Cinema B

If you have decided to exchange wedding rings under the laws of God and you are already counting down to raise your wedding glasses for the first toast as husband and wife, then you will be interested to know how the ceremony is structured. It is a solemn act that nowadays allows, in addition, to incorporate love phrases and some rites more or less, according to each couple's stipulations.

The first thing is to clarify that the ceremony celebrated by the Catholic Church can be done with Mass or through a liturgy, with the only difference being that the former includes the consecration of the bread and wine, which can only be done by a priest. The liturgy, on the other hand, can also be done by a deacon.

However, the rite of marriage in the Catholic Church is universal and is celebrated around the world with the same intention and form. Take note!

Beginning of the ceremony

Nicolas Romero Raggi

The priest welcomes the congregation. and proceeds with the Scripture readings that have been chosen in advance by the bride and groom. Usually three are required: one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament Letters, and one from the Gospels. The second reading can be dispensed with in marriages without Mass.

What do these readings represent? By means of them, the couple will attest to what they believe in and wish to testify to The couple will choose those who will read from among the people who are special to them. Next, the priest will give a homily inspired by the readings The Church of Jesus Christ, in which she often delves into the mystery of Christian marriage, the dignity of love, the grace of the sacrament and the responsibilities of those who enter into marriage, taking into account the particular circumstances of each couple.

Marriage Celebration

Ximena Muñoz Latuz

It begins with the monition and scrutiny, which refers to the declaration of intentions of the bride and groom. At this stage, the religious proceeds to question the couple about their freedom of choice, their willingness to marry each other, and their agreement to procreate children and raise them according to the canons of the Catholic Church. This last section may be omitted if the couple is no longer of childbearing age.

The exchange of votes then continues These days it can be personalised with beautiful phrases of love written by the couple themselves. This is when the priest invites the bride and groom to declare their consent to the marriage asking them if they promise to be faithful, both in prosperity and in adversity, in sickness and in health, to love and respect each other throughout their lives.

Blessing and presentation of the rings

Miguel Romero Figueroa

At this moment, the priest blesses the gold rings, which may be given by the groomsmen or pageboys as the case may be. First, the groom places the ring on the left ring finger The bride does the same with her fiancé, making their union clear before the congregation.

Once they have been declared husband and wife, the bride and groom will proceed to the signing of the marriage certificate at the altar. During the marriage rite, both the congregation and the bride and groom stand and remain standing until after the profession of faith and the universal prayer.

Inclusion of local traditions

Simon & Camila

The rite of marriage itself requires that only the above sections be completed, however, depending on the country where the marriage is celebrated, it is possible to introduce some local traditions For example, the giving of the arras, which are thirteen coins as a pledge of God's blessing and a sign of the goods to be shared by the spouses.

At the indicated moment, the godparents give them to the groom, who hands them to his wife, repeating the Christian phrases of love typical of this rite. Finally, the bride gives them back to the godparents so that they can keep them again.

Another tradition you can incorporate is the ribbon, in which two people, chosen by the bride and groom, place a ribbon around them. as a symbol of their sacred and indissoluble union. And if you want to never miss the blessings and the presence of God in the new home, you can perform the ceremony of the Bible and rosary, which consists of a couple close to the couple gives them these objects that will be blessed by the priest at that moment.

Continuation of the ceremony

Silvestre

Thus consummated the rite of the sacrament, the ceremony continues with the offertory of bread and wine (if it is a Mass), and then the priest continues with the universal prayer or prayer of the faithful on behalf of those who will then give out their wedding ribbons, followed by the nuptial blessing, the Lord's Prayer, the Eucharist and communion, and the final blessing.

In the latter, the priest offers a prayer, blessing the newlywed couple and this is when the priest, before saying goodbye to his faithful, allows the groom to kiss the bride.

That is to say, a Catholic marriage ceremony, with or without Mass, can be customized in almost every way including readings, psalms and personal prayers, as well as the sections on marriage as such.

Courtship and positions

Anibal Unda Photography and Filming

According to protocol, the courtship is intended to escort the bride Remember that the groom's family members should be seated on the right side of the church, while the bride's family members should be seated on the left side of the church. If the procession is complete, the sponsors and witnesses will be the first to enter the church.

Then, the bride's mother with the groom's father will also go to their places; while the bride's mother and the groom's father will also go to their places. the next to parade will be the groom and his mother. Both will wait on the right side of the altar. Then, the bridesmaids and best men will enter, followed by the page boys, to finish the procession with the bride accompanied by her father. The latter will give his daughter to the groom and will offer his arm to the groom's mother to accompany her to her seat, and then go to his.

Following the Catholic tradition, the bride will sit to the left of the altar Finally, once the ceremony is over, the page boys will come out first, followed by the bride and groom, and then the rest of the wedding party.

The religious ceremony is full of signs that make it a sublime experience. It will undoubtedly be a moment that you will treasure forever, as much as the presentation of the engagement ring or when you split your wedding cake in the presence of all your guests.