THE BLESSING OF HUSBAND AND WIFE AFTER TWENTY-FIVE OR FIFTY YEARS OF MARRIED LIFE
The following is the ceremony to be observed when a husband and wife desire to thank God publicly for twenty-five or fifty years of married life together. The priest, vested for Mass, addresses them briefly and celebrates Mass for them. This Mass may be either the Votive Mass of the Blessed Trinity or of Our Lady, a votive Mass of the 2nd class, adding to the prayer of the Mass, under one conclusion, the prayer in thanksgiving. On days of the 1st class and on Sundays this votive Mass is forbidden, but the prayer in thanksgiving may be added to the Mass of the day as long as this is not Christmas Day, or the feast of the Epiphany, or Holy Thursday or Good Friday or Easter Sunday or Whitsunday, or the feast of the Ascension, of the Blessed Trinity, of Corpus Christi, of the Sacred Heart, of the Kingship of Christ, or All Souls day.
After the last Gospel the celebrant lays aside the maniple, and turning towards the husband and wife, says over them the following prayers:
Ant: Thus shall every man be blessed, who fears the Lord.
Psalm 127
Blessed thou art, if thou dost fear the Lord, and follow his paths!
Thyself shalt eat what thy hands have toiled to win; blessed thou art; all good shall be thine.
Thy wife shall be fruitful as a vine, in the heart of thy home,
The children round thy table sturdy as olive-branches.
Let a man serve the Lord, such is the blessing that awaits him.
May the Lord who dwells in Sion bless thee; mayest thou see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy lifelong.
Mayest thou live to see thy children's children, and peace resting upon Israel.
Glory be to the Father.
Or, in place of the above
Psalm 116
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, let all the nations of the world do him honour.
Abundant has his mercy been towards us; the Lord remains faithful to his word for ever.
Ant: Thus shall every man be blessed, who fears the Lord.
V. Send them help from thy holy place, O Lord.
R. And defend her out of Sion.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
LET US PRAY: Stretch forth thy hand, O Lord, towards thy faithful servants and help them from thy heavenly throne. Thus may they seek thee wholeheartedly; and provided it is good for them, may they obtain whatever they shall ask of thee.
Almighty everlasting God, look kindly upon these thy servants who have come to thy church with joy in their hearts to thank thee; and as they have put their trust in thee alone, grant that they may receive abundantly the riches of thy grace. May they be ever one in love; and when the journey of life is ended, may they come at last (with all their children) to unending happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Then is sung or recited the hymn Te Deum, which the priest intones. At the end he says:
V. Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
R. Let us praise and magnify him for ever.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come to thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
LET US PRAY: Great and Almighty God, whose mercy has no limit, whose goodness knows no end, for all thou hast given us we thank thee from our hearts: yet ask one favor more. Turn not away now from those who have gained what they asked of thee; but rather make them ready for rewards that still await them in the life that is to come.
God, who hast taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolation.
God, thou dost not allow any man who hopes in thee to suffer more than he can bear, but rather thou givest ear to his prayer as a father hears his Son. We thank thee for having heard and answered our petitions; and as dutiful children we ask that thou wouldst keep us always from all harm. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Then he sprinkles the husband and wife with holy water, saying:
May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, † and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and ever remain with you.
R. Amen.
Finally he says:
Go in peace and the Lord be always with you.
R. Amen.
BENEDICTIO CONIUGUM POST 25 VEL 50 ANNOS IN MATRIMONIO TRANSACTOS
1. Præparanda: In sacranta – parametra missalia coloris convenientis et insuper stola et pluviale albi coloris; habitus ministrantium; vas aquæ benedictæ cum aspersorio; Rituale.
Ante altare – genuflexoria et sedes pro coniugibus;
Prope abacum – pro coniugibus, qui 50 annos in matrimonio expleverunt, baculi parva cruce in cuspide munit.
2. Si coniuges catholici post 25 vel 50 annos in matrimonio transactos gratiarum actiones in ecclesia exoptent celebrare, hortetur eos parochus, ut confessione sacramentali peracta hac die ad sacram synaxim accedant.
3. Postquam coniuges occupaverunt genuflexoria, sacerdos stola et pluviali albi coloris paratus, præcedentibus ministrantibus, quorum unus vas aquæ benedictæ cum aspersorio, alter Rituale defert, accedit ad altare.
ANTE MISSAM
4. Sacerdos genuflexus in infimo altaris gradu incipit hymnum, quem adstantes prosequuntur. Decantata prim stropha omnes surgunt.
Hymnus
1. Veni, Creátor, Spíritus,
mentes tuórum vísita.
Imple supérna grátia,
quæ tu créasti péctora.
2. Qui díceris Paráclitus,
altíssimi donum Dei,
fons vivus ignis, cáritas,
et spiritális únctio.
3. Tu septifórmis múnere,
digitus patérnæ déxteræ,
tu rite promíssum Patris,
sermone ditants gúttura.
4. Accénde lúmen sénsibus,
infúnde amórem córdibus,
infirma nostri córporis,
virtúte firmans pérpeti.
5. Hostem repéllas lóngius,
pacémque dones prótinus:
Ductóre sic te prǽvio,
Vitémus omne nóxium.
6. Per te sciámus da Patrem,
noscámus atque Fílium;
Teque utriúsque Spiritum
credámus omni témpore.
7. Deo Patri sit gloria
et Filio, quia mórtuis
surréxit, ac Paráclito,
in sæculórum sǽcula. Amen.
