Article Five. On the Matrimonial Rite.

657. Declaration. The matrimonial rite comprises two things: a. the copulation; b. the nuptial blessing.

The matrimonial rite which is contained in the Roman Ritual¹ is not preceptive; therefore laudable provincial customs can be observed according to diocesan rituals.²

1. The copulation or joining of the spouses. The parish priest must ask each contracting party concerning consent, so that the witnesses can give testimony concerning the contracted matrimony.

Once he has understood the consent, he must copulate the spouses with these or similar words, according to the received use of the province: "I join you in matrimony in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The omission of these does not exceed a venial sin.

After the copulation has been performed, if nothing stands in the way, he must impart the nuptial blessing to the spouses.

The blessing of the ring, which is a sacramental, is not to be omitted. It can also be done in second nuptials, even if the same ring had already been used and blessed in the first. If the wedding ring is lost or broken, a new one can be blessed with the same ritual formula.

2. The nuptial blessing. a. Only he can give the nuptial blessing, either personally or through another, who can validly and licitly assist at the matrimony;³ for it is a function reserved to the parish priest.⁴ Therefore if another priest wishes to give it, he needs the license of the parish priest who can validly and licitly assist at the matrimony.

b. Where it is permitted by the prescription of the Church, it is always to be granted if the bride has not yet received it, whether she is a virgin, a widow, or deflowered, even if the bridegroom is a widower and has already once received the blessing.

c. The nuptial blessing is not to be given: if the bride is a widow and has already received the blessing; if the nuptials are celebrated in the closed time, even with the bishop permitting, yet it can afterward be supplied; if a mixed matrimony is contracted, even with dispensation of the supreme pontiff.

d. The votive Mass for spouses can be said only on account of the nuptial blessing; therefore it cannot be said where the blessing is not granted, even if by the rubrics a votive Mass could be said.

¹ Rituale Rom., tit. 7, c. 2.

² Council of Trent, sess. 24, c. 1, De reform. matr.; Cn. 1100.

³ Cn. 1101, 2.

⁴ Cn. 462, 4.