gregorianka.belynichi@gmail.comWedding anniversary Mass intentions – 25th, 40th and 50th anniversaries: examples
A silver, ruby or golden wedding anniversary is a time to thank God for the years shared together. Here are ready-made intentions for each wedding anniversary – from the first to the sixtieth – as well as intentions for a marriage going through a difficult time and for a husband or wife who has died.
In brief
A wedding anniversary Mass intention asks for Holy Mass to be offered in thanksgiving for the years of marriage and for God's continued blessing on the couple. The basic wording is: “In thanksgiving for 25 years of marriage of Susan and Christopher, asking for God's blessing in the years to come.” If one of the spouses has died, the Mass is offered for the deceased: “For my late husband, John, on the anniversary of our wedding.” It is requested as a single Mass (“Individual Mass intention”), giving the date of the anniversary.
The wedding anniversary in the Church's liturgy
Marriage is a sacrament, and its grace does not end on the wedding day. The Catechism teaches that Christ dwells with the spouses and gives them the strength to take up their crosses, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another and to bear one another's burdens (CCC 1642). An anniversary is therefore a thanksgiving not only for the years spent together but for the grace that has been at work throughout those years.
The liturgical books single out the major anniversaries in particular – “for example, the twenty-fifth, fiftieth, or sixtieth” – and provide a Mass on the anniversary of marriage and a rite of blessing for the couple, in which they may renew their commitment in silence or aloud (Order of Celebrating Matrimony, Appendix, nos. 272–277). Renewing the commitment requires the couple to be present, so such a celebration is best planned in your own parish. A Mass in Białynicze can accompany it as an additional prayer, or be the only possible form when the couple cannot come to church – because of illness, for example. The general rules for wording an intention are in our guide how to word a Mass intention, and we write about thanksgiving at Mass in the Mass of thanksgiving.
Examples for each anniversary
The first anniversaries
- In thanksgiving for the first year of marriage of Alexandra and Damian, asking for a mature love and God's guidance.
- On the 10th wedding anniversary of Joanna and Luke – in thanksgiving for their years together and for their children, asking for patience and unity.
- On the 15th anniversary of the sacrament of marriage of Rachel and Thomas – for God's blessing on the whole family.
The 25th anniversary – silver wedding
- In thanksgiving for 25 years of marriage of Claire and Robert, asking for good health and God's blessing in the years to come.
- On the 25th wedding anniversary of Agnes and Paul – in thanksgiving for the grace of the sacrament, asking for faithfulness and joy in their life together.
- For the intentions of our parents, Irene and Mark, on their silver wedding anniversary – from their children.
The 30th and 40th anniversaries – pearl and ruby weddings
- In thanksgiving for 30 years of life together of Diane and Jack, asking for Our Lady's protection.
- On the 40th wedding anniversary of Elizabeth and Andrew – in thanksgiving for their children and grandchildren, asking for good health and peace of heart.
The 50th anniversary – golden wedding
- In thanksgiving for 50 years of marriage of Christine and Joseph, asking for good health and God's care in their years together still to come.
- On the 50th wedding anniversary of our grandparents, Teresa and Kevin – in thanksgiving for their faithfulness and for the faith they handed on to the family.
- For the intentions of Mary and Stephen on their golden wedding anniversary – from their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The 60th anniversary and beyond – diamond wedding
- In thanksgiving for 60 years of marriage of Helen and William, asking for strength, peace of mind and the care of those close to them.
The names of the anniversaries (silver, pearl, ruby, golden, diamond) are a matter of custom and vary from place to place – in the intention it is enough to give the number of years.
For a marriage going through a difficult time
An anniversary can also fall in years of crisis, illness or estrangement. The intention can then be discreet and general – without describing the problem:
- On the wedding anniversary of Kate and Mark – for the renewal of love and unity in their marriage.
- For the grace of forgiveness and reconciliation for the married couple Anne and Peter.
- On our 20th wedding anniversary – for strength and God's presence during my husband's illness.
When the matter is serious and lasts longer, instead of a single Mass you can choose a novena of Masses for the living or thirty Masses to the Heavenly Court. More formulas for difficult situations are given in a Mass intention for conversion and in a difficult matter.
For a husband or wife who has died, on the wedding anniversary
For a widow or widower the wedding day can be harder than the anniversary of death. The Mass is then offered for the deceased spouse, and the thanksgiving for the years together can be kept in the intention:
- For my late husband, Brian, on the 45th anniversary of our wedding.
- For my late wife, Patricia, on our wedding anniversary – in thanksgiving for our life together, asking for the joy of heaven for her.
- For our late parents, Jean and Edward, on the day they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary – from their children.
A single Mass may be offered for both deceased parents. It is different with Gregorian Masses: they are always offered for one person, so two separate series are needed for two parents – we explain this on the page who are Gregorian Masses for. We write about remembering the dead on later anniversaries in anniversary Masses for the dead.
How to request a wedding anniversary Mass
In the form, choose “Individual Mass intention” and enter the wording of the intention and the date of the anniversary (and, if you wish, a note that the Mass is to be a surprise for the couple). You can also send the intention by e-mail or WhatsApp (details on the contact page). We reply by e-mail with a proposed date – if the day you chose is already taken, we will suggest one as close to it as possible; any other details are agreed in our reply. Once the offering has been made to the parish account, we send a confirmation with the wording of the intention and the date and time of the Mass within two days at the latest. The confirmation can be given to the couple at a family gathering – you can see what it looks like on the page Mass confirmation. We commend the intentions to God at the Shrine of Our Lady of Białynicze; all the forms of prayer are compared in our guide Mass intentions. You can enter your intention in the request form straight away.
Sources
Questions and answers
Can children request a Mass for their parents' wedding anniversary without telling them?
Yes. The couple's consent is not needed, and the Mass can be a surprise. Simply add “from their children” or “from their grandchildren” to the intention – and give your parents the confirmation with the date and time of the Mass.
Can a Mass be requested for a couple who had only a civil wedding?
Yes. A priest may offer Mass for anyone (can. 901). In that case it is better not to write about “the anniversary of the sacrament of marriage”, but rather, for example: “For God's blessing and guidance for Anne and Peter on their wedding anniversary.”
Can several couples, such as parents and grandparents, be included in one Mass?
They can, but when both couples are celebrating a milestone anniversary it is nicer to request a separate Mass for each – then each intention is short and clear, and each couple receives their own confirmation.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Białynicze
For centuries Białynicze on the River Drut was one of the most important Marian shrines of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the “Częstochowa of Belarus”. The Carmelite church with the miraculous image of Our Lady, crowned in 1761, was destroyed in Soviet times.
Today the parish is rebuilding the shrine, and every Mass requested here supports this work.
History of the shrine →Request a Holy Mass
Leave your contact details and intention – we will reply by e-mail with a proposed date.
Thank you! We have received your request and will reply shortly to the e-mail address you gave.