This is to only a general guide to the Rite of Marriage outside of Mass. There are many options that the couple and presider may choose for the different parts of the rite.

Introductory Rite

Celebrant:

Father,

You have made the bond of marriage

a holy mystery,

a symbol of Christ's love for his Church.

Hear our prayers for N. and N.

With faith in you and in each other

they pledge their love today,

May their lives always bear witness

to the reality of that love.

We ask this

through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

1st Reading - (one of the following may be used)

Genesis 1:26-28, 31

Genesis 2:18-24

Genesis 24:48-5, 58-67

Tobit 7:9-10, 11-15

Tobit 8:5-7

Songs 2:8-10, 14,16; 8:6-7

Sirach 26:1-14, 13-16

Jeremiah 31:31-32, 33-34

Responsorial Psalm

2nd Reading - (one of the following may be used)

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39

Romans 12:1-2, 9-19

1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8

Ephesians 5:2,21-33

Colossians 3:12-17

1 Peter 3:1-9

1 John 3:18-24

1 John 4:7-12

Revelation 19:1, 5-9

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel - (one of the following may be used)

Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 7:21, 24-29

Matthew 19:3-6

Matthew 22:35-40

Matthew 10:6-9

John 2:1-11

John 15:9-12

John 15:12-16

John 17:20-26

Homily

Rite of Marriage

Celebrant:
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 blesses this love. He has already consecrated you in baptism and now he enriches 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.

N. and N. have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves 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?

Consent

Celebrant:
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 honor you all the days of my life.

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 honor you all the days of my life.

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.

R. Amen

Blessing and Exchange of the Rings

Celebrant:
May the Lord bless + these rings which you give to each other as the sign of your love and fidelity.

R. Amen.

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.

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.

General Intercessions

Celebrant:
My dear friends, let us turn to the Lord and pray

that he will bless with his grace N.

now married in Christ to N.

and that he will unite in love the couple

he has joined in this holy bond.

Please respond: Lord hear our prayer.

For N. and N. that their love for each other may continue to grow in the peace of Christ,

      we pray to the Lord . . .

For the parents of N. and N. that they may be an example of love to their children,

      we pray to the Lord . . .

For all married couples here today, that witnessing N. and N. making their commitment of love, they renew their love for one another,

      we pray to the Lord . . .

For all that are gathered here today to celebrate with N. and N., especially those who have traveled a great distance, that God will bless them and watch over them,

      we pray to the Lord . . .

For the deceased relatives and friends of N. and N., that God may shower them with eternal love,

      we pray to the Lord . . .

Nuptial Blessing

Celebrant:

Father, by your power you have made everything out of nothing.

In the beginning you created the universe and made mankind in your own likeness.

You gave man the constant help of woman

so that man and woman should no longer be two, but one flesh,

and you teach us that what you have united may never be divided.

Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery

that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church.

Father, by your plan man and woman are united,

and married life has been established

as the one blessing that was not forfeited by original sin

or washed away in the flood.

Look with love upon this woman, your daughter,

now joined to her husband in marriage.

She asks your blessing. Give her the grace of love and peace.

May she always follow the example of the holy women

whose praises are sung in the scriptures.

May her husband put his trust in her and recognize that she is his equal

and the heir with him to the life of grace.

May he always honor her and love her as Christ loves his bride, the Church.

Father, keep them always true to your commandments.

Keep them faithful in marriage and let them be living examples of Christian life.

Give them the strength which comes from the gospel

so that they may be witnesses of Christ to others.

(Bless them with children and help them to be good parents.

May they live to see their children's children.)

And, after a happy old age, grant them fullness of life with the saints

in the kingdom of heaven.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Lord's Prayer

Celebrant:
Now let us stand and pray together in the words our Lord has given use:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

Blessing

Celebrant:

May almighty God, the Father, and the Son + and the Holy Spirit, bless you and remain with you forever.

All: Amen.