Anglican Patrimony: From the Melanesian Prayer Book

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Melanesian Anglican religious
visiting the Church of England

A Melanesian Prayer Book provides three forms of preparation for the Mass in very simple English.  

The Church in Melanesia speaks many different languages, and the simplified modern English provides a basis for common translations.  The version of the Lord's Prayer in The Melanesian Prayer Book has been received favourably in many parts of the Anglican world especially in communities when English is a second language.  

The following form of Preparation to receive the Blessed Sacrament comes from an earlier text that was written in the Prayer Book English of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

A Preparation for Holy Communion Form 1

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

GOD, without you we are not able to please you, may your Holy Spirit guide and rule our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

LORD Jesus Christ, you are about to come to us in your holy Sacrament, prepare our hearts for yourself. Amen.

(Hymn—Meditation or Address)

GOD, help me to see my sins as you see them, that I may truly repent and be forgiven. Amen.

SILENCE

WE confess to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and before the whole company of heaven, that we have sinned in what we have thought, said, and done, through our own fault, and we pray God to have mercy on us. Amen.

GOD, you rule over all, have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins and save us from all evil, make us strong to do good and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then, if a Priest is there, he shall say—

MAY the merciful Lord forgive you, put away all your sins, give you time to mend your lives, and the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us ask for faith in God:

GOD, help us to draw near with faith and be made strong in our fight. against the temptations of the world, the body and the devil. Amen.

Let us pray that we may be hungry and thirsty for our spiritual food:

LORD Jesus Christ, may we come hungry and thirsty to the Sacrament of your love and receive heavenly food and drink from you. Amen.

Let us pray for faith in Christ coming to us in the Blessed Sacrament:

GOD give us faith as we come to communion that we may be sure that you are there. Amen.

Let us pray to be made one in the Holy Sacrament:

GOD, you have made us one family in Christ. May we be made more and more one among ourselves and with all the Company of Heaven, through communion with you in the holy Sacrament. Amen.

Let us pray for holy fear:

GOD, when we make our communion may we come near with holy fear and love, that you may welcome us to your holy table. Let us pray that we may not be afraid to come because of our sins. Amen.

LORD Jesus Christ, you have told us to come without fear to the throne of grace, give us courage humbly to obey so kind a call. Amen.

O SAVIOUR of the world, by your cross and dear blood you have set us free; 
Save us and help us, we humbly pray you, Lord. Amen.

SOUL of Christ, make me holy. 
Body of Christ, save me. 
Blood of Christ, refresh me. 
Water from the side of Christ, wash me. 
Suffering of Christ, make me strong.
O good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds hide me,
Let me not be separated from you,
From the enemy who hates me defend me,
In the hour of my death, call me,
And tell me to come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.

As men wait for the morning so do we wait for you, Christ. Come with the new day and make yourself known to us in the breaking of the bread for you are our God for ever. Amen.

OUR FATHER in heaven, holy be your Name, your rule come, your will be done, in the world as it is in heaven. Give us this day our food for today. Forgive us what we do wrong as we forgive those who do wrong to us. Bring us not into trouble to try us, but save us from evil. For yours is the rule and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord be you;
And with you.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All Say.—

ALMIGHTY God, all hearts are open, and all desires known to you, and no secrets are hidden from you; cleanse our thoughts by the breath of your Holy Spirit, so that we may truly love you and worthily praise your holy Name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(The Liturgy continues with Kyrie eleison.)

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Fecioară Curată ('Agni Parthene' in Romanian)

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Grupul BYZANTION chant 'Fecioara Curata' (Agni Parthene).

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Гимн Божией Матере

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The Valaam Brotherhood Singers pray 'Agni Parthene', a hymn for the Mother of God of Saint Nectarius of Aegina sung in Church Slavonic:

Гимн Божией Матере прп. Нектария Эгинского на церковно-славянском языке.

Храм прпп. Сергия и Германа Валаамских.

Валаам. Россия. 1998 г.

Альбом "Северный Афон"

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Fourth Sunday in Lent

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Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:


Lent - Fourth Sunday: Offertory from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

Simple English Proper:

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Verbum supernum prodiens

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I have found it spiritually beneficial to sing, read, or pray the hymn Verbum supernum prodiens (not the St. Thomas Aquinas' text) whether in Latin or English at least once a day of late.  

It is very beautiful chanted in Latin, and there are several chant melodies for it in the body of Gregorian and Ambrosian chant. And there are several chant settings in the various Anglican hymnals that do a fine job of pairing English translation to the original tunes.

