ryan and xy's wedding prayer 2017

This prayers of the faithful was made by Ryan, Xy Fr. Paul and myself.  WHen we asked them how would they like their wedding celebrated their answer was, we want it to be prayerful.  And so we composed these prayers while a solist sung Ombra mai fu in the background.

Bp. Martirez:  Let us rise dearly beloved, as we join Rey Agustin and Xylene in their prayers to God.  Let us join them in silent prayer.

Soloist:

Frondi tenere e belle
del mio platano amato
per voi risplenda il fato.
Tuoni, lampi, e procelle
non v'oltraggino mai la cara pace,
né giunga a profanarvi austro rapace

Ombra mai fu
di vegetabile,
cara ed amabile,
soave più.

(Tender and beautiful fronds
of my beloved plane tree,
let Fate smile upon you.
May thunder, lightning, and storms
never disturb your dear peace,
nor may you by blowing winds be profaned

Never was a shade
of any plant
dearer and more lovely,
or more sweet.)

(Never intended to be sung in church by the composer Georg Frideric Handel (Opera:  Xerxes), this has been considered a sacred aria after its unsuccessful production, because of the various and religious interpretations it connotes.  God has always been referred to by the psalms as a shade, a shelter, a refreshing and quiet repose from the burning sun.  And so can the couple be to each other.)

Rey Agustin:    Loving God, I thank you for having met Xy at a time of desperation and discernment.  More than the care and the longing to be cuddled by someone who loves me, you led me to somebody who shares "one eye" with me – we come from the same point of view, we share the same values, we feel as if with the same heart. 

Xylene:            Thank you also for leading me to Ryan to someone who has the same passion with me to build an ideal family so that from the woundedness that we both experienced we can look forward and work for something better for ourselves and for the children you will give us.

Rey Agustin:    Loving Father,

Xylene:            you have given me somebody with a head – calculating, logical, headstrong and determined;

Rey Agustin:    you have given me someone with a heart - emotional, sensitive and so tender;  

Xylene:            you have led me to somebody whose priority is taking me to the quickest route from point A to point B;

Rey Agustin:    you have given me somebody who allows me to make frequent stops to wander aimlessly, to admire the wonders of the sunset and the beauty of the moon.  Thank you for completing me Lord;

Xylene:            remind us always to complement each other, that I can never be me without Ryan,

Rey Agustin:    and I can never be the real Ryan without Xy.

Xylene:            Loving God, I am afraid,

Rey Agustin:    I am afraid too.  Can we really last till death?

Xylene:            Can we hold on forever? 

Rey Agustin:    I offer you Father our doubts and our apprehensions, our hesitations and forebodings.  Assure us, Lord, with the strength of your love and the power of your grace, today and everyday. 

Xylene:            Help me to be ready to accept sacrifices, to learn to swallow my pride, to allow myself to be a channel of forgiveness, to trust,

Rey Agustin:    and for me to be worthy of that trust; to talk things over, to seek clarification rather than just merely react;

Xylene:            to listen intently and to understand as I have always done.

Rey Agustin:    To always seek the other one out;

Xylene:            and to allow myself to be found and caught.

Rey Agustin:    Finally, loving God, we would like to lift up to you our joyful and hopeful hearts.  We may not see far enough as to what is in store for us in the future, but we are happy to be together, confident and assured by our family and friends, and by You, sharing together the dream of having children and building a home and entertaining even the possibility of having a son who will one day become a priest and even a bishop. 

Xylene:            We share together not just our love for each other but also our love for the church, to serve you Lord not just with our Sunday masses, but to share whatever capacity we have,

Rey Agustin:    my love for liturgical music

Xylene:            and my desire to serve you in others especially in the social apostolate.

Rey Agustin/

Xylene:            Bless this our prayer and our task, amen.