Rite of Christian Engagement

Re: Rite of Christian Engagement

• photokitty mod

  

  February 2015

  
  

  bear1229 said:

  My boyfriend and I have been together for over 2 years now. When we decide to get engaged (in the next few months), we are planning on a church engagement, because of different circumstances involving families and vocational discernment. We have planned that it should follow the private form, because if a Mass were to follow it might confuse our non-Catholic family (Of our family, his father is the only semi-Catholic and is incredibly marginal at that). Our favorite deacon has said that when that day comes he would be honored to witness it. Following the custom of the Church, we would announce the wedding date then as well.
  
  My question is: I have heard of people doing the engagement followed by the Mass, but not the one as it is in the Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers. Has anyone here done the private one?
  

  I'm sure it will, because I'm confused and have no idea what you are talking about. What is a church engagement? In my huge, traditional Catholic family and 12 years of Catholic schooling, I've never heard of what you re referring to...

  ~xoxo~

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• Tami87 member

  

  February 2015

  I am also confused and I am a practicing Catholic. I have not known anyone who did something like this.  Best I could find was this form on the topic, CLICKY.
  
  I am guessing that you want to invite your family to witness your engagement in the church, followed by a blessing? I would talk to the deacon again and ask him about details.
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• bear1229 member

  

  February 2015

  Thank you for your comments,
  
  To clarify, the Rite of Christian Engagement is the formal blessing of the engaged couple in the church, but it does not have to take place in a church. And unless you want it to be a public engagement where a priest would preside over the blessing and then the mass (must be in a church).
  
  Reasons why we are not considering the public engagement (in a church) are our parents might see it as a wedding, we want to keep it from being too formal, and it is not a normal occurrence.
  

  Report0 Reply
• holyguacamole79 member

  

  February 2015

  I only recently heard of this.  Is this what you mean?  https://www.facebook.com/groups/387114218118738/387191848110975/

  
  

  
  

  FWIW, when my husband & I got engaged, we asked for a formal blessing from a priest shorlty after our engagement.  It was absolutely beautiful and I highly encourage anyone to do it.  He read from the book of blessings (I don't know the formal name of it), and I cried.  

  
  
  
  
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• bear1229 member

  

  February 2015

  I don't know about the facebook group, but yes that this what I am talking about.
  

  Report0 Reply
• Jasmine&Rajah member

  

  February 2015

  Yes, this is done in the Melkite Catholic Church!  It's referred to as the betrothal ceremony.  Ours took place at a reception that was unoffically the "engagement party."  We didn't have a Mass following it, though.  I think it's a wonderful thing to do!
  

  Report0 Reply