The Nuptial Mass of

XXX
&
YYY

At 8090, Albert hall, NY, USA

August 14, 2005

We welcome you, dear Rev. Fathers, family and friends, on this most beautiful and special day to share with us and be a part of this celebration of love.  Thank you for coming to witness our marriage. XXX and YYY

XXX
Rev. XXXYYY

Co-Celebrants
Rev. XXX
Rev. XXXYYY

Readings
XXX
XXX
YYYY

     Parents of the Bride  Parents of the Groom
     XXX & YYY    XXX & YYY

             Maid of Honour           Best Man
                XXXX                     YYY

          Flower Girls Garland Offerers
                             XXX         YYY
                      XXX         YYY

Symbolisms in an Indian Christian Marriage Ceremony

Minnu/Thali (Pendant)
The minnu is an Indian custom incorporated into Kerala Christian marriages. It is a pendant with a cross, the symbol of Christianity, on a gold medallion shaped like a heart.  The heart symbolizes the concept of love, and the cross reflects that the relationship between a husband and wife should be in the image of the relationship between Jesus and his bride, the Church.

Seven Strands of Thread
The minnu is put on seven strands of thread from the manthrakodi. Seven represents the Sabbath, the seventh day, which is the day of rest, as well as the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The groom ‘ties the knot’ around the bride’s neck. This signifies the lifelong inseparable bond established in marriage.
 

Manthrakodi (Sari)
Manthra means specially blessed and kodi means new clothes.  Placing the manthrakodi upon the bride’s head symbolizes Rebecca, who took a veil and covered herself when she first saw Isaac. This was an act of humility, chastity and devotion to her lifelong partner united in marriage by God. The groom accepts the responsibility to care for and cherish his bride. A woman from the groom’s family stands behind the bride, signifying the reception into the home of her husband.

XXX (Unity Candle)
The XXX (not to be mistaken for the bride) is lit from the bride and groom’s two individual candles and shows the congregation that two distinct lives are now joined together in dependence and growing maturity.

Wedding Rings
Rings are exchanged between the bride and the groom. The circular rings have no end symbolize the mutual love and affection that should continuously flow between the couple.

ENTRANCE RITE
Entrance Hymn: Wedding March
Opening Prayer: All stand.

Celebrant: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray. Father, you have made the bond of marriage a holy mystery, a symbol of Christ’s love for his Church. Hear our prayers for XXX and YYY. With faith in you and in each other, they pledge their love today.  May their lives always bear witness to the reality of that love. We ask you this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

LITURGY OF THE WORD
Old Testament Reading: The reader goes to the lectern. All sit and listen. Read by Jino Jacob.

A reading from the book of Genesis. Chapter 2 Verse 18 to 24

   
The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a suitable partner for him.” So the Lord God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name.  The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.  When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called ‘woman’, for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.” 

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm: Choir sings. All are free to join.

New Testament Reading: The reader goes to the lectern. All sit and listen. Read by Jordana Saint-Prix.

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Chapter 13 Verse 1 to 7

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 knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but 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 whatsoever.

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 offence, and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins 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.
This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading: The celebrant goes to the lectern. All sit and listen.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Chapter 5 Verse 1 to 12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

RITE OF MARRIAGE

Introductory Address: All stand, including the bride and groom, and the priest addresses them:

My dear friends, you have come together in this church so that the Lord may seal and strengthen your love in the presence of the Church’s minister and this community.  Christ abundantly blesses this love. He has already consecrated you in baptism and now he enriches and strengthens you by a special sacrament so that you may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity.  And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions.

 

Statement of Intentions: The priest then questions the bride and groom about their freedom of choice, faithfulness to each other, and the acceptance and upbringing of children. The bride and groom answer the questions separately.

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

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

Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?

Consent and Reception of Consent: The priest invites the couple to declare their consent.

Celebrant: Since it your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.

Groom: I, XXX, take you, YYY, 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 honour you all the days of my life.

Bride: I, XXX, take you, YYY, 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 honour you all the days of my life.

Celebrant: You have declared your consent before the Church.  May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings.

What God has joined, men must not divide.
All: Amen.

Blessing of Thali

Celebrant: Lord Jesus, who accepted the church as your spouse by your death on the cross, bless this cross that binds the bride and groom in faith and love.  May this Thali, which is a symbol of unity, bind them in invisible love and fidelity. Let this cross give them the strength to accept all the difficulties they may encounter in their life, and to lead a holy life according to your will. Celebrant sprinkles holy water.

Blessing of Manthrakodi

Celebrant: Merciful Lord, who decorated our souls with the eternal cloth of grace, bless this garment. Bless this couple so that they may wear you always through complete dedication and mutual love. Let them live in this world without sin and receive the garment of glory in heaven. Celebrant sprinkles holy water.

The groom ties Thali around bride’s neck and then covers the head of the bride with Manthrakodi

Blessing and Exchange of Rings

Celebrant: May the Lord bless these rings which you give to each other as the sign of your love and fidelity.

All: Amen.

The groom places his wife’s ring on her ring finger and says: XXX, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The bride places her husband’s ring on his ring finger and says:

YYY, take this ring as a sign on my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Bride & Groom keeping the right hand on the Bible repeat after the priest:

Bride & Groom: We solemnly pledge that we will live in one accord, in joy and sorrow, in wealth and poverty, in health and sickness, with mutual love and fidelity until our death. We command to you O Lord, this is our promise, by the Holy Bible.

