10 March 2017

Anglican Patrimony: from The Bombay Liturgy

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The following is from The Bombay Liturgy of 1923 (rev. 1948) of the Anglican Church of India, Pakistan, Burma, and Ceylon which looked to the St. Thomas Christians of India for its liturgical inspiration drawing from the Orthodox Liturgy of Malabar.  This looking to the East is an essential element of Anglicanism beginning with the editing work of Thomas Cranmer, continuing with the Caroline Divines, and developing further in the modern Anglican liturgical movement. 



This liturgy appeared in the supplement to the 1960 Book of Common Prayer of the C.I.P.B.C. as A Liturgy for India.  This section — from the Liturgy of Malabar — for The Administration of the Holy Mysteries has inspired developments in Anglican liturgical texts and Hymnals to the present day.



Priest.  Peace be with you.
People. And with thy spirit.

Then shall the Deacon say:
Let us pray unto the Lord that he make us worthy to partake of these his holy mysteries.

And the Priest shall say the prayer following:

Grant us thy blessing, we beseech thee, O Lord; and of thy mercy vouchsafe that in all purity of heart and mind we may receive the Communion of the Body and Blood of thy Son: who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth for ever. Amen.


And, turning himself to the people, he (or the Bishop, if he be present) shall bless them, saying: 
May the mer+cy of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all, my brethren, for ever.


Then shall the Deacon say: 

Give we heed in fear.


And the Priest, lifting the Gifts above the altar, shall say:


Holy things for holy persons.


And the People shall answer:
     There is none other Holy 
     save the Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
     Praise be to the Father and to the Son 
                       and to the Living and Holy Spirit, 
     One God, for ever and ever. Amen.
     Glory to God in the Highest. Amen.
     Hosanna to the Son of David. 
     Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. 
     The Lord is God and hath shined upon us. 
     Hosanna in the Highest.

Then shall he first receive the Gifts in both kinds himself, saying when he partaketh of the bread:
              The Body of Christ, the Bread of Life.

And, when he partaketh of the cup: 
              The Blood of Christ, the Chalice of Life.

And to whomsoever the Gifts be administered, these same words shall be used therewith.

And thereafter he shall deliver the same to such of the Deacons and other persons within the sanctuary, as shall be minded to partake of the Holy Communion. Meanwhile a hymn may be sung.

The Priest shall turn to the west, and descend to the Sanctuary step, bearing the Holy Gifts, and saying:


May the blessings of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be on those who bear these Holy Gifts, and on those who dispense them, on those who receive them, and all who have partaken and do partake of them. May the grace of God be on us and on them here and hereafter for ever.

People. 
       O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; 
               have mercy upon us.
       O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; 
               have mercy upon us.
       O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; 
               grant us thy peace.

Priest.
Praise be to thee, O Lord our God, for ever. Praise be to thee. Praise be to thee. O Lord Jesu Christ, may thy Holy Body which we eat, and thy holy Blood which we drink, be not for our condemnation, but for our life and salvation. Have mercy upon us.

The Priest returns to the altar.

People.
       All the earth shall bow down before thee, and adore thee. 
       Every tongue shall praise thy holy Name. 
       Thou art the raiser of the dead 
       and the good hope of those who lie in the grave. 
       We give thanks to thee, O Lord, for thy gracious mercy towards us.

Here shall those of the people who desire to partake of the Gifts come forward.

And to the words of administration, both of the bread and of the cup, the communicant shall answer, Amen.


And during the administration of the Holy Sacrament to the people shall be sung:

    Strengthen, Lord, for holy service hands which took thy mysteries here;

    Be the ears which heard thy praises shielded from the voice of fear;
    Eyes which saw thy great compassion see thy blessed hope appear.

    May the tongues which chanted ‘Holy’ ever unto truth incline;

    Grant the feet which walked thy temple in the land of light to shine;
   Bodies, by the Body nourished, quicken thou with life divine.

   With thy worshippers abide thou; may thy love direct our ways;

   Hear the prayers we lift before thee, and accept our thankful praise.
   May thy peace and mercy keep us safe from harm through all our days.

   In the hour of thine appearing may we stand before thy face;

   Raise we ever glad hosannas for the wonder of thy grace;
   For thy love hath shined upon us to redeem our mortal race.

   Lord, who deign’st on our offences mercy’s pardoning streams to pour,

   Grant us grace to own thy God-head and in reverent faith adore,
   To thy sovereignty uplifting praise and blessing evermore. Amen.

Or some other hymn

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