OCM 67B: Las Arras

In the US, immigrants have brought a number of cultural customs to the celebration of marriage. Many of these are easily folded into the Rite of Matrimony. One is the giving of arras, or coins. The tradition is described here. It’s not my place to offer a feminist argument against something like a “bride price.” I just note it is part of the rite for US dioceses.

After the exchange of rings, the option exists:

67B. If the occasion so suggests, the rite of blessing and giving of the arras (coins) may take place following the blessing and giving of rings.

The priest says:

Bless, + O Lord, these arras that
N. and N. 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:

N., 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 the husband, saying:

N., receive these arras as a pledge of God’s blessing
and a sign of the good gifts we will share.

It’s amusing that the rubrics include a possessive “his wife,” but not for “the husband.”

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.