Mexican Catholic ceremony - prayers for the Lazo

[jmiranda]

Thats a really nice prayer Maura...I think this is really appropiate for the Lazo ceremony but i believe there is a prayer that is said specifically for the lazo.

[Maura]

jessica - theres a difference between the prayer being said to bless the gifts (arras, lazo, ramo) and the prayer (or whatever) that is said while the lazo is actually being put on.

 

we have both sets of prayers now. the priest will bless all those items at once, and then a separate prayer will be said during the draping of the lazo. KWIM?

[Nrvsbride]

Maura that is really beautiful! I wish I could have done the lazo but my parish doesn't do it, since its typically a traditional Mexican ritual. But I did get to do a presentation to the Virgin Mary which was especially nice b/c James' deceased grandfather loved the song 'Ave Maria'. It played while we did the presentation and his grandmother was really moved by it.

 

I think your ceremony will be beautiful but if you can I would ask for a mini trial run b/c believe it or not all this stuff can get messed up really easily. Mine's was a mess and Amy's got screwed up a bit too in PV. So just make sure you and Jose and the priest know exactly what your doing.

[Maura]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nrvsbride Maura that is really beautiful! I wish I could have done the lazo but my parish doesn't do it, since its typically a traditional Mexican ritual. But I did get to do a presentation to the Virgin Mary which was especially nice b/c James' deceased grandfather loved the song 'Ave Maria'. It played while we did the presentation and his grandmother was really moved by it. I think your ceremony will be beautiful but if you can I would ask for a mini trial run b/c believe it or not all this stuff can get messed up really easily. Mine's was a mess and Amy's got screwed up a bit too in PV. So just make sure you and Jose and the priest know exactly what your doing.

aw G, what a bummer that your parish doesnt do it! i still dont know whether we are doing a ramo or not so i need to talk to my MIL to find out if she ordered flowers of any kind for that.

dont worry - i FOR SURE am having a rehearsal on the day before just to run through how everything will go. i dont trust anybody to get it all right without a run-through (incl. our priest), especially since we are meshing cultural traditions!

[jmiranda]

Yes I do...so you are going to use the prayer you just posted because it is beautiful.

[Maura]

yeah definitely going to use this prayer! i had tears in my eyes reading it when he showed it to me!

[jmiranda]

I had tears in my eyes when I read it...if you dont mind Im going to save it so that maybe we can use it.

[Maura]

of course, go ahead! i hoped that posting it would help other brides like me

 

since you're in chicago, you can also visit the bookstore i got everything from if you'd like - its Pauline Books & Media Pauline Books & Media - Daughters of St. Paul and it's at Michigan Ave and Randolph but on the Michigan side, and right near the 7-11. They were super helpful, they have a huge spanish section in the back and lots of religious gifts. ask for juan if you go! he was so helpful and sweet! the little book i bought that had the oracion de pareja was only like $4 too!

[saranmike]

In case this helps any future brides, I found this lasso ceremony online at: The Lasso Ceremony

 

The Lasso Ceremony

Two Souls United in the "Lasso" of Everlasting Love!

This tradition is usually associated with Hispanic and Filipino families.

 

Lasso (sometimes called, "lazo") or rope is placed around the bride and groom's shoulders (groom's shoulder's first) in the form of an "8" (the infinity symbol) - after they have exchanged their vows - to symbolize their everlasting union. This is usually done by the officiant, however, family members can also take part in this ritual. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service.

 

It is sometimes made of rosary beads, white ribbon, orange flowers, fabric, silver, crystal or elaborately painted wood. It can also be placed around the couple's necks, or wrists. If you have children; they may also be included as they will definitely be a part of the new family.

Example of a Floral Lasso

 

The Veil and the Lasso are both associated with a wedding prayer during the ceremony. Special additional members of the wedding party may be in charge of "lassoing" the Bride and Groom together after they kneel for the wedding prayer. They drape what is usually a white satin circle of cord around the shoulders of the kneeling Bride and Groom.

 

After the Lasso, the Veil is placed over the shoulders of the Groom and the shoulders or head and shoulders of the Bride. It may have to be pinned in place in order to stay. Thus tied together symbolically, the couple remains kneeling for the prayer.

 

After the prayer and before either attempts to rise, at the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by the same people who put it on and given to the bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom's heart and home.

 

The Lasso Ceremony

 

The Bride and Groom kneel before the minister.

 

Minister: _________ and _________ have chosen to incorporate the Lasso ritual into their wedding ceremony today. The Lasso is a wedding ritual in which the couple are bound together with a ceremonial rosary. Lassoing is a declaration of intent, where the bride and groom clearly state that they are marrying of their own free will.

 

_________ and _________ since your lives have crossed in this life, you have formed eternal and sacred bonds. As you enter this state of matrimony you should strive to make real the ideals that to you, give meaning to this ceremony and to the institution of marriage.

 

With full awareness, know that within this Lasso you are not only declaring your intent to be bound together before your friends and family, but you speak that intent also to God.

 

The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union and will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.

