Blessing Of Engaged Couples A Short Prayer Service

Blessing Of Engaged CouplesBlessing Of Engaged Couples

A Short Prayer ServiceA Short Prayer Service

Introductory RitesIntroductory Rites

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

Amen.Amen.

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

And also with you.And also with you.

We know that all of us need God’s blessing at all times; but at We know that all of us need God’s blessing at all times; but at the time of their engagement to be married, Christians are in the time of their engagement to be married, Christians are in particular need of grace as they prepare themselves to form a particular need of grace as they prepare themselves to form a new family.new family.

Let us pray, then, for God’s blessing to come upon these couples, Let us pray, then, for God’s blessing to come upon these couples, our brothers and sisters: that as they await the day of their our brothers and sisters: that as they await the day of their wedding, they will grow in mutual respect and in their love for wedding, they will grow in mutual respect and in their love for one another; that through their companionship and prayer one another; that through their companionship and prayer together they will prepare themselves rightly and chastely for together they will prepare themselves rightly and chastely for marriage.marriage.

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the CorinthiansA reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians (12:31-13:8.)(12:31-13:8.)

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.way that is better than any of them.

If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without 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 love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, 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. 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 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 them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever. no good whatever.

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

Love does not come to an end.Love does not come to an end.

This is the Word of the LordThis is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to GodThanks be to God

Psalm 144Psalm 144 ( (Ps 144:8-10, 15, 17-18 Ps 144:8-10, 15, 17-18 v.9 v.9))

How good is the Lord to all.How good is the Lord to all.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion.The Lord is kind and full of compassion.slow to anger, abounding in love.slow to anger, abounding in love.How good is the Lord to all,How good is the Lord to all,compassionate to all his creatures.compassionate to all his creatures.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,and your friends shall repeat their blessing.and your friends shall repeat their blessing.The eyes of all creatures look to youThe eyes of all creatures look to youand you give them their food in due time.and you give them their food in due time.

The Lord is just in all his waysThe Lord is just in all his waysand loving in all his deeds.and loving in all his deeds.He is close to all who call him,He is close to all who call him,who call on him from their hearts.who call on him from their hearts.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to JohnA reading from the Holy Gospel according to John ( (15:9-1215:9-12))

The Lord be with you.The Lord be with you.And also with you.And also with you.

A reading from the Holy Gospel A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.(according to John.(15:9-1215:9-12))

Glory to you O Lord.Glory to you O Lord.

Jesus said to his disciples;Jesus said to his disciples;‘‘As the Father has loved me,As the Father has loved me,so I have loved you.so I have loved you.Remain in my love.Remain in my love.If you keep my commandmentsIf you keep my commandments

You will remain in my love,You will remain in my love,Just as I have kept Just as I have kept my Father’s commandments my Father’s commandments And remain in his love.And remain in his love.I have told you thisI have told you thisSo that my own joy may be in youSo that my own joy may be in youAnd your joy be completeAnd your joy be completeThis is my commandment:This is my commandment:Love one another,Love one another,As I have loved you’.As I have loved you’.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.This is the Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

IntercessionsIntercessions

Priest: God our Father has loved us so much that in Christ he Priest: God our Father has loved us so much that in Christ he makes us his children and the witnesses to his love before the makes us his children and the witnesses to his love before the entire world. Let us, therefore, cal upon him in all confidence, entire world. Let us, therefore, cal upon him in all confidence, saying:saying:

Lord, help us to remain always in your love.Lord, help us to remain always in your love.

1.1. God Our Father, you willed that your true children, brothers God Our Father, you willed that your true children, brothers and sisters in Christ, should be known by their love for one and sisters in Christ, should be known by their love for one another.another.


2.2. You place upon us the sweet demands of love so that we may You place upon us the sweet demands of love so that we may find happiness by responding to them.find happiness by responding to them.


3.3. You join a man and woman together by their love for each You join a man and woman together by their love for each other, so that in the family they establish they may rejoice in other, so that in the family they establish they may rejoice in children, the crown of their love.children, the crown of their love.


4.4. Through the paschal offering, Christ espoused the Church as Through the paschal offering, Christ espoused the Church as his Bride and in his blood offered it to you, holy and his Bride and in his blood offered it to you, holy and immaculate. In this you have given us the ideal of the love immaculate. In this you have given us the ideal of the love that should exist between husband and wife in the sacrament of that should exist between husband and wife in the sacrament of marriage.marriage.


5.5. You call these engaged couples to the communion of life and You call these engaged couples to the communion of life and love that binds the Christian family together, mind and heart.love that binds the Christian family together, mind and heart.


Blessing of Engagement RingsBlessing of Engagement Rings

In due course In due course

may you honour may you honour

the sacred pledge the sacred pledge

symbolised by these rings.symbolised by these rings.

Amen.Amen.

Prayer of BlessingPrayer of Blessing

Lord God,Lord God,

The source of all love, the wise plan of your providence The source of all love, the wise plan of your providence

has brought these young people together. has brought these young people together.

As they prepare themselves for the sacrament of marriage As they prepare themselves for the sacrament of marriage

and pray for your grace, grant that, and pray for your grace, grant that,

strengthened by your blessing, strengthened by your blessing,

they may grow in their respect for one another they may grow in their respect for one another

and cherish each other with a sincere love.and cherish each other with a sincere love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.Amen.

Concluding RiteConcluding Rite

May The God of love and peace May The God of love and peace

abide in you, abide in you,

guide your steps, guide your steps,

and confirm your hearts in love, and confirm your hearts in love,

now and forever.now and forever.

AmenAmen

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Blessing Of Engaged Couples A Short Prayer Service