Catholic marriage gifts

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Catholicism is marked with time-honored and sacred ceremonies. The Roman Catholic wedding celebration is considered one of the seven sacraments, also referred to as channels to God's grace. Providing a new couple with gifts to commemorate their holy matrimony is a tradition across many denominations and religions- however, Catholic couples are often presented with gifts that represent special parts of the religion.

1. Offertory Gifts

   • One aspect of a Catholic wedding is the offertory. This ceremony consists of the bride placing flowers at the feet of a statue of the Blessed Mother. One gift for the wedding can be a special bouquet of flowers for the bride to place at the feet of Mary. Commonly used flowers include carnations, white roses, yellow roses, tulips, daisies and irises.

     Catholic weddings permit the decoration of the church with flowers, which represent the creational power of God and his introduction of natural beauty in the world. Giving the bride and groom several arrangements for the church ceremony allows the couple to present an offering to God. The flowers must stay in the church.

   Wedding Crosses

   • Crosses are a key aspect of Catholic wedding ceremonies, and they are prominently displayed in the home of the new couple. Some ceremonial crosses represent God's grace overlooking the wedding and the new bond of marriage. A Catholic crucifix traditionally has the figure of Jesus Christ hanging on it- however, a wedding crucifix features two rings joined together, to represent the couple's bond, at the intersection of the cross. These gifts provide important spiritual relevance while offering support and blessing to the newlyweds.

   Rosaries

   • The Catholic Church and rosaries are synonymous. Rosaries are prayed over and represent the importance rosary ceremony. Ornate rosaries are prime gifts for a Catholic wedding. There are gold-plated rosaries, hand-carved wooden rosaries, and rosaries crafted from trees that border the biblically important Jordan River.

   Wedding Bibles

   • A wedding Bible is also a common Catholic wedding gift. These Bibles are often adorned in silk and engraved with the name of the couple and the wedding date. This represents a sacred tie with the Scripture God's holy presence for the couple. The engraving represents the couple's commitment and promise of fidelity toward God.

Source: www.ehow.com

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