The Church uses this text as an Advent Hymn.  There is another text of the same title by St. Thomas Aquinas that includes the famous verses 'O Salutaris Hostia'. But my interest has been in this older text now used in the Office of Readings in Advent.

The following translation is by George R. Woodward, the editor of the influential Anglican hymnal Songs of Syon :

[There is an alternative to the final verse that appears in the 3rd Edition of Songs of Syon:  "To God the Father, God the Son, / And God the Spirit, Three in One, / Laud, honour, might, and glory be / from age to age eternally."]

To Him Who comes the world to free, / To God on high all glory be!

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Meetings Mystical & Unholy Triangles

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We have all had strange and miraculous encounters along the way of life.  It seems that only a few of us ever recognise the Hand of God on such occasions.  We may recognise that an individual who came to our need was an angel.  We may realise that at a time of prayer we experienced God's love in a palpable way we can barely describe.  Sometimes such experiences of God have taken place whilst having tea or coffee with someone we have just met.  I have been thinking about such an encounter that took place in Jerusalem when I was a young Anglican priest.

It now seems to have been a long time ago that an Armenian priest told me over a cup of coffee that a time would come that we would know the devil's own because they would be adorned with the 'unholy triangle'.  During my conversation with this kind and elderly priest in Jerusalem I learned many things that turned out to be true, and I have always been grateful for the encounter which may have been more of a mystical experience than simply sharing a cup of coffee with a gracious host.  

This good priest was also the one who told me that arguments among Christians about Our Lady's departure from Earth and her entrance into the Heaven of heavens were the devil's work.  "The only thing we need to know is that when Our Lady most glorious breathed her last on Earth, she breathed for the first time in Heaven."

I asked him about her body, her soul.  I was young then, and he was kind. "Do you think it is difficult for God our Father to clothe a soul with a body or remove the perfect body of a saint from the earth to its proper home in Paradise?"

He was showing me that my questions were really not about doctrine but were at root expressions of doubt in the sovereign power of God the Father to do as He saw fit.  It strikes my heart afresh every time I think of it ... for what is impossible to us to conceive or do is never impossible for God.

Now I am going to post a video of something that I thought was a hoax at first.  It turns out to be real.  I then decided that it must be some apocalyptic thriller with CGI manipulations.  One of those 'Enter the Antichrist' sort of films.  But, no, it is simply video courtesy of Reuters of an event that took place.

I can only find this video posted with the text of a 'prophecy' given to someone that mentions the unholy triangle.  I know nothing about this 'prophecy' and do not endorse or reject it. It seems to be attached to a movement that I believe authorities in the Catholic Church have condemned, in point of fact.  My interest is strictly the video and the very strange scene it displays.  [As for the text and comments on YouTube, should you go there, use your discretion and pray for the guidance of the Holy Ghost.]



We live in strange days.  Do not put your trust in Earthly rulers or princes.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ alone.

It is a good time to go to Confession or to make Confession to God in whatever way we can.  Make clean the spiritual house of one's heart for the love of Jesus the Lord.

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Senator Ted Cruz of Texas

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The impromptu speech of Senator Ted Cruz (R- Texas) before the Supreme Court is one that all people of religious faith should hear.  He spoke on the day that the Supreme Court was hearing a case brought by Christian family businesses seeking relief from parts of the Obamacare mandate that violated their religious conscience.



This is an important speech made doubly important by its being delivered with such conviction whilst the freezing temperatures and inclement weather kept away the so-called leadership of the Republican Party in the House and Senate. 

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The State of the World

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The following video sums up how I feel about the state of the world courtesy of Handel and Teddy Tahu Rhodes:

Who may abide the day of thy coming?

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Anglican Patrimony: Chant for Mid-Day

[Click on the chant image above 

for a larger view of the mid-day hymn.]

Text: Saint Ambrose
Translation: J.M. Neale
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Finding Chant on YouTube

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Having found it impossible to replace my copy of the album 'Job' by the Gregorian Choir of Paris, I am grateful to have found it floating on YouTube. Perfect for many reasons:

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Anglican Patrimony: George Herbert

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          Assurance.

                O Spiteful bitter thought!

        Bitterly spitefull thought!  Couldst thou invent

        So high a torture:  Is such poyson bought?

        Doubtlesse, but in the way of punishment.

            When wit contrives to meet with thee,

            No such rank poyson can there be.

                Thou said’st but even now,

        That all was not so fair, as I conceiv’d,

        Betwixt my God and me; that I allow

        And coin large hopes, but that I was deceiv’d:

            Either the league was broke, or neare it;

            And, that I had great cause to fear it.

