EDSIL P.

PAGULON, sasma

RITE OF MARRIAGE BLESSING (not Sacrament of Marriage) for BOTH DIVORCEE COUPLE

Introduction:

In today’s world, things changed dramatically e.g., climate, environment, people’s needs

and wants and trends. So much so that there exists a new trend of societal structures aside

from families who traditionally where composed of married couple and children. Nowadays,

there were families who were composed of unmarried couples due to some circumstances,

e.g., civil marriage over church, negligence or the worse poverty. Yet, there is this new trend

that century ago is peculiar yet today become rampant that is divorce couple.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #2382-2386) and states that if a person was

married validly and then divorced but never obtained an annulment, then that person is still

married in the eyes of the Church. He or she cannot validly marry again in the Catholic Church.

While the current Code of Canon Law of 1983 contains no sanction against divorced

Catholics, the 1917 Code of Canon Law did. 1917 code canon 2356 addressed the crime of

bigamy with that words that those who attempt another marriage – even if only a so-called civil

marriage – while the first conjugal bond still exists, are ipso facto notorious; and if they scorn

the warning of their Ordinary and persist in this illicit cohabitation, they are to be

excommunicated.

But, with the progressed of time and with the current realities of families today, Pope

Francis in Amoris Laetitia ("The Joy of Love"), his apostolic exhortation on marriage and family

life, calls on priests to accompany couples and individuals facing the challenges of modern life,
so they can draw closer to Christ and experience his love and mercy. Hence, it considers the

state of society today knowing that many people in today's world live in a highly secular culture

where their values are shaped by materialism, individualism and relativism. It is precisely in this

context that people of today live and that the Church’s teaching must help them move beyond.

In particular, the apostolic exhortation calls for a compassionate pastoral approach to many

people - married, single and divorced - who are struggling to face issues in life, the teaching of

the church, and their own desire to reconcile all of this.

It is in this manner that this paper comes into fruition that is to respond responsively

and to actively participate in this call concretely by providing an avenue for divorcee couple

who lived their lives in Christian values and principles yet cannot received the sacrament of

marriage. This avenue is non-other than giving them the marital blessing performed by a priest

in the church with their full knowledge and consent that this is that what they will be receiving

is ONLY A BLESSING NOT A SACRAMENT. This means that there are no canonical bearing not

legal bearings that is involved nor papers. This is of course to be performed with the assurance

that there is proper and apt preparation and catechism received by the divorcee couple.

This is done in order that they divorcee couple may feel concretely that they are

understood and welcomed in the Church despite their situation. In such manner that they may

experience the mercy of God. Moreover, the Church can fully express its wish and will to

accompany them in their journey of faith.

Description:
195 Besides seeing to the upbringing of their children, Christian parents have the further

serious responsibility, an exercise of their own apostolate, of helping the children to prepare

themselves properly for marriage.

The betrothal of a young Christian couple therefore is a special occasion for their families, who

should celebrate it together with prayer and a special rite. In this way they ask God's blessing

that the happiness promised by the children's engagement will be brought to fulfillment.

In order that the celebration will better achieve its purpose, it should be adapted to suit the

particular circumstances.

196 When the engagement is celebrated within the circle of the two families, one of the

parents should preside. But when a priest or a deacon is present, the office of presiding more

fittingly belongs to him (provided it is clear to all that the blessing is not the celebration of the

sacrament of marriage itself).

197 The present order may be used by the parents, a priest, a deacon, or a lay minister. While

maintaining the structure and chief elements of the rite, the minister should adapt the

celebration to the circumstances of the place and the people involved.

when couples are brought together for premarital instruction. Neither a formal betrothal nor

the special blessing of an engaged couple is ever to be combined with the celebration of Mass.

Prayer:

ORDER OF BLESSING

INTRODUCTORY RITES

199 When the families have gathered, the minister says: In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All make the sign of the cross and reply: Amen.

200 A minister who is a priest or deacon greets those present in the following or other suitable

words, taken mainly from sacred Scripture. The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who

loved us and gave himself for us, be with you all.

All make the following or some other suitable reply. And also with you.
201 A lay minister greets those present in the following words. Brothers and sisters, let us

praise our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. Let us bless him now and for

ever.

R. Amen.

202 In the following or similar words, the minister prepares the couple and all present for the

blessing. We know that all of us need God's blessing at all times; but at the time of their

engagement to be married, Christians are in particular need of grace as they prepare

themselves to form a new family.

Let us pray, then, for God's blessing to come upon this couple, our brother and sister: that as

they await the day of their wedding, they will grow in mutual respect and in their love for one

another; that through their companionship and prayer together they will prepare themselves

rightly and chastely for marriage.

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

203 One of those present or the minister reads a text of sacred Scripture. Brothers and sisters,

listen to the words of the holy gospel according to John:

disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my

commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments

and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my

commandment: love one another as I love you."

204 Or: Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians:

13:4-13 There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love is

patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does

not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not

rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes

all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will

cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy

partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to

talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish

things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know
partially; then I shall know fully as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

205 Or: Hosea 2:21-26--I will espouse you in fidelity. Philippians 2:1-5--United in spirit and

ideals.

206 As circumstances suggest, the following responsorial psalm may be sung or said, or some

other suitable song.

R. The Lord is good to all.

Psalm 145 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is

good to all and compassionate toward all his works. R.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. The eyes of all

look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season. R.

The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon

him, to all who call upon him in truth. R.

biblical text, so that they may understand through faith the meaning of the celebration and its

difference from the celebration of marriage.

INTERCESSIONS

208 The intercessions are then said. The minister introduces them and an assisting minister or

one of those present announces the intentions. From the following intentions those best suited

to the occasion may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply to the particular

circumstances may be composed.

The minister says: God our Father has so loved us that in Christ he makes us his children and

the witnesses to his love before the entire world. Let us, therefore, call upon him in all

confidence, saying:

R. Lord, help us to remain always in your love.

Assisting minister: God our Father, you willed that your true children, brothers and sisters in

Christ, should be known by their love for one another. R.

Assisting minister: You place upon us the sweet demands of love so that we may find happiness

by responding to them. R.
Assisting minister: You join a man and a woman together by their love for each other, so that in

the family they establish they may rejoice in children, the crown of their love. R.

Assisting minister: Through the paschal offering, Christ espoused the Church as his Bride and in

his blood offered it to you, holy and immaculate. In this you have given us the ideal of the love

that should exist between husband and wife in the sacrament of marriage. R.

Assisting minister: You call N. and N. to the communion of life and love that binds the Christian

family together, mind and heart. R.

209 In accord with local custom, before the prayer of blessing, the engaged couple may express

some sign of their pledge to each other, for example, by signing a document or by exchanging

rings or gifts.

210 The engagement rings or gifts may be blessed by use of the following formulary.

In due course may you honor the sacred pledge symbolized by these gifts which you now

exchange.

R. Amen.
PRAYER OF BLESSING

211 A lay minister says the following prayer of blessing with hands joined. A priest or deacon

says the following prayer with hands outstretched.

We praise you, Lord, for your gentle plan draws together your children, N. and N., in love for

one another. Strengthen their hearts, so that they will keep faith with each other, please you in

all things, and so come to the happiness of celebrating the sacrament of their marriage.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

212 Or a minister who is a priest or deacon may say the following prayer of blessing.

Lord God, the source of all love, the wise plan of your providence has brought these young

people together. As they prepare themselves for the sacrament of marriage and pray for your

grace, grant that, strengthened by your blessing, + they may grow in their respect for one

another and cherish each other with a sincere love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

CONCLUDING RITE

213 The minister concludes the rite by saying: May the God of love and peace abide in you,

guide your steps, and confirm your hearts in his love, now and for ever. R. Amen.

214 It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song.

Prayer Source: Book of Blessings by Prepared by International Commission on English in the

Liturgy A Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops' Conferences, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville,

Minnesota, 1989

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Catholic Wedding ceremony without Mass

For all the options in the Roman Missal, click here. You can format this text to your taste,

replacing BN with bride's name; GN with groom's name.

Introductory Rites

Entrance Hymn & Greeting -- Light Candles -- Penitential Rite -- Gloria -- Prayer for the Couple.
Liturgy of the Word

Old Testament -- Psalm -- New Testament --.Alleluia -- Gospel -- Homily

The Marriage Vows

Address -- Declaration of Consent -- Blessing of the Rings -- Candle Ceremony -- Prayers of the

Faithful

Concluding Rites

The Lord's Prayer -- The Nuptial Blessing -- The Sign of Peace -- Final Blessings -- Signing the

Register

Introductory Rites

Entrance hymn: ("Hymn title")

The Priest greets and welcomes the bride and bridegroom at the altar. He questions them

about their freedom to marry, then if the couple are using candle ritual, they light the two

outside ones now. OPTIONAL

Liturgical Greeting

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy

Spirit be with you all.

All: And with your spirit.

Penitential Rite

Priest invites the congregation to repent of all sins…, then

Lord, have mercy - Lord, have mercy

Christ , have mercy - Christ , have mercy

Lord, have mercy - Lord, have mercy

Collect

Priest: Let us pray.

And all pray in silence for a while.

Priest: O God, who in creating the human race willed that man and wife

should be one, join, we pray, in a bond of inseparable love

these your servants who are to be united in the covenant of Marriage,

so that, as you make their love fruitful,

they may become, by your grace, witnesses to charity itself.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading

Insert here the selected text of the first reading

Reader: The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm (usually sung, otherwise said, with a Responsorial)

Insert here the selected text of the Psalm

Second Reading

Insert here the selected text of the second reading

Reader: The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Alleluia (usually sung)

Gospel

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to N..

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Insert here the selected text of the Gospel reading

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

The celebrant or an invited speaker speaks on the blessings and vocation of marriage.

