It's interesting to note the tone of the TRUE (i.e. not novus ordo) Nuptial Blessing is strictly anti-feminist and is almost exclusively prayed for and directed towards the wife. Why does the wife need extra prayers? Obviously she has a greater duty and opportunity to raise the children, since 'matrimony' means literally 'the office of motherhood". But, aside from her important job in raising children, most of the blessing concerns prayers so the wife would remain with the faith and bound to her husband, which concern her catholic mind-set, her "feelings" and her outlook on life. Obviously, the woman needs to guard against the very philosophies which are so present today in society, which is why the Church gives us this very powerful and imporant blessing. ...Yet, if we point out such things, we are sometimes labeled as anti-woman...even by Trads. *sigh*
Novus Ordo Feminist Blessing vs True Blessing(only those parts bolded have been changed by new-rome. All else is "relatively" the same between the prayers.)O God, who by your mighty power created all things out of nothing, and, when you had set in place the beginnings of the universe, formed man and woman in your own image, making the woman an inseparable helpmate to the man, that they might be no longer two, but one flesh, and taught that what you were pleased to make one must never be divided; O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadowed the Sacrament of Christ and his Church; O God, by whom woman is joined to man and the companionship they had in the beginning is endowed with the one blessing not forfeited by original sin nor washed away by the flood.
Look now with favor on these your servants joined together in Marriage, who ask to be strengthened by your blessing. Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour your love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant.TRUE BLESSING -- look in Thy mercy upon this Thy handmaid, who is to be joined in wedlock and entreats protection and strength from Thee. May the yoke of love and of peace be upon her.Comment - the blessing is for the wife, not the couple.May the grace of love and peace abide in your daughter [name], and let her always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures.True and chaste, may she wed in Christ; and may she ever follow the pattern of holy women: and may she be dear to her husband like Rachel; wise like Rebecca; long-lived and faithful like Sara.Comment - I'm sure feminists didn't like the mental picture of being "dear to their husbands like Rachel" so they went ahead and deleted all specific references to the holy women of the Old Testament.May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honor and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church. Comment - While this is certainly beautiful and sentimental, it is not what the Church wishes to be prayed. "Entrusting his heart to her" is human emotion and has nothing to do with spirituality, but natural love, which is humanism and has a very small place in a prayer to God."Acknowledging her as his equal" - wow, pure unadulterated feminism here. "Joint heir to the life of grace" - not even sure what that means, but the word "joint heir" again, has feministic ideals which supports the error that men and women "share" authority."May show her due honor and cherish her always" - ok, that's fine and it's a good prayer, but again, it's a subversion of the original prayer - the Church's TRUE INTENTION - which prays that the wife may be guarded from error, honor HER husband and stay with the Faith.Feminism everywhere in the new church.And now, Lord, we implore you: may these your servants hold fast to the faith and keep your commandments; made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do; and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; TRUE BLESSING - May the author of deceit work none of his evil deeds within her. May she ever be knit to the faith and to the commandments. May she be true to one husband and fly from forbidden approaches. May she fortify her weakness by strong discipline. May she be grave in demeanour and honoured for her modesty. May she be well taught in heavenly lore. May she be fruitful in offspring. May her life be good and sinless. May she win the rest of the blessed and the kingdom of Heaven.Comment - The Novus Ordo prayer is not for the wife, but for the couple and subverts the Church's true intentions. It's also pretty generic in its supplications.(may they be blessed with children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see their children’s children.) And grant that, reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope, they may come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven.
TRUE BLESSING -May they both see their children’s children unto the third and fourth generation, and may they reach the old age which they desire.Comment - I guess new rome didn't like the reference to the "third and fourth" generation since that implies an early marriage and many children, two ideals which the modernists and communists abhor.Through Christ our Lord.Amen.