Prayer of the Faithful

Dear friends, having just witnessed the exchange of vows between Diya and Sandeep, we now turn to the Heavenly Father and pray that He may shower his blessings on them.  Your response to every petition will be: Lord, bless their love. 

We pray for XXX and YYY that their love which has brought them together today may mature into a deep, strong bond and that they may be able to live joyfully the pledge they have made to each other today. For this we pray to you O Lord.

All: Lord, bless their love.

Lord, we ask you to bless the parents, grandparents and near and dear ones of the newly wed couple. They have brought them up with so much love and affection and prepared them for this great day. Grant them long life and happiness to witness in turn the happiness of their children and grandchildren.

All: Lord, bless their love.

For relatives and friends who walk with us on life’s journey, and for those who have gone before us. Let us Pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, bless their love.

Heavenly Father, we place all our petitions at your feet. There may be many more we would like to make, which remain unexpressed, silent desires of our hearts. May you look after our needs and may we be ever grateful to you, we pray to the Lord.

All: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Prayer Over the Gifts

Celebrant: Lord, accept the gifts we offer you on this happy day. In your fatherly love watch over and protect XXX and YYY whom you have united in marriage. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Preface

Celebrant: Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.  By this sacrament your grace united man and woman in an unbreakable bond of love and peace. 

You have designated the chaste love of husband and wife for the increase both of the human family and of your own family born in baptism. 

You are the loving Father of the world of nature; you are the loving Father of the new creation of grace.  In Christian marriage you bring together the two orders of creation: nature’s gift of children enriches the world, and your grace enriches also your Church.

Through Christ the choirs of angels and all the saints praise and worship your glory.  May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:

All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from evil.

We pray for XXX and YYY that their love which has brought them together today may mature into a deep, strong bond and that they may be able to live joyfully the pledge they have made to each other today. For this we pray to you O Lord.

All: Lord, bless their love.

Lord, we ask you to bless the parents, grandparents and near and dear ones of the newly wed couple. They have brought them up with so much love and affection and prepared them for this great day. Grant them long life and happiness to witness in turn the happiness of their children and grandchildren.

All: Lord, bless their love.

For relatives and friends who walk with us on life’s journey, and for those who have gone before us. Let us Pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, bless their love.

Heavenly Father, we place all our petitions at your feet. There may be many more we would like to make, which remain unexpressed, silent desires of our hearts. May you look after our needs and may we be ever grateful to you, we pray to the Lord.

Lord you are the author of marriage and our guiding light.  We ask you to watch over XXX and YYY and all married couples.  May each day of their married life bring them closer to you because of your continuing guidance and care. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
 

              LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Prayer Over the Gifts

Celebrant: Lord, accept the gifts we offer you on this happy day. In your fatherly love watch over and protect XXX and YYY whom you have united in marriage. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Preface

Celebrant: Father, all powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.  By this sacrament your grace united man and woman in an unbreakable bond of love and peace. 

You have designated the chaste love of husband and wife for the increase both of the human family and of your own family born in baptism. 

You are the loving Father of the world of nature; you are the loving Father of the new creation of grace.  In Christian marriage you bring together the two orders of creation: nature’s gift of children enriches the world, and your grace enriches also your Church.

Through Christ the choirs of angels and all the saints praise and worship your glory.  May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:

All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from evil.

Nuptial Blessing

Celebrant: My dear friends, let us turn to the Lord and pray that he will bless with his grace XXX now married in Christ to YYY and that he will unite in love the couple he has joined in this holy bond.

All pray silently for a short while.

Father, by your power you have made everything out of nothing. In the beginning you created the universe and made mankind in your own likeness.  You gave man the constant help of woman so that man and woman should no longer be two, but one flesh, and you teach us that what you have united may never be divided.

Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church.

Father, by your plan man and woman are united, and married life has been established as the one blessing that was not forfeited by original sin or washed away in the flood.

Look with love upon this woman, your daughter, now joined to her husband in marriage.  She asks your blessing. Give her the grace of love and peace. 

May she always follow the example of the holy women whose praises are sung in the scriptures.

May her husband put his trust in her and recognize that she is his equal and the heir with him to the life of grace.  May he always honour her and love her as Christ loves his bride, the Church.

Father, keep them always true to your commandments.  Keep them faithful in marriage and let them be living examples of Christian life.

Give them the strength which comes from the gospel so that they may be witnesses of Christ to others.  Bless them with children and help them be good parents.  May they live to see their children’s children. And, after a happy old age, grant them fullness of life with the saints in the Kingdom of heaven.

We ask this though Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

All present show their peace and love for each other by bringing their palms together in a sign of peace.

Choir: Sings Communion Hymn Ave Maria.  All those who wish to receive communion proceed to the front, while other remain seated.

Prayer After Communion

Celebrant: Lord, in your love you have given us this Eucharist to unite us with one another and you.  As you have made XXX and YYY one in this sacrament of marriage and the sharing of the one bread and one cup, so now make them one in love for each other.

As ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
 

                     CONCLUDING RITE

Final Blessing

Celebrant: God the eternal Father keep you in love with each other, so that the peace of Christ may stay with you and be always in your home.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: May your children bless you, your friends console you, and all men live in peace with you.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: 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 into the joys of heaven.

All: Amen.

Celebrant: And may almighty god bless you all, the Father and the son, + and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Choir sings recessional Hymn.