The Marriage Vows

All stand, including the bride and bridegroom, whom the Priest now addresses:

ADDRESS

Priest: Dear children of God, you have come to this church so that the Lord may seal your love

in the presence of the priest and this community.

Christian marriage is a sacred union which enriches natural love. It binds

those who enter it to be faithful to each other for ever; it creates between

them a bond that endures for life and cannot be broken; it demands that

they love and honour each other, that they accept from God the children
he may give them, and bring them up in his love.

To help them in their marriage the husband and wife receive the life-long

grace of the sacrament.

Priest: Is this your understanding of marriage?

Both: It is.

DECLARATION OF CONSENT

The Priest then invites the couple to declare their consent

Priest: I invite you then to declare before God and his Church your consent to become husband

and wife.

Groom: N., do you consent to be my wife?

Bride: I do. Do you, N., consent to be my husband?

Groom: I do. I take you as my wife and I give myself to you as your husband.

Bride: I take you as my husband and I give myself to you as your wife.

They then hold hands and say together:

to love each other truly

for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

till death do us part, (or all the days of our life)

Priest: What God joins together man must not separate. May the Lord confirm the consent that

you have given and enrich you with his blessings.

The Priest says this blessing:

Priest: Lord, bless N. and N. and consecrate their married life. May these rings be a symbol of

their faith in each other, and a reminder of their love.

Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

The bridegroom places the bride's ring on her finger.

Groom: N., wear this ring as a sign of our faithful love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The bride may place a ring on the bridegroom's finger.

Bride: N., wear this ring as a sign of our faithful love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

THE CANDLE RITUAL

The bride and groom now light the centre candle together. Sometimes it is followed by the

prayer of the newly married couple.

PRAYER OF THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE (OPTIONAL)

We thank you, Lord, and we praise you

You have given us to each other.

Now, together, we give ourselves to you.

We ask you, Lord:

make us one in your love;

keep us one in your peace.

Protect our marriage.

Bless our home.

Make us gentle.

Keep us faithful.

And when life is over unite us again

where parting is no more

in the kingdom of your love.

There we will praise you

in the happiness and peace of our eternal home. Amen.

A hymn may be sung, then:

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Four or five of these intercessions or similar may be used.

in fidelity and love. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

2. For the parents of N. and N., for their friends and all who have helped them to become

husband and wife. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

3. That the Lord may bless the world with his peace and the protection of his love. Lord, hear

us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

4. For our community and our families, who welcome Christ into their lives; that they learn to

receive him in the poor and suffering people of this world. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

5. For the faithful departed and especially for those whom we, ourselves, have loved, that God

will one day unite us again in the joys of our eternal home. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

6. For married couples everywhere, that their lives will be an example to the world of unity,

fidelity and love. Lord, hear us.

7. For those who mourn, while we are rejoicing, that in their suffering and loneliness they may

experience the strength of God's support. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

Music may be played here

Concluding Rites

The Lord's Prayer

The Priest introduces the Lord's Prayer, then all say

All: 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,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

The Nuptial Blessing

(The couple kneel for this blessing)

Priest invites all all to pray in silence for a while.

Then the Priest, with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom, continues:

Priest: Let us humbly invoke by our prayers, dear brothers and sisters,

God's blessing upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may

favour with his help those on whom he has bestowed the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Holy Father, maker of the whole world,

who created man and woman in your own image

and willed that their union be crowned with your blessing,

we humbly beseech you for these your servants,

who are joined today in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

come down upon this bride, (Bride).,.,

and upon (Groom)., her companion for life,

and may the power of your Holy Spirit

set their hearts aflame from on high,

so that, living out together the gift of Matrimony,

they may adorn their family with children

and enrich the Church.

In happiness may they praise you, O Lord,

in sorrow may they seek you out;

may they have the joy of your presence

to assist them in their toil,

and know that you are near

to comfort them in their need;

let them pray to you in the holy assembly

and bear witness to you in the world,

and after a happy old age,

together with the circle of friends that surrounds them,

may they come to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.

The sign of peace

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

All: And with your spirit.

Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Then the bride and bridegroom and all present offer one another a sign expressing peace,

communion and charity.

Hymn for peace and harmony

OPTIONAL: POEM OR A REFLECTIVE PIECE

Then the Priest says the Prayer after Communion:

The Final Blessings

Before blessing the people, the Priest gives the bride and bridegroom a special blessing. The

Priest, w

W ith hands extended over the bride and bridegroom, he says:

keep you of one heart in love for one another,

that the peace of Christ may dwell in you

and abide always in your home.

All: Amen.

Priest: May you be blessed in your children,

have solace in your friends

and enjoy true peace with everyone.

All: Amen.

Priest: May you be witnesses in the world to God's charity,

so that the afflicted and needy who have known your kindness

may one day receive you thankfully

into the eternal dwelling of God.

All: Amen.

And he blesses all the people, adding:

Priest: And may almighty God bless all of you, who are gathered here,

the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.