The Blessing of Married Persons

The Blessing of Married Persons

The Blessing of Married Persons is an occasional service of the Reformed Episcopal Church used for the blessing of a marriage already contracted in conformity with church canon.

Overview

This service provides a priestly blessing for married persons when the priest is satisfied that the marriage conforms to the canon. It is distinct from the solemnization of matrimony and includes vows, prayer, and blessing.

Full Text of the Service

¶ This form may be used when the Priest is satisfied that the marriage is in conformity with the Canon. No entry shall be made in the parish register.

¶ At the day and time appointed for the Blessing, the married couple shall come into the body of the church, or shall be ready in some proper place, with their friends and neighbours: and there standing together, the Man on the right, and the Woman on the left, the Priest shall say,

DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as you have been joined together in holy Matrimony, which is an honourable estate instituted of God, and have come hither to ask for the blessing of the Church; I require that you promise, by the help of God, to fulfill the obligations which Christian marriage demands.

¶ Then, addressing the Husband, the Priest shall say,

N. Dost thou promise to love this thy Wife, to comfort, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

¶ And the Husband shall answer,

I do.

¶ Then, addressing the Wife, the Priest shall say,

N. Dost thou promise to love this thy Husband, to comfort, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

¶ And the Wife shall answer,

I do.

¶ Then the Priest shall say,

The Lord be with you.

And with thy Spirit.

Let us pray.

¶ Then the Priest may bless the Ring or Rings; the Wife (and Husband) extending the hand (or hands) toward him, he shall say,

O GOD, whose blessed Son sanctified, with his presence, the marriage at Cana: Bless, we beseech thee, this ring, to be the token of the union of this man and woman in holy Matrimony; that ever growing in love, they may abide in thy peace, and continue in thy favour unto their life’s end; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then the Priest and the Married Persons, still standing, shall say the Lord’s Prayer.

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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ Then the Priest shall say,

O ETERNAL God, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life:

Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that they, living faithfully together, may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this ring is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then the Priest may add one or both of the following prayers.

O ALMIGHTY God, creator of mankind, who only art the well-spring of life: Bestow upon these thy servants, if it be thy will, the gift and heritage of children; and grant that they may see their children brought up in thy faith and fear, to the honour and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony that in it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

¶ Then the Priest shall join their right hands together, and say,

Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

¶ Then the Husband and Wife kneeling, the Priest shall add this Blessing.

GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen.

Notes on Use

• Use only when the priest is satisfied that the marriage is in conformity with the canon.
• The rubric states that no entry is made in the parish register.
• Pastoral preparation should clarify that this is a blessing of married persons, not a new marriage ceremony.

Liturgical Structure

• Opening address
• Questions to husband and wife
• Blessing of ring or rings
• Prayers
• Final blessing

Theological Themes

• Marriage as a holy estate ordered toward faithfulness.
• Christ's blessing of marriage at Cana.
• Prayer for charity, fidelity, and mutual comfort.

Source

This text is transcribed from the official Reformed Episcopal Church PDF.

See Also

• Book of Common Prayer
• Reformed Episcopal Church
• Anglican liturgy
• Book of Occasional Services (Reformed Episcopal Church)