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"Peace
that shines warm and bright, Hope's everlasting light, Live
to lie full and free, Love meant for you and meÖin our time,
in our timeÖ"
A Catholic wedding ceremony incorporates traditional Catholic
elements and Scriptural readings. An ordained priest performs
the ceremony reading passages from the Bible.
Entrance
- The ceremony begins with a procession of the celebrant
(priest), the wedding attendants, and the bride and groom.
Gathering
- The priest greets the community and invokes God's blessings
upon the couple, those gathered and the event.
Readings
- The priest and or family members deliver readings from
the Bible as selected by the couple.
The
Vows - The Bride and Groom pledge their love and allegiance
to one another.
Ring
Exchange - The rings are blessed by the priest and exchanged
by the Bride and Groom as a symbol of their new bond. The
groom may also present the bride with a mangalsutra.
Sermon
or Homily - The priest concludes the ceremony with a
lecture on marriage and the union of the bride and groom.
The
Concluding Rite - The final segment of the service includes
a blessing of the community and the new couple, a dismissal,
and a final recessional from the church. Guests are free
to exit once the couple, the wedding party, and the priest
have recessed.
Reception
- After the ceremony, the guests are escorted to a reception
where they give their blessings to the newlyweds.
"The
Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you
with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may faithfully
live together in this life, and in the age to come have
life everlasting."
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