Marriage is reminiscent of a lifelong committed journey. Where perseverance, respect, generosity, patience and above all love, will be fundamental to reach the goal. The grace and strength conferred by the sacrament of Catholic marriage is key in the insistence and persistence of married life.
"The wife and the husband are not alone; Jesus accompanies them". Getting married and sharing life is a beautiful thing. It is a committed journey, sometimes difficult, sometimes complicated, but it is worth the encouragement. And in this lifelong journey, the wife and husband are not alone; they are accompanied by Jesus." Pope Francis, Catechesis 02/06/2021
The marriage vows are the promises made during the sacrament of marriage. God has willed the project of each and every marriage. They represent the will to be united in respect and love, even in the most adverse circumstances.
There are three vows to which the bride and groom commit themselves in the ceremony to receive the sacrament of marriage:
"It is necessary to restore social honor to the fidelity of love, knowing that man's fidelity to the promise always depends on the grace and mercy of God, and that the bond created by love or friendship is beautiful and never destroys freedom. On the contrary, freedom and fidelity sustain each other in both interpersonal and social relationships." Papa francisco, Catechesis 21/10/2015
All love tends to expand, it is spiritually and materially fertile. Sterility has never been an attribute of love. It is neither stingy nor stingy; the measure of love is to love without measure, said St. Augustine.
Mature men and women know how to practice, with common sense, respect for each other's autonomy and personality. Moreover, each lives the life of the other as his own. In this sense, the expression "one flesh
The renewal of the marriage vows is an everyday thing, but, like everything in life, it needs a concrete expression, some formulas, some words, a place.
It is in today's marriage that we can pray as Jesus asked us to pray "in spirit and in truth". Renewing the vows made in the sacrament of marriage requires that interior disposition of present self-giving which is more important than the exterior.
For this reason, marriage renewal can begin with a special day of spiritual retreat where the main focus is on dialogue with the couple and with God. It can be led by a spiritual leader or a priest.
Another fundamental part is the celebration of the Holy Mass in which they will renew their marriage promises.
When it comes to renewing our marriage vows, as Christians we know that we have been chosen for this vocation and God has placed the right person in our lives to fulfill this vocation.
Living in grace is fundamental for Christian marriage to remain fruitful in the broad sense. Therefore, a purpose for the future of any couple should be to care for the life of union with God, the life of grace.
That is where trust comes from, trust not in our own strength but in the fact that the same One who chose them and cared for them until this day will keep them until "death do them part".
The renewal of the marriage vows is based on three verbs, that of reflecting, dialoguing and projecting. It is not to get married again, because that would not be possible, but to renew the marriage vows as a sign, as a sign that there is indeed in us the effort, the interest to go forward on this path.
It is possible to celebrate the Holy Mass to renew catholic marriage vows at any auspicious moment for the couple. But the most common is celebrating at 25 or 50 years of marriage, when it is the silver and gold wedding anniversary.
The sacrament of marriage is a gift that God has given us. It is a grace that grows and enriches our life to the extent that we cultivate it and are faithful to it.
We want to renew our will to follow the path of marital holiness to which we have been called, and also to thank the Lord for the gifts that he has given us as a couple and as a family through this sacrament.
The celebration of Holy Mass is the best way to pronounce our wedding vows. We will do so before God and before our loved ones. Because, we want to renew our commitment as spouses and as parents; to renew ourselves in Jesus Christ our Lord, from the depths of our hearts in our love and in our mission.
A part of the Mass We will express our commitment to strive for our marital holiness in order to contribute to the renewal of vows.
We implore the Holy Spirit to make the richness of the sacrament of marriage fruitful within our families.
We pray that we may be transparent of God's love for our children. That as a married couple we may embody and prolong this deep love of Christ for his Church.
Renewal can be expressed in a personal way during the celebration of the Eucharist or in a public way guided by the priest.
Some appropriate Bible readings to read during the liturgy of the word of the Holy Mass of renewal of vows may include:
The foundations of the Christian family arise from the marital union. Married life must be renewed every day. Pope Francis says "...I prefer wrinkled families, with wounds, with scars, but that continue to walk, because those wounds, those scars, those wrinkles are the fruit of the fidelity of a love that was not always easy for them. Love is not easy; it is not easy, no, but it is the most beautiful thing that a man and a woman can give each other, true love, for life." Meeting with families in Mexico 2016
The secret of love is to want the other to be happy. In this way, the marital relationship and the education of children is built on the solid foundation of devotion.
And at the end of the days, in old age, alone again as when you started on this journey, leaning on God as on the first day. Because they have taken care of these small details that have woven the tapestry of a marriage united in faith.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love,
to you, with confidence, we turn.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
also make our families
place of communion and cenacle of prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
that there will never again be episodes in families
of violence, closed-mindedness and division;
that whoever has been injured or scandalized
be soon comforted and healed.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
that the forthcoming Synod of Bishops
to raise everyone's awareness
of the sacred and inviolable character of the family,
of its beauty in God's plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
hear, receive our plea.
Amen
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