RITE OF CELEBRATING MARRIAGE DURING MASS

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Entrance Song
When the assembly has been gathered, the priest enters the sanctuary in silence. He gives proper
reverence to the altar and goes to the chair. He begins the celebration saying:

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Priest: May the Lord send you help from the holy place and give you support from
Sion. May he grant you your hearts’ desire, and fulfil every one of your
designs (Cf. Ps. 20 (19):3,5)

Greetings

Priest: In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.

People: Amen.

Then the priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:

Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People: And with your spirit.

The priest or deacon may briefly introduce the Mass of the day and the wedding celebration. He
may use these or similar words.

Priest: It is with great pleasure that we gather today to witness the

joining of two hands, and two hearts in Holy Matrimony. These
two people, and , have fallen in love so
deeply, so completely, that today, they make a bond, a sacred
covenant before God, whereby their hearts, their bodies, and their
souls shall be united as one in marriage for the rest of their days.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 1

 PENITENTIAL ACT

Then follows the Penitential Act, to which the Priest invites the faithful saying:

Priest: Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare
ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of genera l confession.

All: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters,

that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in
what I have done, and in what I have failed to do;
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault, through my grievous fault,
Then they continue:
therefore I ask the Blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and
saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the
Lord our God.

The absolution of the priest follows:

Priest: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and
bring us to everlasting life.

People: Amen.

KYRIE

V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 2

COLLECT

Priest: Be attentive to our prayers, O Lord, and in your kindness pour

out your grace on these your servants and
that, coming together before your altar, they may be confirmed in
love for one another. 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.

People: Amen.

Commentator: Please be seated for the Liturgy of the Word.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 3

 LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of Sirach (26:1-4, 13-16)

Happy the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be
doubled. A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will finish his
years in peace. A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who
fears the Lord. Whether rich or poor, his heart is content, a smile ever on
his face.

A gracious wife delights her husband; her thoughtfulness puts flesh on

his bones. A silent wife is a gift from the Lord; nothing is worth more
than her self-discipline. A modest wife is a supreme blessing; no scales
can weigh the worth of her chastity. The sun rising in the Lord’s
heavens—the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.

The word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 4

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Ps. 33:12, 18, 20-21,22)

Response: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord

Happy the nation whose God is the Lord,

The people chosen as his very own.
But the Lord’s eyes are upon the reverent,
Upon those who hope for his gracious help.

People: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord

Our soul waits for the Lord,

Who is our hope and shield.
For in God our hearts rejoice,
In your holy name we trust.

People: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord

May your kindness be upon us, O Lord;

We have put our hope in you.

People: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 5

SECOND READING

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians (5,2. 25-32)

Follow the way of love, even as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church. He gave himself
up for her to make her holy, purifying her in the bath of water by the
power of the word, to present to himself a glorious church, holy and
immaculate, without stain or wrinkle or anything of that sort. Husbands
should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his
wife loves himself. Observe that no one ever hates his own flesh; no, he
nourishes it and takes care of it as Christ cares for his church – for we are
members of his body.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cling
to his wife, and the two shall be made into one.” This is a great
foreshadowing; I mean that it refers to Christ and the church.

The word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God

Commentator: Please all stand to honor the Holy Gospel.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 6

READING OF THE GOSPEL

GOSPEL ANTIPHON 1 Jn 4, 8, 11
Alleluia, Alleluia.
God is love;
Let us love one another as he has loved us.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

The Deacon, or the Priest, then proceeds to the ambo, there he says:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
The people reply:
People: And with your spirit.

The Deacon, or the Priest:

Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 22, 35-40
People: Glory to you Lord

One of the Pharisees, a lawyer, in an attempt to trip up Jesus, asked him.

“Teacher, which commandment of the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him:
“You shall love the Lord your God
With your whole heart,
With your whole soul,
And with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments the whole law is based, and the prohets as well.”

At the of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord

The people reply:

People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Commentator: Please all be seated.

HOMILY

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 7

 RITE OF MARRIAGE
Commentator :
May we request the candle sponsors to come forward and light
the candles. (after the candle has been lit)….
May we request the parents and godparents of the bride and groom
to stand beside the couple to witness their exchange of vows.
Allocution
After the homily all stand, also the spouses, and the priest addresses the couple with these or
similar words:

Priest: Dearly beloved and , you are here today to seal

your love with an eternal bond before the Church. Christ
abundantly blesses this love. He has already consecrated you in
baptism and now He enriches and strengthens you by this special
sacrament so that you may assume the duties of marriage in
mutual and lasting fidelity.
The priest addresses the community:
Priest: And you, dear brothers and sisters, may I ask you to help them
with your prayers that they may, with courage and confidence in
God’s unfailing grace and love, make the pledge of love and
fidelity to one another.
Scrutiny
The priest addresses the couple

Priest: and , in the presence of the community, may I ask you

to answer truthfully the following questions.
Now the priest questions them about their freedom of choice, faithfulness to each other, and the
acceptance and upbringing of children:

Priest: (Name of the Bride) , did you come here of your own free
will to bind yourself forever in the love and service of your
husband?
Bride: Yes, Father.
Priest: (Name of the Groom) , did you come here of your own free
will to bind yourself forever in the love and service of your wife?

