This weekend I am honored to officiate at a wedding ceremony. The groom is Roman Catholic and the bride is Protestant. They have asked me to incorporate a 'lasso' ceremony in it. Now I admit my complete ignorance in this tradition, I've never heard of it before. After some research I am finding it quite an enriching segment to a wedding. One can use a lasso [which is a piece of decorated rope] or a rosary - and that's one looooooooooooooooong rosary since its suppose to be almost 8ft long so that it drapes over the groom and brides shoulders and hangs
loose so not to encumber them during the ceremony.
As this lasso is draped first over the grooms shoulders it is then turned into a figure "8" [the symbol for infinity] and then draped over the bride's shoulder after they have exchanged their
vows. Eventually this lasso is removed and given to the groom to present to the bride; a promise of his love and fidelity toward her both in his heart and in his home. This lasso also
represents the Groom's responsibility to protect his bride throughout their union.
It reminded me of how God invites us to accept his Holy Spirit in all our relationships, both with him and others, especially our spouse. Allowing the Holy Spirit to be the tie that bonds us to others, to be protector of our relationship[s] and grantee of an eternal home with God.
My research in this area linked me to the Three-cord ceremony. In this ceremony the groom holds a small metal ring, to which three beautiful strands are attached [Gold - God; Purple - Groom; White - Bride] and the bride braids the strands together. This can be braided as one special event, or at different points in the ceremony the bride can work the braiding to be concluded as clergy pronounces them husband and wife, then the groom presents it to the bride after they've been introduced to their company. This ceremony is taken from Ecclesiastes 4:12 and reminds us that a marriage centered around Christ is so much stronger, and richer, than a
wedding being held together by just two individuals.
loose so not to encumber them during the ceremony.
As this lasso is draped first over the grooms shoulders it is then turned into a figure "8" [the symbol for infinity] and then draped over the bride's shoulder after they have exchanged their
vows. Eventually this lasso is removed and given to the groom to present to the bride; a promise of his love and fidelity toward her both in his heart and in his home. This lasso also
represents the Groom's responsibility to protect his bride throughout their union.
It reminded me of how God invites us to accept his Holy Spirit in all our relationships, both with him and others, especially our spouse. Allowing the Holy Spirit to be the tie that bonds us to others, to be protector of our relationship[s] and grantee of an eternal home with God.
My research in this area linked me to the Three-cord ceremony. In this ceremony the groom holds a small metal ring, to which three beautiful strands are attached [Gold - God; Purple - Groom; White - Bride] and the bride braids the strands together. This can be braided as one special event, or at different points in the ceremony the bride can work the braiding to be concluded as clergy pronounces them husband and wife, then the groom presents it to the bride after they've been introduced to their company. This ceremony is taken from Ecclesiastes 4:12 and reminds us that a marriage centered around Christ is so much stronger, and richer, than a
wedding being held together by just two individuals.
I'm afraid that even in Christian households, we've come to the secular view that marriage is civil contract, albeit with God as the "super notary," as opposed to a soul uniting sacrament blessed by God, himself. We are the worse for it in my view and any ceremonial element which brings that truth to mind is a good one.
ReplyDeleteCheers.