For Theology of the Body buffs...
.
Catholic Truth Society of London has published a new prayerbook for Catholic spouses, including a prayer before making love - no blessing of the genitals however - Christopher West can supply that, I'm sure.
.
The new prayer:
.
Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts.
.
Place within us love that truly gives, tenderness thattruly unites,
.
self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive,
.
forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes.
.
Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.
.
Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness.
.
Clothe us in our true dignity
.
and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever.
.
Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Amen. - Source
.
An older model of spousal prayer:
.
Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock. 5 For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.
.
6 So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them, 7 And Tobias said:
.
Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.
.
8 Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.
.
9 And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.
.
10 Sara also said:
.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us,
.
and let us grow old both together in health. - Tobit 8
.
I think the biblical version contains better theology.
.
Catholic Truth Society of London has published a new prayerbook for Catholic spouses, including a prayer before making love - no blessing of the genitals however - Christopher West can supply that, I'm sure.
.
The new prayer:
.
Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts.
.
Place within us love that truly gives, tenderness thattruly unites,
.
self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive,
.
forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes.
.
Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.
.
Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness.
.
Clothe us in our true dignity
.
and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever.
.
Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Amen. - Source
.
An older model of spousal prayer:
.
Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock. 5 For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.
.
6 So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them, 7 And Tobias said:
.
Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.
.
8 Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper.
.
9 And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.
.
10 Sara also said:
.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us,
.
and let us grow old both together in health. - Tobit 8
.
I think the biblical version contains better theology.
