PRAYER BEFORE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE GROOM
(CHANTHAM CHARTHAL)

(After the bridegroom is brought on stage, all sing together the Marthomman song.)

മാർത്തോമ്മാൻ നന്മയാലൊന്നു തുടങ്ങുന്നു
നന്നായ് വരേണമേയിന്ന്
ഉത്തമനായ മിശിഹാ തിരുവുള്ളം
ഉണ്മൈയെഴുന്നൾക വേണം

കന്തീശാനായനെഴുന്നള്ളി വന്നിട്ട്
കർപ്പൂരപ്പന്തലകമേ
കാരണമായവരെല്ലാരും കൂടീട്ട്
നന്മവരുത്തിത്തരേണം

ആലാഹാനായനും അൻപൻ മിശിഹായും
കൂടെ തുണയ്ക്ക ഇവർക്ക്.

Maarthommaan Song (Transliteration)

Maarthommaan nanmayaal-onnu thudangunnu
Nannaay varename-yinnu
Uthamanaaya mishihaa thiru-vullam
Unmaiyezhunnalka venam

Kantheeshaa-naayanezhunnalli vannittu
Karppoora-ppandalakame
Kaaranamaayavar-ellaarum koodittu
Nanmavaruthi-tharenam

Aalaahaanaayanum anpan mishihaayum
Koode thunaykka ivarkku.

A free translation of the song:

With Lord Thoma’s goodness, let us start,
May everything happen well today.
The holy will of the Good Christ be upon us,
And may His peace remain with us always.

Holy Lord, come into this hall of camphor.
Reside within us, answering our call.
All the elders together,
Make this good in God’s sight.

In God the Lord and the Messiah’s grace.
We will find the help we need.

LEADER: Our Father in heaven,

ALL: hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day the bread we need and forgive us our debts and sins as we have forgiven those who offended us. Do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

READING: A reading from the book of Tobit (8:1-8)

When they had finished eating and drinking, they wanted to retire. So they brought the young man out and led him to the bedroom. Tobiah, mindful of Raphael’s instructions, took the fish’s liver and heart from the bag where he had them, and put them on the embers intended for incense. The odor of the fish repulsed the demon, and it fled to the upper regions of Egypt; Raphael went in pursuit of it and there bound it hand and foot. Then Raphael returned immediately. When Sarah’s parents left the bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tobiah rose from bed and said to his wife, “My sister, come, let us pray and beg our Lord to grant us mercy and protection.” She got up, and they started to pray and beg that they might be protected. He began with these words: “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors; blessed be your name forever and ever! Let the heavens and all your creations bless you forever. You made Adam, and you made his wife Eve to be his helper and support; and from these two, the human race has come. You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a helper like himself.’ Now, not with lust, but with fidelity, I take this kinswoman as my wife. Send down your mercy on me and on her, and grant that we may grow old together. Bless us with children.” They said together, “Amen, amen!”

ALL: Praise be to the Lord, our God.

OR

READER: A reading from the first letter of St. Peter (3:7-12).

Likewise, you husbands should live with your wives in understanding, showing honor to the weaker female sex, since we are joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. For: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

ALL: Praise be to Christ, our Lord.

SER: Let us pray, peace be with us.

LEADER: The Lord God, You crafted humanity according to Your own likeness. Because it is not good for man to be alone, God, you created woman to be his partner and helper. With His own blood, our Lord Jesus Christ washed and sanctified humanity, which was corrupted by sin. O Lord God, grant your servant, who is preparing for marriage, internal beauty and a readiness to serve. Oh Lord, grant your servant the qualities of a loving husband and a supportive father. Enable this son to be a witness for you by showing love to the family, the community, the church, and the nation. Let us all offer You our praises for Your grace. Now, always, and forever.

ALL: Amen.

(The other ceremonies of Chantham Charthal of groom shall continue).