                And what to this? what more

        Could poyson, if it had a tongue, expresse?

        What is thy aim? wouldst thou unlock the doore

        To cold despairs, and gnawing pensivenesse?

            Wouldst thou raise devils?  I see, I know,

            I writ thy purpose long ago.

                But I will to my Father,

        Who heard thee say it.  O most gracious Lord,

        If all the hope and comfort that I gather,

        Were from my self, I had not half a word,

            Not half a letter to oppose

            What is objected by my foes.

                But thou art my desert: [what I deserve]

        And in this league, which now my foes invade,

        Thou art not onely to perform thy part,

        But also mine; as when the league was made

            Thou didst at once thy self indite,

            And hold my hand, while I did write.

                Wherefore if thou canst fail,

        Then can thy truth and I: but while rocks stand,

        And rivers stirre, thou canst not shrink or quail:

        Yea, when both rocks and all things shall disband,

            Then shalt thou be my rock and tower,

            And make their ruine praise thy power.

                Now foolish thought go on,

        Spin out thy thread, and make thereof a coat

        To hide thy shame: for thou hast cast a bone

        Which bounds on thee, and will not down thy throat:

            What for it self love once began,

            Now love and truth will end in man. 

George Herbert       

The Temple       

A.D. 1633       

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“Power corrupts the few...”

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Today a thought from Eric Hoffer came to mind: 

“Power corrupts the few . . . weakness corrupts the many.”

I think it worthwhile to revisit Hoffer's "The True Believer" and "The Ordeal of Change".  If you never read them, perhaps now is a good time to acquaint yourself with Hoffer's non-Freudian philosophical insights.

I had been contemplating the terrible situation in the world -- most of us go about our lives feeling completely impotent in the face of the News of the World whilst those at the top of the heap fulfil their obligations to a script they have been given by their financial owners backers.  'Awake, O sleeper, and arise.'

My musings on the state of the world run something like this: 'I do not blame the Russians in Crimea for being afraid of the far right Ukrainian ultra-nationalists in control of Kiev.  I do not blame the far right ultra-nationalists in Kyiv for hating Moscow.  Fear and hate are easy, and most folk are not able to look beyond them to ask the question "Just who is pulling the strings in this game?" '

We all wonder what is going on in this world around us as very little of it makes any sense at all.  My own musings further lead me to expect Putin to go to war with Turkey so he (and Russia) may create a new Empire that reconquers the lands of the Byzantine Empire.  

I also bear in mind the prophecy among some Russian Old Believers that the Muscovite Patriarch will crown the Anti-Christ in Jerusalem.  

Ah, but what the imagination can summon to cause the trembling of knees and the churning of stomachs!

Anyway, time again to read Eric Hoffer.

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Italian Carol of the Annunciation

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1.
"Hail blessed virgin Mary,"
For so when he did meet thee,

Spake mighty Gabriel,
And thus we greet thee.
Come weal, come woe, 
our hymn shall never vary:
"Hail blessed virgin Mary,
Hail blessed virgin Mary!"

2.
Ave, ave Maria,
To gladden priest and people,
The Angelus shall ring
From every steeple;
To sound his virgin birth, 
Alleluia,
Ave, ave Maria,
Ave, ave Maria.

3.
Archangels chant, "Osanna",
And, "Holy, holy, holy",
Before the infant born
Of thee, thou lowly;
Aye maiden child of Joachim and Anna,
Archangels chant, "Osanna,"
Archangels chant, "Osanna!"

George Ratcliffe Woodward,

translator, original 17th century Italian

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Anglican Patrimony: Prayers of the Church (BWI)

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The Anglican Church in the British West Indies introduced their first edition of The Book of Common Prayer in 1995. It was a revision drawing from the Church of England's 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the BWI Order for Eucharist of 1959, and other contemporary Anglican and Episcopalian Prayer Books and Alternate Prayer Books.


The following is an optional form from the 1995 Book of Common Prayer for use in the The Holy Eucharist. It is a litany deriving in part from an Eastern Orthodox litany well-known and frequently employed as a source for litanies in current Prayer Books.  

Although I prefer the Eastern Orthodox original in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, this litany is a very serious effort to write a litany that is rooted historically in the liturgies of the Church but also speaks from the experience and to the concerns of a particular local church.  A petition for 'human liberation and fulfillment' has special meaning when prayed by those whose ancestors had been enslaved and yet another depth of meaning when prayed in an age of human trafficking and widespread abuse of human beings of every age. 


