As we have seen in recent blog posts, our marriage liturgy is bursting with meaning and significance for this important covenantal relationship. Nestled between the powerful, insightful prayers and the pronouncement of peace, the blessing takes its rightful place in the marriage service. The bride and groom kneel side by side before the altar and under the cross as the officiant prays a powerful prayer and blessing over the couple.
In the opening words of the liturgy for Holy Matrimony, the couple presenting themselves to be married, are each asked to declare their commitment to love one another in these reciprocal words, “will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together out of reverence for Christ in the covenant of Holy Matrimony? Will you love her, honor her, comfort and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?” The man answers, “I will.”
Written by The Rev. Bill & Dana Henry
God loves marriage. How do we know this? Because marriage between a man and a woman was God’s idea and his gift to us, it mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Church, and Jesus gave his first sign, his initial miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Our Anglican service of Holy Matrimony affirms this truth in the opening sentences where we read these familiar and beautiful words.
Archbishop Beach asked the Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America to highlight marriage in our dioceses this year. As a way of doing that, I’ve asked a group of folks to reflect on what the marriage rite in our new prayer book teaches us about the covenant couples make on their wedding day.
