Renewal of Wedding Vows

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A couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary have asked me, a Permanent Deacon, to witness the renewal of their wedding vows. They would like to do this as a brief ceremony at the 5 Pm Saturday vigil Mass next week. Can anyone provide guidelines or a format for this?

Thanks,
 
Have you asked the priest at your parish what the guidelines are? I’m sure he would know.
 
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DBill:
A couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary have asked me, a Permanent Deacon, to witness the renewal of their wedding vows. They would like to do this as a brief ceremony at the 5 Pm Saturday vigil Mass next week. Can anyone provide guidelines or a format for this?

Thanks,
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Deacon Bill,

Use the Rite of Marriage, change the vows to “do you continue…” or “I n. continue to take n. for my lawful husband/wife…” This is done after the homily and before the General Intercessions. No nuptual blessing is given.

Deacon Ed
 
One deacon to another…be sure that the couple that wishes to have their vows renewed, was married first in the church. We had one couple approach us, but in fact they wanted a validation in the church…but they needed to have an anulment done prior to this.

Hopefully, in your case it is a simple blessing.
 
Deacon Bill, Use the Rite of Marriage, change the vows to “do you continue…” or “I n. continue to take n. for my lawful husband/wife…” This is done after the homily and before the General Intercessions. No nuptual blessing is given. Deacon Ed
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That’s what I will do. I have no doubt they are married in the Church - they are good, knowledgeable, active Catholics. But I will ask to make absolutely sure.

Thanks for the help,

Deacon Bill
 
Two of our choir members did this within the context of a Sunday Mass. It was a great reaffirmation of the Sacrament of Marriage.
 
The ceremony was held yesterday at the 5 pm vigil Mass. The pastor preferred to have the ceremony after the Prayers of the Faithful and right after the blessing of the advent wreath. I adapted the Introductory Address from the Wedding Ceremony as follows:

“Dear friends, you have come together in this church where you were joined in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony 25-years ago in order to renew your wedding vows in the presence of the Church’s minister, this community, your family and your four fine children (all of whom were standing with their parents before the altar and each of whom I mentioned by name).

Since it is your intention to reaffirm your wedding vows, join your right hands and declare your consent anew before God and His Church.

I, Paul, reaffirm my commitment to take you Mary, to be my wife. I will continue to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will continue to love you and honor you all the days of my life.

(Same for the wife)

You have renewed your consent before the Church. May the Lord in His goodness continue to strengthen your witness and to fill you both with His blessings.”

They had purchased new rings for the occasion, so we proceeded with a blessing of the rings right out of the rite, with no modification necessary.

After this, I shook their hands and congratulated them both. When they turned around to return to their pew, the congregation clapped, which I do not think appropriate in church but it is pretty routine in our parish.

The whole thing took probably five minutes but it was touching – a beautiful witness to their kids and the whole community and an occasion of grace for the couple.

If anyone has any suggested improvements to this program, please post them.

Thanks,

Deacon Bill
 
Deacon Bill - RE When they turned around to return to their pew, the congregation clapped, which I do not think appropriate in church but it is pretty routine in our parish.

Just a thought [and worth about what you are paying for it 😉 ] . I wonder if it would be appropriate to comment to the congregation something to the effect that by their applause the signify their support for this marriage and all marriages, and their commitment to the Church teachings on Marriage.

If we can’t stop the applause maybe we can make it signify something useful.
 
A little off topic but this made me wonder.

My parents had their 25th anniversary a long time ago. They renewed their vows on that day also. However, they did it in the living room of our house. It was done by a Priest. I can’t remeber what was said, I was only about 14 or so. My question is this. Is it O.K. to renew your vows outside of the Church? If I remeber correctly (and I might not) we had a kind of shortened Mass right there in our living room. I do remeber receiving the Eucharist. Should the Priest have done this? Just in case it matters, they were indeed married in the Church origionally.
 
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