married life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. People: Amen. THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Preface Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Priest: Lift up your heart. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. Priest: Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. You created man in love to share your divine life. We see this high destiny in the love of husband and wife, which bears the imprint of your own divine love. Love is mans origin, love is his constant calling, love is his fulfillment in heaven. The love of man and woman is made holy in the sacrament of marriage, and become the mirror of your everlasting love. Through Christ the choirs of angels and all the saints praise you and worship your glory. May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn.

People: HOLY ,HOLY ,HOLY LORD GOD OF POWER AND MIGHT. 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. The couple kneels. Two candles are lit, one at the right and the other at the left side of the couple. A white veil is laid over the head of the Bride and the shoulder of the Groom. If no extra veil is available, the Brides veil is extended to cover the shoulder of the Groom. Then the Cord in form of an 8 is placed over the shoulders of the Bride and the Groom. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II (Kneeling) Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. Let your spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Before he was given up to death, a death he freely accepted, he took the bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT: THIS IS MY BODY, WICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF MY EVERLASTING COVENANT. IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL MEN, SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. People: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Priest: In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body of blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. Lord, remember your church throughout the world; make us grow in love, together with N. our Pope, N. our bishop, and all the clergy. Father, accept this offering from your whole family, and from N. and N., for whom we now pray. You have brought them to their wedding day: grant them (the gift and joy of children and) a long and happy life together. Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again; bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles, and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory, through you Son, Jesus Christ. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, for ever and ever. People: Amen.

COMMUNION RITE THE LORD`S PRAYER (The couple remains kneeling, the congregation stands.) Priest: let us pray with confidence to the father in the words our Savior gave us. Priest and People: Our Father.. The Nuptial Blessing Priest (addressing the congregation): Before receiving Holy Communion, the Church gives the Nuptial Blessing to the newly-wedded couple. Let us, therefore, pray for N. and N. who come to Gods altar at the beginning of their married life, so that they may always be united in love for each other. Priest (with hands extended over the couple): Holy Father, creator of the universe, maker of man and woman in your own likeness, source of blessing for the married life, we humbly pray to you for this woman, who today is united with her husband in this sacrament of marriage. May your fullness blessing come upon her and her husband, so that they may together rejoice in your gift of married love (and enrich your Church with their children0. Lord, may they both praise you when they are happy and turn to you in their sorrows. May they be glad that you help them in their work, and know that you are with them in their needs. May they pray to you in the community of the Church, and be your witnesses in the world. May they reach old age in the company of their friends, and come at the last to the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. People: Amen

The Sign of Peace Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give to you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, ad grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom, where you live for ever and ever. People: Amen Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: And always with you. Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of peace. The Breaking of the Bread (Kneeling) Priest: (dropping a small piece of the host in the chalice say quietly): may this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.

People: 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, have mercy on us: grant us peace. Prayer before Communion Priest (quietly): Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by the will of the father and the work of the Holy Spirit your death brought life to the world. By your holy body and Blood free me from all my sins and from the every evil, keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you. Communion Priest: This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper. People: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. Priest (before consuming the host): May the body and blood of Christ bring us to ever lasting life. Priest (before taking the chalice): May the body and blood of Christ bring us to ever lasting life. Communion of the people follows. The couple receives communion under both species. Priest: The Body of Christ. Communicant: Amen Communion Antiphon (Jn 13,34) Reader: I give you a new commandment; love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. Prayer After Communion (the couple remains kneeling, the congregation stands) Priest; let us Pray Lord, in your love you have given us this Eucharist to unite us with one another and with you. As you have made N. and N. one in this sacrament of marriage (and in the sharing of the one bread and one cup), so now make them one in love for each other. We ask this through Christ our Lord. (the cord and the long veil are removed) CONCLUDING RITES Admonition (standing)

Priest: (facing the couple): N. and N. now that you are have received the Holy sacrament of Matrimony. I admonish you to remain faithful to one another. Priest (to the bride) N. love your husband and be a good housewife; persevere in faith and love and holiness. Priest (to the groom): N. love your wife as Christ loves his Church, and live with her in the holy fear of the Lord. The Final Blessing Priest (addressing to the congregation): we shall now give the newly-weds a three-fold blessing. As I say the blessings, everybody please answer Amen. Priest: the Lord be with you. People: and also with you. Priest (with hands elevated and extended over the couple): May the Lord Jesus Christ, who was a guest at wedding in Cana, bless you and your families and friends. People: Amen. Priest: May Jesus, who loved his Church to the end, always fill your hearts with his love. People: Amen Priest: may he grant you that, as you believe in his resurrection, so you may wait for him in joy and hope. People: Amen Priest (facing the congregation): And may almighty God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. Dismissal Priest: Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. People; Thanks be to God.

SIGNING OF THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT