Church - Flow

The priest addresses the couple with the congregation standing.

Priest: My dear friends, 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 blessed 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: (Name) and (Name) have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

Both in turn answer: Yes we have

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

Both in turn answer: Yes we will

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

Both in turn answer: Yes we will

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.

The couple join their right hands.

The Bridegroom says: I (Name) take you (Name) 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 you all the days of my life.

The Bride says: I (Name) take you (Name) 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 their consent the 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.

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 groom then places his wife’s ring on her ring finger and says:
(Name) 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:
(Name) 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.