We're having our last meeting with the priest tonight to finalize the mass and the one thing I still can't decide on is which vow form to use.
Did/are you using the traditional version or the U.S. version? Any particular reason for your choice? And does anyone know how/why the U.S. variation came about. Google wasn't very helpful.
Thanks for your input. I'm starting to suffer from decision overload!
Re: which vows?
Below is the vow options from Catholic wedding help for those who didn't know what the options are.
Traditional
The bridegroom says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.
The bride says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.
The US option
The bridegroom says:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.
Bride:
I, (Name), take you, (Name), for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.
Both of these can also be done through questions.
I've been driving myself crazy trying to choose the "perfect" readings for the ceremony. Too many choices! Go with your gut. Whatever you know you will love and remember, is the one you pick. For me, there's something more special in saying I, Michelle, take you...
[QUOTE]We are using the traditional version (all the days of my life vs. until death do you part). I felt like this made us more connected to the universal church community as it was the same vows instead of something only done in the US. I also just felt like all the days of my life sounded more positive than death do you part.
Posted by Tami87[/QUOTE]
We made the same choice for your second reason (sounds more hopeful.) I did not realize that the other option was only available in the U.S. but if I had your first reason would've been right up there as well.
For some reason, I thought the US version originated with brides wanting vows more like what they saw on TV/in movies, and was sort fo co-opted into the vows without really taking away their integrity.
[QUOTE]Thanks for all the the input! We ended up going with the traditional version and will repeat after the priest. Somehow making that final decision made it all seem so real. Only 17 days to go!!
Posted by jfellows82[/QUOTE]
*like*
[QUOTE]My fiance and I were just discussing this last night. I personally like "til death do us part" better than "all the days of my life", however I have a reall problem with the "lawful husband" part, since I don't think the government should have any place in a marriage. I kind of wish we could combine the two?
Posted by MedStudent13[/QUOTE]
<div>Can't you combine the two? Our priest said we could (but he was really lax about everything). As long as it contains all the same elements, I don't see why you couldn't end the traditional version with until death do us part. I know my parents did that almost 40 years ago (they used the US version but all the days of our lives at the end).</div>