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In my old family library of books I have a copy of an old Customary of Chichester Cathedral. It has the sort of directions for the conducting of liturgies one expects. Also as expected, it has particulars relating to unique aspects of the Cathedral such as rites for the local saint of Chichester, S. Richard. It contains a beautiful office for Pilgrims to the Cathedral. A well-constructed Three Hours Liturgy for Good Friday and assorted notes on local customs round out the volume.One fine aspect is that it includes various collects not found in the Book of Common Prayer. Seeing the variety Msgr. Burnham will be including in the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham, one hopes the other Ordinariates will be as creative in contributing the distinctive gifts of the national or continental Anglican heritage of their parts of the diaspora. Not to do so, would be a pity and a missed opportunity. By way of example I will follow now with collects from the Chichester Customary appointed for stational use in processions, some of which will be very familiar as they are found in various forms in some Prayer Books:
EASTERTIDE
ALL POWERFUL and everliving God, we beseech thee grant unto us thy servants that we may enter with pure hearts and minds into the mysteries of the Paschal Feast, and that, being risen with Christ, we may rejoice in the glory of them that are born again; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O GOD, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily unto sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ASCENSIONTIDE
GRANT, we beseech thee, almighty God, that the faithful members of thy Son may thither follow, whither our Head and Chief has gone before; who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
O GOD, who hast gone up on high leading captivity captive: Bestow on men the gift of eternal peace, lifting up our hearts, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, to worship thee on thy eternal throne; who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
WHITSUNTIDE
WE beseech thee, O Lord, let the power of the Holy Spirit be present in our midst; that it may both mercifully cleanse our hearts, and protect us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O GOD, who wast pleased to send on thy disciples the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, in the burning fire of thy love: Grant to thy people to be fervent in the unity of faith; that, evermore abiding in thee, they may be found steadfast both in faith and works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TRINITY SUNDAY
O GOD, who art ever one Lord, eternal, infinite, almighty: Grant that we, who owe our being to thy pleasure, may verily be born again into thy kingdom, and with all created things may render thee due glory and honour and thanks; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who with thee, O Father, and with thee, O Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
S. CATHERINE
O GOD, who didst endue thy holy Virgin Catherine with grace to witness a good confession and to suffer gladly for thy sake: Grant that we, after her example, may be found ready when the Bridegroom cometh, and enter with him to the marriage feast; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SS. THOMAS & EDMUND
O GOD, the light of the faithful, and shepherd of souls, who didst set blessed Thomas and blessed Edmund to be Bishops in the Church, that they might feed thy sheep by their word and guide them by their example: Grant us, we pray thee, to keep the faith which they taught, and to follow in their footsteps; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
S. GEORGE
ALMIGHTY GOD, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr George triumphed over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight, we may with the noble army of martyrs receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
S. CLEMENT
ALMIGHTY GOD, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr Clement triumphed over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight, we may with the noble army of martyrs receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
At the conclusion, before the High altar
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+Deo gratias.
