Readings · Ceremony
Colossians 3:12–14
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind,
meekness, longsuffering;
forbearing one another, and forgiving one another,
if any man have a quarrel against any:
even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness.
Where it fits in the ceremony
Scripture readings usually come early in the ceremony, after the officiant’s opening words and before the vows. Churches differ on translation, and a Catholic wedding Mass draws its readings from an approved list, so check with your officiant before you print this one in the program.
Pair it with
Two readings that balance this one, one sacred and one secular:
- A Marriage Prayer and Blessing (Book of Common Prayer) — A prayer for faithful love and the service’s closing blessing, from the 1662 Prayer Book.
- 1 John 4:7–12 — “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God.”