A mediados de agosto tengo previsto asistir a mi primera boda en EEUU y será en Boston. Ya me he informado de algunos detalles sobre las diferencias de los ritos católicos españoles y norteamericanos. La verdad es que parece que no hay muchas (ya lo experimentaré y lo compartiré por aquí), pero algo que me llama la atención es por ejemplo que las señoras deben cubrirse los hombros al entrar en la iglesia. ¡Como antiguamente!

Sobre lo demás, pues el idioma hace lo suyo. Si rezan el Padrenuestro, como que entiendo que están con el Padrenuestro, o una acción de gracias. Pero con los salmos y las homilías, reconozco que me pierdo con frecuencia (bueno, en España también me pasaba).

Algo que sí me parece curioso es este texto que he encontrado y que se refiere al ritual del sacramento del matrimonio por la iglesia anglicana, en inglés tradicional. Fijáos qué maravilla de texto. Yo creo que suena hasta más romántico :-)

- Ritual -

El cura comenzará el ritual con la siguiente introducción:

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God, 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 of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

Se dirigirá a los contrayentes y les dirá:

I REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye 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, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God’s Word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful.

Si el cura entiende que podría haber razones para dudar de la legitimidad del matrimonio, podría preguntar a los asistentes si alguien tiene algún conocimiento o alegación al respecto:

If anybody thinks this couple should not get married speak now or forever hold you peace.

Si nadie pone impedimento alguno, seguirá:

(Name). WILT thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

El hombre contestará,

I will.

Se dirigirá entonces el cura a la mujer,

(name) WILT thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

y la mujer contestará:

I will.

El cura seguirá con el ritual:

Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?

Entonces los contrayentes se jurarán matrimonio de este modo: el cura recibirá a la mujer de mano de su padre o de un amigo, lo mismo hará con el hombre. Tomará a continuación las manos diestras de los contrayentes y las unirá. En este momento crucial, el hombre cogerá la mano derecha de ella y proclamará:

I (Name) take thee (name) to my wedded Wife, 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, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

Las manos se soltarán por un momento y ella tomará la diestra del novio con su diestra proclamando del mismo modo:

I (Name) take thee (name) 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, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

Los novios se sueltan las manos. Seguidamente, antes de darle el anillo al novio, el cura lo bendice:

BLESS, O Lord, this Ring, that he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in thy peace, and continue in thy favour, unto their life’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Entonces se lo da al novio, y tomando la mano izquierda de la novia lo introduce en el dedo anular proclamando:

WITH this Ring I thee wed: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

El novio suelta la mano de la novia y el cura se dirige a la congregación:

Let us pray.

El cura y los asistentes, todavía de pie, rezarán la Oración del Señor:

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive, those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

y añadirá,

O 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 they, living faithfully together, may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this Ring given and received is 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. Amen.

Ahora el cura podrá rezar una o dos de las siguientes oraciones:

O ALMIGHTY God, Creator of mankind, who only art the well-spring of life; Bestow upon these thy servants, if it be thy will, the gift and heritage of children; and grant that they may see their children brought up in thy faith and fear, to the honour and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony that in it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Entonces, el cura unirá las manos diestras de los contrayente y proclamará,

Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

Dirigiéndose a la congregación:

FORASMUCH as (Name) and (Name) have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Los contrayentes se arrodillarán y el cura les bendecirá:

GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

Y digo yo también: Amén. No te pierdas el memorable video:

Sobre el autor

Mariano Lozano ha escrito 876 artículos en este blog. Vive en Estados Unidos desde 2006. Desde entonces escribe sobre aquello que le habría gustado leer antes de cruzar el charco. Apasionado lector y viajero. #RaceWalker.

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