Rite of Marriage

After the homily – All stand

Priest : My dear Sisters & Brothers, you have come together in this Church so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of the Church’s minister and this community. Christ abundantly blesses this love. He has already consecrated you in baptism and now he enriches and strengthens you by a special sacrament so that you may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity. And so in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions.

The priest turns to the couple and says:

N and N have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

Both in turn answer: Yes

Priest : Will you love and honour each other for the rest of your lives?

Both in turn answer: Yes

Priest: Will you accept children lovingly form God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church?

Both in turn answer: Yes.

The priest invites the couple to declare their consent:

Priest: Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.

They join hands.

The Bridegrooms says: I, N… take you N…, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour all the days of my life.

The Bride says: I, N… take you N…, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

Receiving the consent the Officiating Priest says: You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessing. What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen.

Now follows the blessing of the rings:

Priest: May the Lord bless these rings

which we bless + in your name.
Grant that those who wear them
may always have a deep faith in each other.
May they do your will
and always live together
in peace and goodwill and love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

He then sprinkles the rings with holy water

The Bridegroom then places his wife’s ring on her ring finger and says:

N,… take 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. Amen

The Bride then places her husband’s ring on his ring finger and says:

N.. take 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. Amen.

For the prayers at the beginning of the mass, readings, preface, nuptial blessing and last blessing, please check the Roman Missal from your Church.