The Royal Wedding Ceremony at Westminster Abbey

you you Oh you dearly beloved we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony which is an honorable estate instituted of God himself signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and His Church which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended in Holy Writ to be honorable among all men and therefore is not by any to be enterprise-d nor taken in hand unadvisedly lightly or wantonly but reverently discreetly soberly and in the fear of God duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained first it was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy name secondly it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections implanted by God should be hallowed and directed a right that those who are called of God to this holy estate should continue therein in pureness of living thirdly it was ordained for the mutual society help and comfort to the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversity into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined therefore if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together let him now speak or else hereafter forever hold his peace I require and charge you both as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony you do now confess it will be well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's words offer love are not joined together by God neither is their matrimony lawful William Arthur Philip Louie will turn out of this woman to thy wedded wife to live together according to God's law in the holiest state of matrimony with our love her comfort her honor and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all other keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live Katherine Elizabeth wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband to live together according to God's law in the holiest state of matrimony whoops I'll love him comfort him honor and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all other keep thee only unto him so long as ye both shall live who giveth this woman to be married to this man i William Arthur Philippa we I William Arthur Philip blue take the Katherine Elizabeth take the Catherine Elizabeth to my wedded life my wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward to happen to hold from this day forward for better for worse for better for worse for richer for poorer for richer for poorer in sickness and in health in sickness and in health to love and to cherish to love and to cherish till death us do part to death us do part according to God's holy law according to God's holy law and thereto I give thee my truth and that's who I give thee in my trophy I Katherine Elizabeth take the William Arthur Philip Louie take William Philip me to my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse for richer for poorer in sickness and in health to love and to cherish till death us do part to part according to God's holy law according to God's holy day and thereto I give thee my truth no to you I give you less Oh Lord this ring and grant that he who gives it and she who shall wear it may remain faithful to each other and abide in thy peace and favor and live together in love until their lives end through Jesus Christ our Lord amen with this ring I thee Wed with this ring I thee Wed with my body ID honor with my body either honor and all my worldly goods with the I share all my worldly goods with the usher in the name of her father in the name of the Father and of the son of the Son and of the Holy Ghost of the Holy Ghost amen let us pray eternal God Creator and preserver of all mankind giver of all spiritual grace the author of everlasting life send thy blessing upon these thy servants this man and this woman whom we bless in thy name that living faithfully together they may surely perform and keep the violent Covenant betwixt them made wear of this ring given and received as a token and pledge and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together and live according to thy laws through Jesus Christ our Lord those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder for as much as William and Catherine have conceived consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have given and pledged their truth either to other and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring and by joining of hands I pronounce that they be man and wife together in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost amen God the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost bless preserve and keep you the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace that he may so live together in this life that in the world to come he may have life everlasting you I appeal to you brothers and sisters by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect let love be genuine hate what is evil hold fast to what is good love one another with mutual affection outdo one another in showing honor do not lag in zeal be ardent in spirit serve the Lord rejoice in hope be patient in suffering persevere in prayer contribute to the needs of the saints extend hospitality to strangers bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse them rejoice with those who rejoice weep with those who weep live in harmony with one another do not be haughty but associate with the lowly do not claim to be wiser than you are do not repay anyone evil for evil but take thought for what is Noble in the sight of all if it is possible so far as it depends on you live peaceably with all you be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire so said st. Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be their deepest and their truest selves many people are fearful at the prospects for our world but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one this is a joyful day it is good that people in every continent are able to share in these celebrations because this is as every wedding day should be a day of hope in a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and the groom as king and queen of creation making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future William and Catherine you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that He gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ and in the spirit of this generous God husband and wife are to give themselves to each other and spiritual life grows as love finds its center beyond ourselves faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this the more we give of self the richer we become in Soul the more we go beyond ourselves in love the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed in marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life it is of course very hard to wean ourselves away from self-centeredness and people can dream of doing such a thing but the hope should be fulfilled it is necessary that a solemn decision is made that whatever the difficulties we are committed to the way of generous love you have both made your decision today I will and by making this new relationship you've aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving and which will lead to a creative future for the human race we stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely the power that has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century we shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence for life for the earth and for one another marriage should transform as husband and wife made one another their work of art it is possible to transform so long as we don't harbor ambitions to reform our partners there must be no coercion if the Spirit is to flow each must give the other space and freedom chaucer the London poet sums it up in a pithy phrase when mastery cometh the God of love anon beateth his wings and farewell he is gone as the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West there's been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life this is to load our partner with to greater burden we're all incomplete we all need the love which is secure rather than oppressive we need mutual forgiveness in order to thrive but as we move towards our partner in love following the example of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light this leads on to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can receive and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit whose fruits are love and joy and peace I pray that all of us present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today we'll do everything in our power to support and uphold you in your new life and I pray that God will bless you in the way of life that you have chosen that way which is expressed in the prayer that you have composed together in preparation for this day God our Father we thank you for our families for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage in the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer we ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ and we all say are men let us pray you you give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Oh Lord save thy servant and by handmaid Oh Lord send them help from thy holy place be unto them a tower of strength O Lord hear our prayer o God of Our Fathers bless these thy servants and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts that whatsoever in thy Holy Word they shall profitably learn they may indeed fulfill the same that so obeying thy will and alway being in safety under thy protection they may abide in thy love unto their lives end through Jesus Christ our Lord amen o merciful Lord and Heavenly Father by whose gracious gift mankind is increased bestow we beseech thee upon these two persons the heritage and gift of children and grant that they may see their children Christianly and virtuously brought up to thy praise and honor through Jesus Christ our Lord Oh God who has taught us that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony hurts made one and just consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and His Church look mercifully upon these thy servants that both this man may love his wife according to thy word as Christ did love his spouse the church who gave himself for it loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh and also that this woman may be loving and amiable and faithful to her husband and in all quietness sobriety and peace be a follower of holy and godly matrons Oh Lord bless them both and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord Almighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ pour upon you the riches of His grace sanctify and bless you that he may please him both in body and soul and live together in holy love unto your lives end you let us pray our almighty Lord and everlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments that through thy most mighty protection both here and ever we may be preserved in body and soul through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always you you you

Channel: The Royal Family

Views: 19,972,036

Rating: 4.6446209 out of 5

Keywords: royal wedding, service, ceremony, westminster abbey, april 29 2011, royal family, william and kate, Prince William, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, London, British Monarchy

Id: 53UaRWI1Vh4

Length: 70min 51sec (4251 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 29 2011