Catholic/Moslem Ceremony​

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GREETING AND PRAYER

O. Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of N. and N.  Let us call upon God to be with us today as we celebrate this union of two into one.

O. Peace be with you.     Salaam aleiku
P. And also with you.      Aleiku a salaam

O. Let us pray.

O.  Lord God, we recognize with thanksgiving the journeys that have brought N. and N. to this time and place, and we celebrate with them the hopes that hold their lives together.

We are grateful to you, source of all creation, for the loving care of the parents that are here in body and spirit, and all the ones who have helped N. and N. become the individuals they are today.

May all who share in the marriage covenant be renewed as they consider this union and help is to remain a community which encourages commitment to one another.  We pray this in the name of the One God.

P. Amen.

READINGS

Reading #1 

Allah, most Gracious says about spouses in Quran:

Among His signs is [the fact] that He has created spouses for you among yourselves so that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has planted love and mercy between you; In that are signs for people who reflect. Qur'an [30 : 21]

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ - 30:21

and says: 

... they are a garment for you and you are a garment to them ... 
Qur'an [2 : 187]

ﭑ ﭒ ﭓ ﭔ ﭕ ﭖ ﭗ ﭘﭙ ﭚ ﭛ ﭜ ﭝ ﭞ ﭟﭠ ﭡ ﭢ ﭣ ﭤ ﭥ ﭦ ﭧ ﭨ ﭩ ﭪﭫ ﭬ ﭭ ﭮ ﭯ ﭰ ﭱ ﭲﭳ ﭴ ﭵ ﭶ ﭷ ﭸ ﭹ ﭺ ﭻ ﭼ ﭽ ﭾ ﭿﮀ ﮁ ﮂ ﮃ ﮄ ﮅﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ ﮌﮍ ﮎ ﮏ ﮐ ﮑ ﮒﮓ ﮔ ﮕ ﮖ ﮗ ﮘ ﮙ ﮚ

Consider this in conjunction with the following verse
... the best garment is the garment of God-consciousness ... Qur'an [7 : 26]

ﭴ ﭵ ﭶ ﭷ ﭸ ﭹ ﭺ ﭻ ﭼ ﭽﭾ ﭿ ﮀ ﮁ ﮂﮃ ﮄ ﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ

It requires that a husband and wife should be as garments for each other. Just as garments are for protection, comfort, show and concealment for human beings, Allah expects husbands and wives to be for one another.

ﮄﮅ ﮆ ﮇ ﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋﮌ ﮍ ﮎ ﮏ ﮐ ﮑ ﮒ ﮓ ﮔ ﮕ ﮖ ﮗﮘ ﮙ ﮚ ﮛ ﮜ ﮝ ﮞ ﮟ

And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger; as for those, Allah will have mercy on them; Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise. Allah hath promised to believers - men and women - gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss; but the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah: This is the supreme felicity. Amen.
Qur'an [9: 71 - 72]

Reading #2

 

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them. If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and know everything and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but am without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's failings but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.

Love does not come to an end.

The word of the Lord.

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HOMILY

RITE OF MARRIAGE

CONSENT

O: N. and N., you have come together here today so that the God may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of this community of your family and friends. In this way you will be strengthened to carry out the other duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity. And so, in the presence of this community of your family and friends, I ask you to state your intentions.

N. and N. , have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

Will you love and honor each other as husband and wife for the rest of your lives?

Will you accept each other’s children lovingly and to raise them with respect, love, and compassion?

Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, with your hands joined and declare your consent before God and this community of your family and friends.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS  (you may select one of the following)

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VOWS FORM A

G. I, N., take you, N., to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

B. I, N., take you, N., to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

VOWS FORM B

G. I, GROOM, take you, BRIDE, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,
(a) until death do us part.
(b) forever.
(c) all the days of my life.

B. I, BRIDE, take you, GROOM, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,
(a) until death do us part.
(b) forever.
(c) all the days of my life.

VOWS FORM C

G. I, GROOM, take you, BRIDE, to be my wife, to be the mother of our children, to be the companion of my heart. I promise to love you and to be true to you in good times and in bad all the days of my life.

