The Catholic Nuptial Blessing is such a beautiful thing that emphasises the equality of man and woman. It goes thus:
“Dear brothers and sisters, let us humbly pray to the Lord that on these his servants, now married in Christ, He may mercifully pour out the blessing of His grace and make of one heart in love (by the
Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood) those he has joined by a holy covenant.
O God, who by your mighty power created all things out of nothing, and, when you had set in place the beginnings of the universe, formed man and woman in your own image, making the woman an
inseparable helpmate to the man, that they might no longer be two, but one flesh, and taught that what you were pleased to make one must never be divided.
O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadowed the Sacrament of Christ and his Church:
O God, by whom woman is joined to man and the companionship they had in the beginning is endowed with the one blessing not forfeited by original sin nor washed away by the flood.
Look now with favour on these your servants, joined together in marriage who ask to be strengthened by your blessing.
Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour your love into your hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant.
May the grace of love and peace abide in your daughter N. and let he always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures.
May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to
the life of grace, he may show her due honour and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church.
And now, Lord, we implore you: may these your servants hold fast to the faith and keep your
commandments: made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do: and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; (may they be blessed with children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see their children’s children.)
And grant that reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope, they may come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.”
And the Church says: “Amen!”
Do you know that the name God revealed to Moses as YHWH - “I Am Who I Am” is more than a title?
It is a mystery of being. He is the One who exists in Himself, uncreated, eternal, needing nothing to be.
St. Augustine, on God's self-existence says:
“God is not called ‘I am’ as though He were some being among others. He is being itself-absolute being.” (City of God, Book VIII)
And yet, this same God chose to create you, love you and walk with you.
The Great “I Am” is not distant. He is present, near and always faithful.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me even when I’m not worthy of your love. Amen
'PANIS ANGELICUS' (Bread of Angels), a verse from the #hymn 'Sacris solemniis' which was written in the 13th century, the Angelic doctor, Common doctor and Universal doctor Saint Thomas Aquinas. #Music composed by César Franck in 1872. #Solo Performed by @PeterfabNdukwu#trump
In the ultimate power move, Pope Francis ends the Synod on Synodality with first public display since 1867 of the Chair of St. Peter, Cathedra Sancti Petri Apostoli, the symbol of Papal Supremacy, and a gift from Charles the Bald, Emperor of the Romans, to Pope John VIlI in 875.