Pentecost and Whitsuntide Collects, Ancient and Modern, in the Anglican Tradition

Pentecost, Sarum Missal
Deus qui hodierna die corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti : da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de ejus semper consolatione gaudere.

Whitsunday, 1549 BCP
God, which as upon this day hast taught the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end.

Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday, second collect, 1928 USA
Almighty and most merciful God, grant, we beseech thee, that by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit, we may be enlightened and strengthened for thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end.

Monday in Whitsunday Week, 1928 USA
Send, we beseech thee, Almighty God, thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to thy will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

Tuesday in Whitsunday Week, 1928 USA
Grant we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

Day of Pentecost, 1979 USA BCP
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit : Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you , in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Vigil of Pentecost, Pentecost Eve
God our Father when your Son ascended into heaven he promised to send us the Holy Spirit : grant that we, who have not been left as orphans may abide always in that Spirit, and be loving and obedient disciples of your Son; who lives ...

An Anglican Prayer Book, CPSA, South Africa

Pentecost, First Collect, An Anglican Prayer Book, CPSA
Almighty God, on the day of Pentecost you sent your Holy Spirit to the disciples with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame : inspire our hearts and set them on fire with his joy and power and send us out as witnesses to the wonder of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives ...

Pentecost, Second Collect, Ireland Alternate Prayer Book
Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples, filling them with joy and with boldness to preach the Gospel : Send us out in the power of the same Spirit to witness to your truth, and to draw all men to the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Pentecost, Canada BAS
Almighty and everliving God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit and opening to every race and nation the way of life eternal, keep us in the unity of your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives ...

Pentecost, Year B, A Prayer Book for Australia
Almighty God, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, in love, joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pentecost, Year C, A Prayer Book for Australia
O God, who in smoke and fire upon Mount Sinai gave the law to Moses, and who revealed the new covenant in the fire of the Spirit: grant, we pray, that, kindled by that same Spirit, which you poured forth upon your apostles, we may fulfil with joy your commandment of love. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Of the traditional blessing of the bells

On the blog Roman Miscellany

The Baptism of the Bells

99 Balloons

Holy Fire of Jesus' Spirit

Holy fire of Jesus' Spirit
purify my soul and heart.
Fire of love, consume my darkness.
Fire of hope, cleanse every part.
Light of heaven, burning brightly,
heal my wounds and make me whole.
Through thy mercy and compassion
light thy fire within my soul.

Jesus, Son of David, hear me.
Lord, have mercy. Save my life.
I confess I crucified thee.
Now I know thou art my life.
Change me here to bear thy glory;
let my blinded eyes see Light.
Make my broken heart thy temple
and abide there day and night.

God the Son of Mother Mary,
blest are all who keep thy word.
With thy light ablaze within me,
I proclaim what I have heard.
More than words will be my actions
shining bright to draw the world
through thy Sacred Heart to glory
in the Father of the Word.

Words: Copyright © 1999 by Vincent Uher. All rights reserved.
Tune: Hyfrydol
Meter: 87 87 D

The Spirit and Bride bid all of us, Come.

Rejoice in the Lord, O friends of God's Son.
The feast is prepared, the waiting is done.
The banquet is spread with warm welcome for all.
O do not delay, but respond to God's call!

How gracious is God, how mighty and just.
His mercies are sure and worthy of trust.
Come, broken and weary. Come, burdened and torn.
With crowns of salvation Christ shall you adorn.

The Spirit and Bride bid all of us come.
The thirsty shall drink from our Father's love.
The hungry shall feed on the joys of the Lord,
And Jesus the Christ will be ever adored.

Words: Copyright © 2002 Vincent Uher. All rights reserved.
Tune: Laudate Dominum
Meter: 10 10 11 11

A Thanksgiving for the Resurrection and Ascension

LET us bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost:
Let us praise and exalt him for ever.


