As we come to February, my mind wanders again to the prayer of Tobit found in Tobit 8:
It follows the marriage ceremony between Tobit and Sarah. And it's one of the most beautiful prayers for couples.
Sadly, though, precisely because it's in the Apocrypha, so few folks are familiar with the story or with the prayer.
God of our ancestors, you are worthy of praise.
May your name be honored forever and ever
by all your creatures in heaven and on earth.
You created Adam and gave him his wife Eve
to be his helper and support.
They became the parents of the whole human race.
You said,
"It is not good for man to live alone.
I will make a suitable helper for him."
Lord, I have chosen Sarah because it is right,
not because I lusted for her.
Please be merciful to us
and grant that we may grow old together.
Then they both said
Amen! and went to bed for the night.
It follows the marriage ceremony between Tobit and Sarah. And it's one of the most beautiful prayers for couples.
Sadly, though, precisely because it's in the Apocrypha, so few folks are familiar with the story or with the prayer.