Groom Yes, Father.

: Are you both ready to raise as good Christians the children whom
Priest: God will give you?

Bride & Yes,

Groom: Father.
Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 8
Exchange of Consent

Priest: (Name of the Bride) and (Name of the Groom) , since

you wish to contract holy matrimony, please join your right hands
and express your intention before God and His Church.

They join their right hands.

The priest asks the bride:

Priest: (Name of the Bride) , do you take (Name of

Groom) the here present, for your lawful husband according
to the rite of our holy Mother, the Church?

Bride: Yes, I
do.
Priest: Do you give yourself to him as his wife?

Bride: Yes, I
do.
Priest: Do you accept him as your lawful husband?

Bride: Yes, I
do.
The priest asks the bridegroom:

Priest: (Name of the Groom) , do you take (Name of the

Bride) here present, for your lawful wife according to the
rite of our holy Mother, the Church?

Groom: Yes, I
do.
Priest: Do you give yourself to her as her husband?

Groom: Yes, I
do.
Priest: Do you accept her as your lawful wife?

Groom: Yes, I
do.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 9

Priest: Now, please say together after me:

If more than one couple is present, this prayer is said together by all the couple(s) together with
the priest of after him:

Grant us, O Lord, / to be one heart and one soul / from this day
forward / for better, for worse / for richer, for poorer / in sickness
and in health / until death do us part.

Confirmation of the Marriage Bond

Priest: 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.

And I, by the authority of the Church, calling on all those present

here as witnesses, confirm and bless the bond of marriage which
you have contracted. In the name of the Father, and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

Commentator : Parents and godparents may now go back to their seats.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 10

Blessing of the Arrhae, Rings, and Bible

Priest: and we shall now bless your arrhae and rings.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

People: Who made heaven and earth.

Priest: Bless O Lord, these rings so that your servants and

who wear them may ever live in mutual love and in
unbroken loyalty. Through Christ our Lord.

People: Amen.

Priest: Bless O Lord, your servants and with

sufficiency of material possessions which these arrhae symbolize
so that they may use them to attain eternal life. Let this arrhae
symbolize their devotion to each other’s welfare and to the
children God will bestow on them. We ask this through Christ our
Lord.

People: Amen.

Priest: Bless O Lord, this Bible, that Your Word may give light and
guidance to and , to live according to the
truth. May it always be the source of guidance for them. Help
them anchor their marriage on Your Word, which is the source of
infinite strength and wisdom.

People: Amen.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 11

Giving of the Wedding Rings and the Arrhae

Priest: and , give these rings to one another, AS

symbols that mark the beginning of your life’s journey together.

Groom , wear this ring as a sign of my love and loyalty, and as a

: promise of my care, responsibility, and concern for you without end.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Bride , wear this ring as a sign of my love and loyalty, and as a

: promise of my care, responsibility, and concern for you without end.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Priest: and , hold the arrhae in your hands as a sign

that your blessings will no longer be held seperately, but together.
Remember that the gifts you have in this life are not truly yours
but God’s gifts, use them well.

Groom , I give you these arrhae as a pledge of my dedication for

: your welfare and the welfare of our children. In the name of the Father
and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Bride , I gratefully accept them with the promise to share the

: responsibility of building a Christian home and the pledge of my
dedication to you. In the name of the Father and of the Son and the
Holy Spirit.

Priest: and , accept this Bible, the Word of God. Read

it, live it, and keep its spirit in your hearts so that guided by its
messagem you may go forth in peace, always in the love and
service of the Lord.

Bride & We accept this Bible as a symbol of our being one in fully
Groom: submitting to the will of God.

Commentator : Please all stand.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 12

 PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Priest: Dearly beloved, let us now pray for the Church and for our newly
wedded couple whose marriage reflects her union with Christ.

Response: Lord, graciously hear

us.
Leader: For the Holy Church spread over the world, the Pope, all the
bishops, and the clergy everywhere, that they may lead us to
deeper faith in God and a stronger love for others, let us pray to
the Lord.