Then shall be said together:

BLESSING and honour and glory and power
be unto him that sitteth upon the throne
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty:
Just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints;
All glorious thy gifts, thou Spirit of life.
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
and honour and power and might
be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

O GIVE thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious;
And his mercy endureth for ever.

Who hath loved us from all eternity;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

And remembered us when we were in trouble;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who by his Cross and Passion hath redeemed the world;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

And hath washed us from our sins in his own blood;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who on the third day rose from the dead;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

And hath given us the victory;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who ascended up on high;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

And opened wide for us the everlasting doors;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who sitteth on the right hand of God;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

And ever liveth to make intercession for us;
For his mercy endureth for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.


FOR the gift of his Spirit;
Blessed be Christ.

For the Catholic Church;
Blessed be Christ.

For the means of grace;
Blessed be Christ.

For the hope of glory;
Blessed be Christ.

For the triumphs of his gospel;
Blessed be Christ.

For the lives of his saints;
Blessed be Christ.

In joy and in sorrow;
Blessed be Christ.

In life and in death;
Blessed be Christ.

Now and unto the end of the ages;
Blessed be Christ.


Here may be added thanksgivings for particular mercies, and at their end all shall say together the General Thanksgiving.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies,
we thine unworthy servants
do give thee most humble and hearty thanks
for all thy goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all men.
We bless thee for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for thine inestimable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we beseech thee,
give us that due sense of all thy mercies,
that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful;
and that we show forth thy praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to thy service,
and by walking before thee
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.


BLESSING and honour and thanksgiving and praise more than we can utter, more than we can conceive, be unto thee, O most adorable Trinity, + Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, by all angels, all men, all creatures, for ever and ever. Amen and Amen.

Cambridge Offices and Orisons
Eric Milner-White
B.T.D. Smith

Ascended and Seated at the Right Hand of the Father

O Christ the King, the royal banners rise.
Thy Cross, thy standard we raise to the skies,
And hail thee, “Lord!” and bow before thine eyes.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

Transfigured thou upon the mountain’s height
Revealed the glory of the Bridegroom’s face
And showed to them thy purpose and thy Light.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Cross, thy throne where thou wast lifted high
Embracing all the broken world’s dark heart
Till blood and water gushed when pierced was thine.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

Death could not hold thee, nor a tomb contain,
O Love and Life, who now from heav’n dost reign,
The King of kings, the Lord who healeth pain.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

____________________________
Copyright © 2006 by Vincent Uher
This text is sung to the tune Sine Nomine

Ascension Day

O ALMIGHTY GOD, whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the ages; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.


GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collects from the Book of Common Prayer Tradition

Looking toward Ascension Day [Thursday]

APPEAR, O Lord, make thyself known, O Lord, as thou didst appear manifest in the flesh; born of a Virgin, found by the shepherds, recognised in power, proclaimed by the Star, adored with gifts, manifest in the river, believed on in faith, received up in the cloud and promised again by him that announced it: that by the grace of this holy festival thy Church may now receive thy joys, as once it made known thy mysteries.

Mozarabic Missal

WORTHY of glory from every mouth, and of confession by every tongue, and of adoration and exaltation from all ceatures, is the adorable Name of thy glorious Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: thou who didst create the world in thy grace and its inhabitants in thy pitifulness: who didst save mankind by thy compassion and hast shown great grace unto mortals. Thousand thousands of those on high bless and adore thy Majesty, O my Lord; and ten thousand times ten thousand holy angels, and hosts of spiritual beings, ministers of fire and spirit, glorify thy name: thy holy cherubim and spiritual seraphim, offering adoration, crying and praising without ceasing, calling one to another and saying "Holy, holy holy."

Liturgy of SS. Adai and Mari

BEFORE the glorious seat of thy majesty, O Lord, and the exalted throne of thine honour, and the awful judgment-seat of thy burning love, and the absolving altar which thy command hath set up, and the place where thy glory dwelleth, we, thy people and the sheep of thy fold, do kneel with thousands of the cherubim singing ALLELUIA, and many times ten thousand seraphim and archangels, acclaiming thine holiness, worshipping, confessing and praising thee at all times, O Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for ever.

