Renewal of Marriage Vows

“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.”
Ursula K. Le Guin, The Lathe of Heaven

A parish should take every opportunity to strengthen the bonds of those who have said “yes” to one another in the Sacrament of Marriage. A Renewal of Vows gives couples a meaningful moment to reflect on their commitment and proclaim to their parish community, “We would choose each other all over again.”

This celebration can be held any time of year or aligned with key feast days that honor marriage and family—such as World Marriage Day (second Sunday of February), the feast of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin (July 12), or Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26). Consider pairing the vow renewal with another parish activity like a blessing for all married couples, a reception, or the distribution of prayer cards.

In a world that questions lasting love, this visible act of recommitment is a powerful witness that marriage is not only possible but beautiful, enduring, and worth celebrating.