The Book of Common Prayer Part 42

Through thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his most glorious Resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. Therefore with Angels, &c.

_Upon_ Whitsunday, _and six days after_.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven with a sudden great sound, as it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the Apostles, to teach them, and to lead them to all truth; giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness with fervent zeal constantly to preach the Gospel unto all nations; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Therefore with Angels, &c.

_Upon the Feast of_ Trinity _only_.

Who art one G.o.d, one Lord; not one only Person, but three Persons in one Substance. For that which we believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or in equality. Therefore with Angels, &c.

| _The following_ ADDITIONAL PROPER PREFACES _may be said_: | _Upon_ The Epiphany, _and seven days after_.

| | Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, in substance of our mortal | flesh, manifested forth his glory, that he might bring us out of | darkness into his own marvellous light. Therefore, &c.

| | _Upon_ The Purification.

| | Because thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, born of a | woman, born under the Law, was, as on this day, presented in the | Temple, and revealed to thy servants as a light to lighten the | Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel. Therefore, &c.

| | _Upon_ The Annunciation.

| | Because thou didst give Jesus Christ, thine only Son, to be born | for us, who by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very | man, of the substance of the blessed Virgin Mary his mother, and | that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin.

| Therefore, &c.

| | _Upon_ Feasts of Apostles and Evangelists, _except when the | proper preface for any of the Great Festivals is appointed to | be said_.

| | Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who did vouchsafe to choose thy | servant Saint _N_. [_or_ thy servants Saint _N_. and Saint _N_.]

| to be of the company of the Apostles [_or_ to be an Evangelist]

| by whose ministry thine elect might be gathered in from every | nation, and thy Church instructed in the way that leadeth unto | everlasting life. Therefore, &c.

| | _Upon_ All Saints' Day.

| | Who in the mult.i.tude of thy Saints hast compa.s.sed us about with | so great a cloud of witnesses, to the end that we, rejoicing in | their fellows.h.i.+p, may run with patience the race that is set | before us, and together with them receive the crown of glory | that fadeth not away. Therefore, &c.

| | _At the_ Consecration of Bishops, _and_ Ordination of Priests | and Deacons.

| | Through Jesus Christ our Lord, the great Shepherd of the sheep, | who, for the feeding and guidance of his flock, did appoint | divers orders of ministers in his Church. Therefore, &c.

| | _At the_ Dedication of a Church, _and_ Anniversary of the | Dedication.

| | Who in temples made with hands buildest up for thyself a | spiritual temple made without hands. Therefore, &c.

_After each of which Prefaces shall immediately be sung or said_,

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord G.o.d of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord most High.

Amen.

_Then shall the Priest, kneeling down at the Lord's Table, say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Prayer following_.

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may ever more dwell in him, and he in us. _Amen_.

_When the Priest, standing before the Table, hath so ordered the Bread and Wine, that he may with the more readiness and decency break the Bread before the people, and take the Cup into his hands, he shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as followeth_.

Almighty G.o.d, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did inst.i.tute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again: Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and grant that we receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy inst.i.tution, in remembrance of his death and pa.s.sion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood: who, in the same night that he was betrayed, [a] took Bread; and, when he had given thanks, [b] he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; [c]

this is my Body which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper [d] he took the Cup; and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all Of this; for [e] this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. _Amen_.

[Margin Notes:] [a] _Here the Priest is to take the Paten into his hands:_

[b] _And here to break the Bread:_

[c] _And here to lay his hand upon all the Bread_.

[d] _Here he is to take the Cup into his hand:_

[e] _And here to lay his hand upon every vessel_ (_be it Chalice or Flagon_) _in which there is any Wine to be consecrated_.

_Then shall the Minister first receive the Communion in both kinds himself, and then proceed to deliver the same to the Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in like manner, (if any be present,) and after that to the people also in order, into their hands, all meekly kneeling. And, when he delivereth the Bread to any one, he shall say_,

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life: Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.

_And the Minister that delivereth the Cup to any one shall say_,

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life: Drink this in remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

| _When it is thought desirable to shorten the words of_ | _administration on Christmas-day Easter-day, and Whitsunday, or_ | _on special occasions approved by the Bishop, or in the case_ | _of the pressure caused by large and unexpected numbers, the_ | _Priest, having first said the whole words of administration_ | (_in the singular number_) _once for all the communicants, may_ | _use the first half of each form in communicating individuals_.

_If the consecrated Bread or Wine be all spent before all have communicated, the Priest is to consecrate more according to the Form before prescribed: Beginning at_ [Our Saviour Christ in the same night, &c.] _for the blessing of the Bread: and at_ [Likewise after Supper, &c.] _for the blessing of the Cup_.

_When all have communicated, the Minister shall return to the Lord's Table, and reverently place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated Elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth_.

_Then shall the Priest say the Lord's Prayer, the people repeating after him every pet.i.tion_.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespa.s.ses, As we forgive them that trespa.s.s against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

_After shall be said as followeth_.

O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his pa.s.sion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. _Amen_.

_Or this_.

Almighty and everliving G.o.d, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost a.s.sure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and pa.s.sion of thy dear Son. Aid we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to a.s.sist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellows.h.i.+p, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. _Amen_.

| _Both the post-communion prayers_ O Lord and heavenly Father, | _and_ Almighty and everliving G.o.d, _maybe said in succession_ | _at the same service_.

_Then shall be said or sung_,

Glory be to G.o.d on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we wors.h.i.+p thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord G.o.d, heavenly King, G.o.d the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord G.o.d, Lamb of G.o.d, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of G.o.d the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of G.o.d the Father. Amen.

_Then the Priest_ (_or Bishop if he be present_) _shall let them depart with this Blessing_.

The peace of G.o.d, which pa.s.seth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of G.o.d, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of G.o.d Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. _Amen_.

_Collects to be said after the Offertory, when there is no Communion, every such day one or more; and the same may be said also, as often as occasion shall serve, after the Collects either of Morning or Evening Prayer, Communion, or Litany, by the discretion of the Minister_.

a.s.sist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

O almighty Lord, and everlasting G.o.d, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. _Amen_.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty G.o.d, that the words, which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.