Chaldean Liturgy

Our Lady, Guardian of Plants, pray for all of us upon the earth.

Beginning of The India Liturgy (Anglican)

adapted from the Divine Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem

THE DIVINE LITURGY:

The India Liturgy

of

The Church of India,
Burma, and Ceylon ~ Anglican


THE PRAYERS BEFORE THE LITURGY

Before the service, there shall be set in readiness upon the altar so much bread upon the Paten, and so much wine, mixed with a little pure water, in the Chalice, as shall be sufficient; and the Priest shall bless them, saying the prayer following:


O Lord our God, who didst send forth thy heavenly Bread, the food of the whole world (all bow) even Jesus Christ thine only Son (all rise), to save us and to redeem us, to bless us and to sanctify us: Vouchsafe now to ble+ss this our oblation, and to accept it on thine altar in Heaven. Do thou remember, O Lover of Man, both them that offer it and them for whom it is offered; and do thou preserve us thy servants uncondemned in the ministration of the divine mysteries: for hallowed and blessed is thy glorious name, (all bow and make the Sign of the Cross whilst saying) O + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (all rise) now and ever, and world without end. Amen.


And, at the time appointed, being duly vested, the Celebrant and all those who are to share in the service of the sanctuary, shall say the prayers following:

Celebrant: Peace be with you.
Answer: And with thy spirit.

All bow and make the Sign of the Cross as the Celebrant says:

Celebrant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

All rise.

Answer: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Almighty and all-holy Father, we thine unworthy servants humbly entreat thy Majesty so to prepare us for this sacred service, that entering with a pure heart into thy sanctuary, we may offer to thee the Sacrifice of this Holy Eucharist for thy honour and glory: in remembrance of thy manifold mercies vouchsafed to us in our Saviour Jesus Christ; for the well-being of thy whole Church; and to the remission of our own manifold sins and offenses. Vouchsafe, O Fountain of Mercy, to accept this our pure sacrifice through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.


LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS

While a hymn is sung, the Celebrant, having set on incense and blessed it, shall solemnly cense the altar and sanctuary therewith, after which he shall cense the other ministers and persons in the sanctuary, as also the choir, congregation, and the whole church, the people standing.

And at the time when he censes the altar, the Celebrant shall say:


May the incense of the merits of Christ our Saviour which we plead before thee, O Lord our God, avail unto us for the remission of our sins and for the reward of eternal life; and do thou, O life-giving Son, who by thy Cross hast saved us, set us on thy right hand in the day when thy mercy dawneth; who livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.


Celebrant: The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.

Answer: Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only begotten Son (solemn bow) Jesu Christ (rise); O Lord God, Lamb of God, 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 God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, (bow) O Christ (rise), with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the + glory of God the Father. Amen.


Clergy and People in English, Greek, or other local language:

Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy and immortal,
Have mercy upon us.

Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy and immortal,
Have mercy upon us.

Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy and immortal,
Have mercy upon us.

Celebrant: Peace be with you.
Answer: And with thy spirit.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Then shall be said the Collect of the Day

The Appearing of St. Michael the Archangel

Once upon a time the Eighth of May was the Feast of the Apparition of Saint Michael the Archangel in the whole Latin Church.

THE DIVINE OFFICE: SEXT


Ant. O Michael mine Archangel, * I have made thee prince, to be in charge of the ingathering of souls, alleluia.

Psalm 118. vi. Defecit anima mea

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation, * but I have hoped in thy word.
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word; * saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a wine-skin in the frost; * yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many are the days of thy servant? * when wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me?
85 The wicked have spoken lies unto me, * which are not after thy law.
86 All thy commandments are true: * they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.
87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; * but I forsook not thy commandments.
88 O quicken me after thy loving-kindness; * and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
89 For ever, O Lord * thy word endureth for ever in heaven.
90 Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another; * thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 The day continueth by thine ordinance; * for all things serve thee.
92 If my delight had not been in thy law, * then perchance I should have perished in mine affliction.
93 I will never forget thy commandments; * for with them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine: O save me, * for I have sought thy commandments.
95 The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me; * but I considered thy testimonies.
96 I have seen an end of all perfection; * but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Psalm 118. vii. Quomodo dilexi !

