Rite of Marriage Engagement Service

Rite of marriage

This takes place after the homily

All stand, including the bride and room and the priest addresses them

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:

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 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.

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 good will 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:

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.

Engagement services

Introduction.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus/ we believe that you are present here among us,/ for You have said that where two or three are gathered together in Your Name,/ You will be present in their midst / We are indeed, gathered here in Your name / because we believe that human love, when blessed by you / can achieve new power, depth and beauty./ We ask You to pour out Your abundant blessings on ___________ & ___________ / so that their mutual love may become powerful, deep & beautiful / as You alone can make it./ Grant to them a true, adult, mature love. Grant that in knowing each other, they may come to love You more deeply,/ for You alone are the Alpha and Omega/ the beginning and the end. Amen.

A reading form Scripture: 1 Corinthians ch.13, vs.1 - 7.

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

If we have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, we are simply gongs booming or cymbals clashing. If we have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are and knowing everything and if we have faith in all its fullness to move mountains, but without love, then we are nothing at all. If we give away all that we possess, piece by piece, and if we even let them take our bodies to burn them, but are without love, it will do us no good whatever. Love is always patient, and kind, it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish, it does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other peoples sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. This is the word of the Lord.

Let us pray together on the theme of this reading:

Your Response is : This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you.

Groom: Beloved by God, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Response

Bride : He who loves is God's child and knows God, for God is love Response

Groom : God sent His Son into the world to bring us life. Thus He shows His love. Response

Bride : Beloved, we in turn are bound to love one another for God has loved us. Response.

Blessing of Rings:

Almighty God, who love to bless all the details of our lives, bless + these rings which _______ & _______ give to each other as tokens of their mutual love. Let these rings blessed by you, remind them that it is You who have brought them together and may they help each other always to love and serve You faithfully. You who are God living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.

Exchange of rings:

Groom: ________ accept this ring as a sign of my love, and of my promise to make you my wife, according to the rites of Holy Mother Church, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bride : __________ Accept this ring as a sign of my love and of my promise to accept you as my husband according to the rites of Holy Mother the Church, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen.

Intercessory Prayer: Your Response : Hear Thy people O Lord.

That _________ and _______ may grow in true and genuine love during the period of their engagement, let us pray to the Lord . Response.

That through this engagement, the families of ________ and ______ may find greater peace and happiness, let us pray to the Lord. Response

That this time of engagement for _______ and _____ may be a time of growth in grace, let us pray to the Lord Response

For all engaged couples for all young men and women, that they may realise that love is essentially sacrificial, let us pray to the Lord . Response.

For all of us present here, that this engagement may bring an incentive to love more deeply, our near and dear ones, let us pray to the Lord . Response.

Priest : Hear O Lord our prayers and grant these petitions may to You in deep faith, for you are our Father and the source of every grace and gift. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ Our Lord, in the love of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer: May God bless you as He blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May the hand of the Lord be upon you all the days of your life. Amen.

Blessing : May Almighty God Bless you, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever and ever Amen.