THE ORDER OF BLESSING OF COUPLES IMPLORING THE GIFT OF CHILDREN
Opening Rites
V/. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
R/. Amen
V/. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R/. Who made heaven and earth.
Priest: The institution of Marriage, and conjugal love, are ordained by their very nature to the procreation and education of children, and in them find their crowning glory. Children are indeed the supreme gift of Marriage and contribute immensely to the good of the parents themselves. Therefore with Holy Mother Church we humbly beseech God the Father, through Christ our Lord, to pour out His blessings upon these His servants joined in the holy covenant of Marriage, and deign to endow them with the gift of children.
Reading of the Word of God
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
V/. The Gospel of the Lord.
R/. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Intercessions
Priest: Let us invoke the mercy of God the Father almighty who by His most provident wisdom willed the history of salvation to be signified in love, fidelity and conjugal fruitfulness, saying:
R/. Renew the fidelity of Your servants, O Lord.
For these Your servants; that God who joined them in the sacred bond of Matrimony would deign to fill them continually with His blessings.
R/.
For these Your servants; that living from the full unity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, they may come to eternal happiness.
R/.
For these Your servants; that, brought to participate in the mystery of salvation, they may be able to adhere to Christ and live for Him alone.
R/.
Prayer of Blessing (Priest)
Lord God, Creator of the human race, whose Son chose to be born of the Virgin Mary, by the working of the Holy Spirit, that He might redeem and save mankind from the debt incurred by the sin of old: graciously attend to the desires of Your servants, joined in marriage who humbly beg for the gift of offspring, and grant that these spouses may conceive children and bring them forth happily, that their children may be numbered among Your faithful, serve You eagerly in all things, and obtain eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen
Then in silence the Priest blesses the couples with holy water.
Individual Blessings of Couples
May God, who through the childbirth of the Blessed Virgin Mary announced and granted to the human race the joys of eternal salvation, bless you and gladden your hearts with the gift of children. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen
Conclusion of the Rite
Priest: Bow your heads to receive God’s blessing.
V/. May God, the source and origin of all life, protect you by His goodness.
R/. Amen
V/. May He confirm your faith, strengthen your hope, and graciously increase your love day by day.
R/. Amen
V/. May he attend to your supplications and confirm you with His grace.
R/. Amen
V/. And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever.
R/. Amen
All invoke the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary by recitation of the following antiphon:
We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
