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O GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their minds, souls, and bodies, that whatsoever in thy Holy Word they shall profitably learn: they may indeed fulfill the same. Look mercifully upon them from heaven, O Lord, and bless them: And as thou didst send thine Archangel Raphael to Tobit and Sara, the daughter of Raguel, to their great aid and comfort; so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants, that obeying thy will and alway dwelling in safety under thy protection, they may be compassed about by thy Heavenly Host and abide in thy love unto their lives’ end : through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A form not used, found in a Bishop's notes
for the U.S. 1928 Book of Common Prayer;
being substantially that from
The First Book of Common Prayer, 1549
The First Book of Common Prayer, 1549
MOST merciful God, our Maker and our Judge,
thou hast consecrated the holy covenant of Marriage,
that wonderful and sacred Mystery,
that in it is manifested the spiritual marriage and unity
betwixt Christ and his Church:
Look in thine abundant charity
upon thy servant and handmaiden
that N may love his wife
as Christ loved his Bride the Church
and that N may love her husband
as the Church is called to love her Lord.
Bless them both
that they may inherit thine endless kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Put into traditional Prayer Book English,
this prayer comes from An Anglican Prayer Book, 1989
of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa
MOST gracious God, we give thee thanks for thy tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank thee, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of thy Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of thy blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in thy mercy, bring them to that Table where thy saints feast for ever in thine heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (USA)
put into the language of Rite One
O GOD who by thy mighty power didst create from nought all things, and didst appoint that out of man, whom thou didst make to thine own image, woman should complete thy work of Creation: look mercifully upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, who now enter into the Holy Estate of Matrimony; knit them together with thee as one, and so vouchsafe to bless them that they obeying thy will may abide in thy love and live in perfect love and peace together unto the end of their lives, which finished grant them, O God, to inherit everlasting life, and that through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then let the 128 psalm be sung, and that done, the Priest shall commend them to God in this sort.
THE LORD sanctify and bless you, the Lord pour the riches of his grace upon you, that ye may please him, and live together in holy love unto your lives end. Amen.
from notes of a Scottish Episcopalian bishop
in the reign of King James VI of Scotland
in the reign of King James VI of Scotland