B. I, BRIDE, take you, GROOM, to be my husband, to be the father of our children, to be the companion of my heart. I promise to love you and to be true to you in good times and in bad all the days of my life.

VOWS FORM D

G. Do you, GROOM, take , BRIDE, to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health? Will you love her and honor her all the days of your life?

B. Do you, BRIDE, take , GROOM, to be your husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health? Will you love him and honor him all the days of your life?

VOWS FORM E

G. GROOM, do you take BRIDE for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,
(a) until death due you part?
(b) forever?
(c) all the days of your life?

B. BRIDE, do you take GROOM for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,
(a) until death due you part?
(b) forever?
(c) all the days of your life?

PERSONAL VOWS

If you will be writing your own vows, please provide a copy to the priest at least one week prior to the wedding for inclusion in his materials. In that way he can make your wedding ceremony work seamlessly.

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Receiving their consent the priest says:

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Confirmation of Vows

O: You have declared your consent before this community of your family and friends. May the One God in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you with his + blessings. What God has joined together, let no human being separate.

Blessing and Rings

O: God, bless + and consecrate Bride and Groom in their love and compassion for each other. May these rings be a symbol of true faith they share in each other and always remind them of their love and compassion.
All: Amen.

Exchange of Rings

G:  N., take this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity.
B:  N., take this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

O. Dear friends, we have witnessed the exchange of promises by N. and N.. Let us ask the Lord to strengthen their love for each other.

O. For N. and N., as they begin their married life together, may they always know Your presence in good times and in bad. Let us pray to the Lord.
P. Lord, hear our prayer.

O. For their families, may they be good examples of love and faithfulness as they support N. and N., in their marriage. Let us pray to the Lord.
P. Lord, hear our prayer.

O. For those family and friends who have entered into eternal life, (especially N.), may the memory of their presence in the Kingdom of God be an inspiration to N. and N. throughout their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.
P. Lord, hear our prayer.

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O. For those here present, may we find God's love for us mirrored in N. and N's love for each other. Let us pray to the Lord.
P. Lord, hear our prayer.

NUPTIAL BLESSING

O. My dear friends, let us ask God for his continued blessing upon this bridegroom and his bride.

Holy One, creator of the universe, maker of man and woman in your own likeness,
source of blessing for married life, we humbly pray to you for this man and woman
who today are united as husband and wife in this sacrament of marriage.

May your fullest blessing come upon N. and N. so that they may together rejoice in your gift of married love.  With your Word of blessing, unite their hearts in the never-ending bond of pure love. May their children bring them happiness and may their generous love for them be returned to you, many times over.   May the Spirit of Love live always in their hearts and in their home. May they have true friends to stand by them, both in joy and in sorrow. May they be ready and willing to help and comfort all who come to them in need. And may the blessings promised to the compassionate be theirs in abundance. May they find happiness and satisfaction in their work. May daily problems never cause them any undue anxiety, nor the desire for earthly possessions dominate their lives. But may their heart's first desire be always their compassionate presence toward each other. May the Lord bless them with many happy years together, so that you may enjoy the rewards of a good life.

We ask this in the name of the one God.

P. Amen.

Family Blessing (Optional)

(This may be added for the blended family created through this marriage)

O. Let us pray for this new family created through marriage of N. and N.. 

Lord God, you created us in love and saved us in mercy and through the bond of marriage you have established the family and willed that it should be a sign of your love for us.  Shower your blessings on this new family created here today. Enable them, joined by one love, to create a home together and support one another.  Make them responsive to the needs of others and witnesses to the faith in all they say and do.

P.  Amen.

CONCLUSION OF THE CELEBRATION

THE SOLEMN BLESSING

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O. God the eternal one keep you in love with each other, so that the peace of God may stay with you and be always in your home.

P. Amen.

O. May (your children bless you,) your friends console you and all people live in peace with you.

P. Amen.

O. May you always bear witness to the love of God in this world so that the afflicted and the needy will find in you generous friends, and welcome you in the joys of heaven.

P. Amen.

O. And may Almighty God bless each and every one of us.

P. Amen.

PRESENTATION

My dear friends, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. N. and N.

DISMISSAL

O. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, and each other.

P. Thanks be to God.

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