Category Archives: Rite of Marriage

More rubrics. Let’s get to them: 77. At the end of Mass, the Priest, with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom, prays the Solemn Blessing. A priest friend of mine once objected to this second blessing. It seemed to … Continue reading →

The rubric for the blessing mentions the priest’s bodily action: 74. Then the Priest, with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom, continues: O God, who by your mighty power …  The same three options are given as in the … Continue reading →

The Wedding Mass continues through the Liturgy of the Eucharist: the Eucharistic Prayer and its acclamations, and the Lord’s Prayer. Now we have an insertion that nudges aside some of the usual orations: 72. After the Our Father, the prayer … Continue reading →

If the wedding is at Mass, there is a directive in the rite for the priest: 71. A commmemoration of the husband and wife in the Eucharistic prayer is made with a formula provided in nos 202-204. I’m not sure … Continue reading →

The impulse to be part of the Mass is as old as the celebration itself, Peter’s protests about foot-washing notwithstanding. One small but interesting rubric: 70. If appropriate, at the Preparation of the Gifts the bride and bridegroom may bring … Continue reading →

After the hymn or canticle (OCM 68), spoken prayer follows. It goes by many titles, General Intercessions, Prayer of the Faithful, Petitions. Here’s another: Universal Prayer. 69. The Universal Prayer then takes place in the usual manner (examples are provided … Continue reading →

After the giving and receiving of consent, rings, and coins, we find a brief rubric: 68. Then a hymn or canticle of praise may be sung by the whole community. As a church musician, this perks me up. First, the … Continue reading →

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. … Continue reading →

The wedding ring has a fairly extensive reach in the world’s cultures today. Some archaeologists believe ancient humans, including Neanderthals, had some kind of bodily sign of a married person–if not a ring, then a binding of twigs or other … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

What couples and ministers once (or continue) to term as “wedding vows” is listed as “Consent” in the revised rite. 62. The bridegroom says: I, N., take you, N., to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, … Continue reading →

The new edition of the rite speaks of “covenant.” This is a significant change worth further reflection by a couple. What does is mean to them? 61. The priest invites them to declare their consent: Since it is your intention … Continue reading →

Let’s look at “The Questions before the Consent,” which follows the presider’s address to the couple. That these are done publicly show at least a two-level situation. The Church is seeking from the couple, a moment of listening (OCM 59) … Continue reading →