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The Mass
Between practicing Catholics the ceremony usually takes place within a Mass. After the Gospel the priest gives a homily drawn from the word of God. He speaks about the mystery of Catholic marriage, the nobility of married love, and the responsibilities of married people. �My dear people, 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 intention�.
The priest questions them about their freedom of choice, faithfulness to each other, the acceptance and upbringing of children: �N. and N. have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourself to each other in marriage? Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church�.
The priest then invites the couple to declare their consent: 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 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 and honor you all the days of my life.
After Receiving their Consent :
You have declared your consent before the Church.
May the Lord in His goodness strengthen your consent
And fill you both with His blessings.
What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen
The Priest Then Blesses the Rings
May the Lord bless these rings,
Which you give to each other as a sign of your love and fidelity. Amen
Exchange of Rings
The bridegroom places his wife�s ring on her finger. He 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.
The bride places her husband�s ring on his finger. She 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.
Nuptial Blessing
After the �Lord�s Prayer�, the priest faces the bride and groom and gives them the nuptial blessing. Before blessing the people at the end of Mass, the priest again blesses the bride and groom.
May the peace of Christ live always in your hearts and in your home. May you have friends to stand by you, both in joy and in sorrow. May you be ready and willing to help and comfort all who come to you in need. And may the blessings promised to the compassionate be yours in abundance. Amen.