Response: Lord, graciously hear

us.
Leader: For the poor, the sick, and all those in trial and affliction, that
they may be strengthened by God’s help and aided by their
friends, let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, graciously hear

us.
Leader: For and , now beginning their life together,
that they may have divine assistance at every moment, the
constant support of friends, the rich blessing of children, a warm
love reaching out to others, and good health until a ripe old age,
let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, graciously hear

us.
Leader: For these personal needs which we mention now in silence (pause),
let us pray to the Lord.

Response: Lord, graciously hear

us.
Priest: Almighty, eternal God, look down with favor upon your servants.
Grant them to remain faithful to you and to one another. At the
end of a long and well-spent life, reward them with eternal
happiness together with their children and with all those who love
them. This we ask through Christ our Lord.

People: Amen.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 13

 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Commentator: Please be seated.

May we request the newly married couple to please kneel.
May we request the veil sponsors to please come forward and
lay the veil on the newly married couple.
(after the veil has been laid on the bride and groom…)
May we request the cord sponsors to please come forward
and lay the cord on the newly married couple.

PREPARATION OF ALTAR AND GIFTS

During the preparation of gifts, a fitting Offertory song is sung and the altar table is prepared by
the acolytes.
The celebrant, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised
above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:

B lessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.
Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.
The celebrant, pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly:

B y the mystery of this water and wine

may we come to share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
The celebrant, then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands,
saying in a low voice:

B lessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.

Then he places the chalice on the corporal.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 14

After this, the celebrant, bowing profoundly, says quietly:

W ith humble spirit and contrite heart

may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God.
He may now incense the offerings and the altar afterwards a minister will incense the celebrant,
and the faithful.
The celebrant, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:

W ash me, O Lord, from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.
Standing at the middle of the altar, facing the people, extending and then joining his hands, he says:

Celebrant:

P ray, brethren (brothers and sisters),

that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
All:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at Your hands for the praise and glory of
His name, for our good and the good of all His Church.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Priest: Receive in your kindness, Lord, the offerings we bring in

gladness before you, and in your fatherly love watch over those
you have joined in a sacramental covenant.
Through Christ our Lord.

People: Amen.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 15

PREFACE: THE DIGNITY OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT

Priest: The Lord be with you.

People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right and just

Priest: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and
everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and
eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

For you have forged the covenant of marriage as a sweet yoke of

harmony and an unbreakable bond of peace, so that chaste and
fruitful love of holy Matrimony may serve to increase the children
you adopt as your own.

By your providence and grace, O Lord, you accomplish the

wonder of this twofold design: that, while the birth of children
brings beauty to the world, their rebirth in Baptism gives increase
to the Church, through Christ our Lord.

Through him, with the Angels and all the Saints, we sing the
hymn of your praise, as without end we acclaim:

At the end of the preface he joins his hands and concludes the preface with the people, singing or
saying aloud:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Commentator: Please all

kneel.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 16

 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II

Celebrant, with hands extended, says:

Y ou are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness

He joins his hands and, holding them extended over the offerings, says:

M ake holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending

down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall
He joins his hands and makes the Sign of the Cross once over the bread and chalice
together, saying:
so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
He joins his hands.

In the formulas that follow, the words of the Lord should be pronounced clearly and distinctly, as
the nature of these words requires.

A t the time he was betrayed

and entered willingly into his Passion,

and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he himself took bread,
and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing,
broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
He bows slightly.
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

He shows the consecrated host to the people, places it again on the paten, and genuflects in
adoration.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 17

After this, he continues:

I n a similar way, when supper was ended,

He takes the chalice and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:
he took the chalice,
and, once more giving thanks,
He gave it to his disciples, saying:
He bows slightly.
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL
COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR
YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF
SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
He shows the chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and genuflects in adoration.
After this, he continues:

Commentator: Please all

stand..

People:T he Mystery of Faith

We proclaim your death, O Lord,
and profess your resurrection
until you come again.

T
Then the celebrant, with hands extended, says:
herefore, as we celebrate
the memorial of his Death and Resurrection,
we offer you, Lord,
the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that you have held us worthy
to be in your presence and minister to you.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 18

 H umbly we pray
that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

R emember, Lord, your Church,

spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Francis our Pope, Jesse our Bishop
and all the clergy.
In the Eucharistic Prayer II, after the words “and all the clergy”, the following is added:

R emember also, our brothers and sisters

who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection,
and all who have died in your mercy:
welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints
who have pleased you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be co heirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you
The celebrant joins his hands.
through your Son, Jesus Christ. †
The celebrant takes paten with the host raising both, then says:

T hrough him, and with him, and in him,

O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
for ever and ever.
People: Amen.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 19

 COMMUNION RITE

After the chalice and paten have been set down, the Priest, with hands joined, says:

A t the Savior’s command

and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:

People: 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 trespasses against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

NUPTIAL BLESSING

After the Our Father, the prayer Deliver us is omitted. The Priest, standing and facing the bride
and bridegroom, invokes upon them God’s blessing, and this is never omitted.

