Does anyone know where I can find the Medjugorje Wedding Blessing? I know there is a special blessing that is performed at the ceremony using a crucifix, but I can't find a copy of it to show my priest. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks!

-- Anne S. (apsavoie@worldnet.att.net), August 08, 2001

Answers

Jmj

Hello, Anne.
Although such a "wedding blessing" ceremony may currently be in use by people who are not aware of liturgical regulations, I am sure that this practice is not authorized by the Catholic Church. The first document of the Second Vatican Council, "Sacrosanctum Concilium" (1963), which is a constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, says this in #22:
Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See [Vatican] and, as laws may determine, on the [local] bishop. ... [T]he regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies [e.g., "conferences"] of bishops legitimately established. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.

And so, couples cannot ask that their pastors incorporate a new blessing into a nuptial Mass or the Rite of Marriage. Perhaps a priest or deacon could choose to administer the blessing privately, if the text has ecclesiastical approval (Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur).

I believe that the Church would not grant an official status (for general, public use) to a "wedding blessing" that is linked to a site of alleged private revelations that have not yet been deemed "worthy of belief" by the local bishop.

St. James, pray for us.
God bless you.
John

-- (jgecik@amdg.ihs), August 08, 2001.

Hi Anne!

I believe that what you are referring to is not a special blessing, but that the couple recites their vows on a crucifix (while holding the crucifix). I will try to find more on this. I know that I have seen it in at least one article that I have about Medjugorje. More later.

cksunshine

-- cksunshine (cklrun@hotmail.com), August 09, 2001.

Well, I couldn't find the article that I was thinking of, but I found another one that said that the couple "said their vows with their hands joined over the crucifix, as all Croatian couples do - many American couples have adopted this wonderful custom, often using a crucifix someone bought for them in Medjugorje." (Quoted from Medjugorje Magazine Spring 1998, pg. 58.) It is my personal opinion that this would not violate the liturgical regulations that John mentioned, as they are not adding anything to the ceremony itself, simply reciting their vows with their hands joined over the crucifix, but please note that is my PERSONAL opinion; I am not speaking on an authoritative level. In the aricle that I had been looking for, but couldn't find, I do remember that they had interviewed several couples who had adopted this custom into their own marriage ceremony, or renewal of their vows, and that they found it to be incredibly meaningful, powerful, profound, etc.

Hope this helps,

cksunshine

-- cksunshine (cklrun@hotmail.com), August 09, 2001.