Hymno finito, sacerdos cantat:
V. Emítté Spíritum tuum et creabúntur. (T.P. Allélúia)
R. Et renovábis fáciem terræ. (T.P. Allelúia)
ORATIO
Orémus.
DEUS, qui corda fidélium Sancti Spíritus illustratióne docuísti: + da nobis in eódem Spíritu recta sápere, * et de eius semper consolátione gaudére. Dóminum nóstrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte eiúsdem Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen
5. Quibus finitis, sacerdos ascendit suppedaneum et stans in cornu Evangelii conversus ad coniuges hortatur eos brevi sermone ad gratias Deo agendas pro beneficiis durante matrimonio acceptis.
6. Finito sermone coniuges in genua procumbunt, sacerodos autem ad ipsos conversus dicit:
Simul cum coniungibus gratias agentibus orationem, quam nos Iesus Christus Dominus noster docuit, recitemus:
Omnes simul recitant Orationem Domnicam:
Pater noster, qui es in cælis, sanctificétur nomen tuum. Advéniat Regnum tuum. Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie. Et dimítte nobis débita nostra, sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem, sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.
V. Dómine, non proicias me in tempore senectutis meæ.
R. Cum deficiet virtus mea ne derelinquas me.
V. Deus docuisti me ex iuventute mea.
R. Et usque nunc pronuntiabo mirabilia tua.
V. Et usque in senectam meam et senium.
R. Deus ne derelinquas me.
V. Donec adnuntiem brachium tuum huic generationi.
R. Et generationi omni quæ ventura est potentiam tuam.
V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.
V. Dominus vobíscum.
R. Et cum spíritu tuo.
ORATIO
Orémus.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, ex toto corde gratias tibi agimus, ut eos potentia tua adiuvare digneris, qui in nomine tuo ad coniugium venerut. + Cura, quam his coniugibus dedisti, eis affirmet ∗ ut numquam illos derelinquas et ad praemium aeternum praepares. Per Dóminum nóstrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.
7. Tum sacerdos dicit:
Et nunc, venerabiles coniuges, surgite et accipite benedictionem Dei, quam abhinc quinque et viginti (vel: quinquaginta) annis accepistis.
Deinde coniuges ascendunt ad altare et stantes remanent in gradu superiore. Sacerdos vero dicit:
Sicut olim iungite dexteras.
Tum iunctas eorum manus circumvolvit dextera extermitate solæ in forma crucis. Quo facto prosequitur:
DEUS, qui in manibus tuis paternalibus tenes fortunas omnium nostrum, bene dic illos, quos ego auctoritate Ecclesiae tuae benedico. Extende longitudinem vitae eorum et gratias eis dona, ut accipiant quaeque gaudia et onera, quae vita fert, voluntati tuae obœdientes. Fideli servitio et amore Dei digni vita aeterna sint. Per Dóminum nóstrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.
His dictis sacerdos removet stolam.
8. Coniugibus, qui annos 50 secum in matrimonio vixerunt, sacerdos tradit in manus baculos parva cruce in cupide munitos, dicens:
Venerabiles coniuges accipite hos baculos cruce munitos ad fulciendum senectutem vestram. Deus qui vos ex iuventute vestra duxit, ne derelinquat vos in senicum. Cruce Christi conisi peregrinamini ad finem vobis destinatum, qui est Iesus Christus: Ipsius sunt tempora et saecula, ipsi gloria et imperium per universa æternitatis sæcula.
R. Amen.
9. Quibus peractis sacerdos aspergit coniuges aqua benedicta. Ipsi recedunt ad genuflexoria, sacerdos autem capit paramenta ad Missam celebrandam.
MISSA PRO GRATIARUM ACTIONE
10. Pro gratiarum actione in 25* (vicesimo quinto) et 50* (quinquagesimo) anniversario a celebratione matrimonii, dici potest, ut votiva ll classis, Missa aut de Sanctissima Trínitate aut de Beata Maria Virgine, addita oratione pro gratiarum actione sub unica conclusione cum prima.
Diebus l classis et dominicis hæc Missa votiva prohibetur; tunc enim oratio pro gratiarum actione addi potest Missæ diei, modo ne occurrant festa Nativitatis et Epiphaniæ Domini, Triduum sacrum, dominica Resurectionis, festum Ascensionis Domini, dominica Pentecostes, festa Sanctissimæ Trínitatis, Corporis Christi, Cordis Iesu et Christi Regis, necnon Commemoratio omnimu Fidelium defunctorum.
11. Intra Missam coniuges Sanctissimo Christi Corpore reficiantur, et quidem decet eos sumere particulas in hac Missa pro ipsis consecratas.
POST MISSAM
12. Missa finita sacerdos descendit in planum, deponit manipulum, et intonat Hymnum Te Deum laudamus, qui canitur vel recitatur. Hymno finito, sacerdos subiungit solitos versiculos et Orationem.
V. Benedicámus Patrem et Fílium cum Sancto Spíritu.
R. Laudémus et superexaltémus eum in sæcula.
V. Benedíctus es, Dómine, in firmaménto cæli.
R. Et laudábilis, et gloriósus, et superexaltátus in sæcula.
V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.
V. Dominus vobíscum.
R. Et cum spíritu tuo.
ORATIO
Orémus.
DEUS, cuius misericórdiæ non est númerus, et bonitátis infinítus, est thesáurus: + piíssimæ maiestáti tuæ pro collátis dónis grátias ágimus, tuam * semper cleméntiam exorántes; ut, qui peténtibus postuláta concédis, eósdem non déserens, ad præmia futúra dispónas. Per Dóminum nóstrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.