 

_________ and _________, I ask you to hold hands and look into each others eyes.

 

Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?

 

Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?

 

Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?

 

Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?

 

Bride & Groom: We will.

 

Minister drapes the Lasso in the form of an "8" around the shoulders of the Bride and Groom.

 

Minister: _________ and _________ , as you are bound together now, so too your lives and spirits are joined in a union of everlasting love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

 

Minister offers a prayer, removes the Lasso before the Bride and Groom rise, then presents the Lasso to the Groom who will later give it to the Bride. (The Bride will carry her bouquet as they walk together down the aisle).

 

• • •

The Lasso Prayer #1

 

Bless the marriage of _________ and _________, O God, as they begin their journey down the road of life together. We know not what lies ahead for the road has many turns and bends. We are grateful to you for helping them to make the best of whatever comes their way.

 

We are thankful that they can continue to enjoy each other as they did when they first met and for helping them to realize that nothing nor no one is perfect and to look for the good in all things and all people including themselves.

 

Thank you for helping them to respect each other's likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes and dreams and fears even though they may not always understand them.

 

Thank you for helping them to learn from each other and to help each other to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

 

Thank you for helping them to realize that no matter what happens to them they will hold on to each other and know that things have a way of working out for the good.

 

Thank you for helping them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives.

 

But most of all, dear God, thank you for helping them to keep lit the flame of love' that they now share so that by their loving example they may pass on the light of love to their children and to their children's children forever and ever.

 

And so it is.

 

• • •

The Lasso Prayer #2

 

Father in heaven, You ordained marriage for your children, and You gave us love. We present to You _________ and _________, who come this day to be married. May the covenant of love they make be blessed with true devotion and spiritual commitment.

 

We thank you for giving them the strength and courage to keep the covenant they have made.

 

Thank you for helping them to create for their children a peaceful, stable home of love as a foundation on which they can build their lives.

 

When selfishness shows itself, grant generosity;

 

When mistrust is a temptation, give moral strength;

 

When there is misunderstanding, give patience and gentleness;

 

When suffering becomes a part of their lives, give them a strong faith and an abiding love.

 

And so it is.

 

• • •

These words can be edited, deleted, expanded or adapted to your own Lasso Ceremony as needed.

[misskylie]

ok, good news! just got back from the catholic bookstore that is several blocks away from my office (that a coworker of jose's recommended) ---- they have a wonderful man there named Juan who helped me (and they have an entire section in Spanish in the back!).

 

there is NO formal text for the priest to say during the draping of the lazo. HOWEVER, Juan did show me this huge (and expensive, like $60) prayer book that is in spanish and focuses on family-oriented prayers. there was a very lovely prayer in the back of the husbands/wives section and he suggested that the priest say this prayer while our padrinos are draping the lazo:

 

Te alabamos y te benedecimos,

oh Dios, creador de todas las cosas,

que al principio creaste al hombre y a la mujer

para que formaran una unidad de vida y de amor;

también te damos gracias,

porque te dignaste benedecir la unión familiar

de tus servidores (nombre del novio) y (nombre de la novia),

para que fuera imagen de la unión de Cristo con su Iglesia;

tú que los has mantenido unidos por el amor

en sus penas y alegrías,

míralos hoy con benevolencia;

renueva constantemente su alianza nupcial,

acrecienta su amor, fortalece su vínculo de paz,

para que gocen siempre de tu bendición.

Por Jesucristo, nuestro Señor.

 

and then, after the draping of the lazo (by the padrinos), Juan showed me a very nice "oración de la pareja" for the bride and groom to say together/to each other --- hope this helps someone!

 

(juntos los dos:)

O dios, nuestro Padre en el Cielo,

ahora nos arrodillamos frente a ti

muy felices pero un poco

nerviosos. Sentimos que al

principio nos acercaste, ayudaste a

que nuestro amor creciera y en este

momento estás con nosotros de

una manera muy especial.

Te pedimos que te quedes con

nosotros en el futuro. Protégenos

de qualquier cosa que pueda

hacerle mal a este matrimonio,

danos valor cuando vengan los

problemas, enséñanos a

perdonarnos cuando fallamos.

 

(El esposo:)

Te pido la ayuda que necesito para ser un buen esposo y un buen padre. Nunca dejes que tome a mi esposa por sentado o que me olvide de que necesita ser amada. Si tu nos bendices con hijos, te prometo que los amaré, los cuidaré y les daréel mejor ejemplo posible.

 

(La esposa:)

Te pido la ayuda que necesito para ser una buena esposa y una buena madre. Que nunca deje de darle ánimo a mi esposo. Si me bendices con la maternidad, te prometo darme totalmente a los niños, hasta el punto de quitarme del medio cuando ellos tengan que ir solos.

 

(Juntos los dos:)

Por último te pedimos que en nuestra vejez nos amemos tanto y tan profundamente como lo hacemos en este momento. Que nos concedas estos deseos que te ofrecemos por medio de tu Hijo, Jesucristo, nuestro Señor y Salvador.

Maura- do you happen to have this prayer in english?