Forms of vows

It's interesting:
"This wedding really couldn't come at a better time for anyone. Gary will probably be bald by this time next year. And Annabelle's just found out that ..."

A vow represents loyalty and honor from one person to another person or agency. To vow or swear an oath indicates a commitment. Perhaps the most common example of a vow is the traditional wedding vow, while personalized changes often show up in contemporary partnership vows. Members of the clergy take religious vows. Military and civic vows take place when entering public service. Branches of the military use a traditional oath.

1. Religious Vows

   • Various religions and religious orders ask that new members take vows. Priests and nuns of the Roman Catholic Church take vows of faith, chastity and poverty. Pope John Paul II asked, in a letter to the clergy of Great Britain, that they renew the vows they once took. Christians celebrate Lent and make vows of sacrifice by eliminating something from their lives. Many Buddhists choose to take the vows of the Five Precepts that suggest basing life on certain moral kinds of action. Religious traditions hold vows as sacred.

   Service Vows

   • Every person who enters a branch of military service must swear an oath to support the country and uphold its laws. These vows usually are spoken in front of an authorized representative of the Defense Department. Medical doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to aid patients in need and help the sick. Police service oaths are another example of vows taken in the service and protection of others.

   Civil Service

   • Elected and appointed civil servants take vows of office. Presidential oaths include swearing to defend and preserve the Constitution. Senators, members of Congress, judges and other officials vow to execute the duties of their position to the best of their abilities. Some oaths incorporate wording that states the speaker takes the vows freely. Additional examples of civic positions that require vows include notaries and local government seats. A pledge of allegiance is an oath or vow that indicates loyalty by those who speak it.

   Commitment Vows

   • Wedding and partnership vows represent the commitment that one person makes to another. Generally, vows are spoken before an officiator and guests. Partners use traditional vows or write their own, incorporating a personal aspect into the vows. Partnership vows reflect the couple's needs and beliefs. Wording for commitment vows reflects the hopes and desires of the couple taking them. Books and online sites offer help for partners wishing to write their own vows. Poetry and musical lyrics provide another option for quotes or ideas.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: take vows, Forms vows, partnership vows, swear oath, write their