OCM 64-65: The Reception of Consent

Where we last left off in the Rite, the wife and husband have exchanged consent. The ritual gives two options:

64. Then, receiving their consent, the Priest says to the bride and bridegroom:

May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent
you have declared before the Church,
and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessing within you.
What God joins together, let no one put asunder. 

Or:

May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob,
the God who first joined our first parents in paradise,
strengthen and bless in Christ
the consent you have declared before the Church,
so that what God joins together, no one may put asunder. 

I think the second option has a lot of merit. I wonder how many active Catholics have heard the reference to the God of the Old Testament patriarchs. Both texts have notable phrases that tell us something of the Church’s understanding of sacramental grace. Christ is drawn into the marriage–this is more of a prayer than a simple recognition of consent.

This is a new element, much anticipated over the past few decades:

65. 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.

If an acclamation is utilized, my suggestion would be something a bit more substantive. Keep in mind the Church’s intention here is not a performance piece for an audience. Think more the inevitable applause, only in song, and likely with a Scriptural basis. The Church may have done better with the rite to supply texts more meaty. As given, few enough people will give these four words any attention.

The text cited in red are rubrics and bold black are ritual text from the English translation of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony © 2013, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.