97 Lord, what love have I unto thy law! * all the day long is my meditation therein.
98 Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies; * for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; * for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I am wiser than the ancients; * because I keep thy commandments.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, * that I may keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments; * for thou teachest me.
103 O how sweet are thy words unto my palate; * yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth!
104 Through thy commandments I get understanding: * therefore I hate all evil ways.
105 Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, * and a light unto my paths.
106 I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed, * to keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am troubled above measure, O Lord: * quicken thou me, according to thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O Lord; * and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is alway in mine hand; * yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The ungodly have laid a snare for me; * but yet I swerved not from thy commandments.
111 Thy testimonies have I claimed as an heritage for ever; * for they are the rejoicing of mine heart.
112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, * because of the reward.

Psalm 118. viii. Iniquos odio habui

113 I hate the unrighteous; * but thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my helper and protector; * and my trust is in thy word.
115 Away from me, ye wicked; * and I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live; * and let me not be disappointed of mine hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; * yea, I will ever have respect unto thy statutes.
118 Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy statutes; * for they imagine but deceit.
119 I hold all the ungodly of the earth as liars; * therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 Make thou my flesh to tremble for fear of thee; * for I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 I have done judgement and justice; * O give me not over unto mine oppressors.
122 Uphold thy servant unto good, * that the proud oppress me not.
123 Mine eyes are wasted away for thy salvation, * and for the word of thy righteousness.
124 O deal with thy servant according unto thy loving mercy, * and teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; * O grant me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand; * for they have destroyed thy law.
127 For I love thy commandments * above gold and the topaz stone.
128 Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments; * and all false ways I utterly abhor.

Ant. O Michael mine Archangel, * I have made thee prince, to be in charge of the ingathering of souls, alleluia.

The Chapter Apoc. 5. 11-12.

I heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the Elders: and the number of them was thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice: Salvation to our God.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. The smoke of the incense ascended up before God, * Alleluia, alleluia.
R. The smoke of the incense ascended up before God, * Alleluia, alleluia.
V. Out of the Angel's hand.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. The smoke of the incense ascended up before God, * Alleluia, alleluia.

V. Even before the Angels will I sing praise unto thee, my God, alleluia.
R. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, alleluia.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Oremus.
Deus, qui, miro ordine, Angelórum ministeria hominúmque dispensas : concéde propítius ; ut, a quibus tibi ministrántibus in cælo semper assistitur, ab his in terra vita nostra muniátur. Per Dóminum.

The Anglican rendering of this collect:

O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and men in a wonderful order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy angels always serve and worship thee in heaven, so by thy appointment they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pictured above:
St. Michael the Archangel Window
Trinity Episcopal Church, Galveston Island, Texas
(St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael & St. George)

Shepherd who dost not sleep

SHEPHERD who dost not sleep, keep watch and ward over thy flock of souls. Amen.

And that it be not disturbed by terrors of the night, sanctify it by the unseen touch of thy hand. Amen.

Make the frail stalwart, lift up the contrite, make the weak strong. Raise up by piety, build up by charity, purify by chastity, illuminate by wisdom, save by pity. Amen.

Let watchful faith win the reward of constancy in thy love, temperance of habit, providence in mercy, discipline of conduct. Amen.

In thy merciful compassion shut not out from the splendour of thy promise, but lead to pardon, him who thou hast made thine own by grace. Amen.

Gothic Missal
Eucharistic Prayers from the Ancient Liturgies
Evelyn Underhill

Office of Our Lady

A Short Office which may be said at any time.

V. O God, make speed to save us:
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
R. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia.

HYMN.
O GLORIOUS Maid, exalted far
Beyond the light of burning star,
From him who made thee thou hast won.
Grace to be Mother of his Son.