The Priest, with hands joined, calls upon those present to pray, saying:

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord for this bride and groom,
who come to the altar as they begin their married life,
that partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ
they may always be bound together by love for one another

And all pray in silence for a while.

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

Holy Father, who formed man in your image, male and female
you created them, so that as husband and wife, united in body and
heart, they might fulfill their calling in the world;

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 20

 O God, who, to reveal the great design you formed in your love,
willed that the love of spouses for each other should foreshadow
the covenant you graciously made with your people, so that, by
fulfillment of the sacramental sign, the mystical marriage of
Christ with his Church might become manifest in the union of
husband and wife among your faithful;

Graciously stretch out your right hand over these your servants
and , we pray, and pour into their hearts the
power of the Holy Spirit.

Grant, O Lord, that, as they enter upon this sacramental union,

they may share with one another the gifts of your love and, by
being for each other a sign of your presence, become one heart
and one mind.

May they also sustain, O Lord, by their deeds the home they are
forming and prepare their children to become members of your
heavenly household by raising them in the way of the Gospel.

Graciously crown with your blessings your daughter , so

that, by being a good wife and mother, she may bring warmth to
her home with a love that is pure and adorn it with welcoming
graciousness.

Bestow a heavenly blessing also, O Lord, on , your servant,

that he may be a worthy, good and faithful husband and a
provident father.

Grant, holy Father, that, desiring to approach your table as a

couple joined in Marriage in your presence, they may one day
have the joy of taking part in your great banquet in heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.

People: Amen.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 21

SIGN OF PEACE
Then the celebrant, with hands extended says:

L ord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you;
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
He joins his hands.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.

People: Amen.

The celebrant turned towards the people, extending and then joining his hands, says:

People:
T he peace of the Lord be with you always.
And with your spirit.

After this, he continues:

L
et us offer each other the sign of peace.

All present make an appropriate sign of peace.

BREAKING OF BREAD
Then the celebrant takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the
chalice, saying quietly:

M ay this mingling of the Body and Blood

of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 22

Meanwhile the following is sung or said:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Then the celebrants, with hands joined, says quietly:

M ay the receiving of your Body and Blood,

Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgment and condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body
and a healing remedy.
Commentator: Please all kneel..
COMMUNION
The celebrant genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above
the chalice, while facing the people says:

B ehold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
People: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only
say the word and my soul shall be healed.

The celebrant, facing the altar, says quietly:

M ay the Body of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life.
And he reverently consumes the Body of Christ.

Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:

M ay the Blood of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life.
And he reverently consumes the Blood of Christ.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 23

Commentator: May we request the cord sponsors to please remove the cord.
(after the cord has been removed…)
May we request the veil sponsors to please remove the veil.

While the faithful receive the Holy Communion, Eucharistic songs are sung.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Jn 13:34

Priest: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you, says the Lord.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Priest: Having been made partakers at your table,

we pray, O Lord, that those who are united by the Sacrament of
Marriage may always hold fast to you and proclaim your name to
the world.
Through Christ our Lord.

People: Amen.

Commentator: Please all

stand.
CONCLUDING RITES

Admonition

Priest: and , now that you have received the Holy

Sacrament of Matrimony, I admonish you to remain faithful to one another.

Priest: (name of bride), love your husband and be a good

housewife; persevere in faith and love and holiness.

Priest: ( name of groom), love your wife as Christ loves his Church
and live her in the holy fear of the Lord.

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 24

 CONCLUDING RITES

Then the dismissal takes place. The Priest, facing the people and extending his hands, says:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
The people reply:
People: and with your spirit.

SOLEMN BLESSING AT THE END OF THE MASS

The Priest, with hands extended over the bride and bridegroom, says:

Priest: May God the all-powerful Father grant you his joy
and bless you in your children.
People: Amen.

Priest: May the Only Begotten Son of God

stand by you with compassion in good times and in bad.
People: Amen.

Priest: May the Holy Spirit of God

always pour forth his love into your hearts
People: 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.
People: Amen.

Then the deacon or the Priest himself, with hands joined and facing the people says:

Priest: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord in your life.

The people reply:
People: Thanks be to God

Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Page 25