That which was lost in hapless Eve
Thy holy Scion did retrieve:
The tear-worn sons of Adam's race
Through thee have seen the heavenly place.

Thou wast the gate of heaven's high Lord,
The door through which the light hath poured.
Christians, rejoice, for through a Maid
To all mankind is life conveyed!

All honour, laud, and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee:
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

The English Hymnal, 215

Ant. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee: and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee.

MAGNIFICAT.

MY soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For Behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee: and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee.

CHAPTER. (REV. xii. 1.)

THERE appeared a great wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

R. Thanks be to God.

V. He brought me into the banqueting house: and his banner over me was love.
R. He brought me into the banqueting house: and his banner over me was love.
V. He set the royal crown upon her head;
R. And his banner over me was love.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
R. He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
R. Be it unto me according to thy word.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin-Mother Mary to be a dwelling-place for thy Son; Grant that we who rejoice in her commemoration may at her tender intercession be kept unspotted, and made a pure temple for his dwelling; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Cambridge Offices and Orisons
E. Milner-White and B.T.D. Smith
1921

A Sarum Prayer of the Priest before Holy Mass

GOD, who makest worthy of the unworthy, just and holy of sinners, and clean of the unclean, cleanse my heart and body from all taint and defilement of sin, and make me a worthy and strenuous minister at thy holy altars; and mercifully grant that on this altar, to which I unworthy make approach, I may offer a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to thy loving-kindness, for my sins and offences, and for my innumerable daily transgressions, and likewise for the washing away of the sins of all Christian people. And may my desire be acceptable to thee, through him who offered himself a sacrifice for us to thee his God and Father, Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.


This prayer of the priest before Mass appears in a 1526 edition of the Sarum Missal. In the Missal this prayer is located between Holy Saturday and Easter Day. It would be an appropriate prayer for the priests of the Anglican Use before Mass in a future revision of the Book of Divine Worship.

A mercy received in a time of distress

Living in the USA I am one of those who has no medical insurance and cannot get any because I live with a condition called syringomyelia. In Texas there is a kind of insurance for people stuck in my situation but one must pay for it for one year before one's "pre-existing" conditions are covered. Assuming my application is accepted, a dodgy proposition at best I fear, it will still be at least a year of paying an insurance company for doing nothing, thank you very much, yet having MRIs scanned right now is medically urgent.

With all of that in mind, consider that I was scheduled for four MRIs of my brain and spinal cord at a state-run hospital. The price for me -- one without insurance -- was going to be over $11,000 to be paid at the time of the scans. Totally out of reach for me.

Today a young woman telephoned to confirm the appointment for the MRIs, and after confirming the cost she said, "There is a place that can do these same scans for $600 each." She asked I never say her name, but she felt "the Lord wanted" her to tell me about this much more affordable way. Her sincerity and genuine concern for me as well as they declaration of faith deeply, deeply moved me.

I called this other place, very reputable, and found that they were having a special promotional price of $445 per scan because of a company celebration. I felt rescued. While the cost was still very far outside my personal budget, with the help of family this can be done. I praise God. It also makes me keenly aware of others caught in similar situations who do not have family, who do not get the medical care they need because the costings are impossibly elevated.

I won't divulge the name of the young woman who was willing to venture so much -- she could have lost her job -- in order to tell me what she felt the Lord wanted her to tell me. By pointing me toward something that I could do, she has already played a huge part in keeping this body of mine alive and kicking. Although I can't give out her name, I really must record here and tell of her kindness and of her faith. She was to me a gift from God Himself. Please pray for the Holy Trinity's blessings for her and her family. There was no way on earth I could have afforded the scheduled MRIs and was in great distress about what to do.

In my distress, He heard my cry.

Thank you, Jesus, for your Divine Mercy.

God bless you, dear lady, for your witness and your tremendous help to me. May God remember this mercy you have done and bless you and your children's children.

My view on the French elections