FORM C

LEADER
With all our heart and all our mind let us pray to the Lord. saying, “Lord have mercy.” 
 
LEADER
For the peace from above, for the loving kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For the peace and welfare of the world, for the witness and work of the Church, and for the unity of all peoples:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For our Bishops and all ministers of God’s Word and Sacraments, that they may be filled with truth and love and be found without fault at the Lord’s coming:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For the leaders of the nations and for those in authority among us, that they may serve justice and promote the freedom and dignity of all peoples:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression, and for all who labour in the cause of human liberation and fulfilment:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For the sick, the suffering, the sorrowful, and the dying; and for all who remember and care for them:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For deliverance from the ravages of hurricane, earthquake, drought or flood, and for a just and proper use of God’s creation:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

LEADER
For ourselves and all who confess the name of Christ, that we may show forth the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.

Silence may be kept.

ALL
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people in the multitude of your mercies. Look with compassion on us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O Lord of love, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

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Ecocide

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Too few understand that our children and grandchildren stand in the gravest danger because of GMO's produced by companies like Monsanto and BASF. 

We must come to an understanding of the indicators pointing toward  ecological damage due to GMO's.  And we cannot wait till we arrive at total ecological disaster before we are willing to invoke the need to stop going down this path that has been built on bad science and the mad greed of corporations seeking profit and market control without any concern for human health or the fabric of society.

The following quote comes from the blog of a company that sells health supplements and provides health related information via its blog.  My quoting from this source is not an endorsement of this company or their products.  Their blog on this occasion is a good source of information on this frightening subject:

GMOs Could Cause 
‘Irreversible Termination of life’ on Earth, 
risk expert warns

When discussing the issues surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) — that is, organisms bearing the genetic traits of other species or bacteria — the focus is typically on how safe (or unsafe) these novel, food-like products are for humans. But distinguished risk engineer and two-time best-selling author Nassim Taleb thinks an even bigger problem with GMOs is their threat to the planet, and the statistical likelihood that they will eventually lead to the collapse of life on Earth.

In a new study, which is still in draft form, this professor of risk engineering from New York University uses statistical analysis to make the case that GMOs, by their very nature, will disrupt the ecosystems of this planet in ways that mankind is only just beginning to comprehend. Because they represent a systemic risk rather than a localized one — GM traits are known to spread unconstrained throughout the environment — GMOs will eventually breach the so-called “ecocide barrier,” leading to catastrophic ecosystem failure.

The blog article quoted above continues at this link: click here. 

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Anglican Patrimony: A Nigerian Offertory Rite

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Although the Nigerian Anglican Church no longer uses the following rite -- having imported the Berakoth from the Roman Catholic Novus Ordo Missae into their recent Prayer Book, it remains one of the most beautiful of the forms to be found in the Anglican Patrimony drawing together artistic innovation and ancient source material.  [The use of the collect 'Be present, be present' before Sursum Corda is a feature borrowed from the Church of South India's original Eucharistic order.]

The Nigerian United Liturgy of 1965

All stand, and the offertory sentences are said.

Minister
Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren, 
to dwell together in unity.
We who are many are one bread, one body, 
for we all partake of the one bread.

People
I will offer in His dwelling 
an oblation with great gladness, 
I will sing and speak praises unto the Lord.

A hymn is now sung, and the bread and wine for the Communion, together with the alms of the people, are brought forward and placed on the Table.

While all remain standing, the minister says

Holy Father, who through the blood of Thy dear Son hast consecrated for us a new and living way to Thy throne of grace, we come to Thee through Him, unworthy as we are, and we humbly beseech Thee to accept and use us and these our gifts for Thy glory. All that is in heaven and earth is Thine, and of Thine own do we give to Thee. 
People Amen.

All kneel and say together

Be present, be present, O Jesus, Thou good High Priest, as Thou wast in the midst of Thy disciples, and make Thyself known to us in the breaking of the bread, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The minister stands and continues with the Sursum Corda saying, The Lord be with you.

The Anglican Church in Nigeria

Church of the Province of West Africa

An Insight from Origen

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“We may therefore make bold to say that the Gospels are the first fruits of all the Scriptures, but that of the Gospels that of John is the first fruits. No one can apprehend the meaning of it except he that has lain on Jesus’ breast and received, from Jesus, Mary to be his mother also.”

Origen, Commentary on John, 6
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Discovery: Half-Plant, Half-Animal Genome

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The sea anemone appears to possess a genome that is half-plant and half-animal, the first such discovery in genetics.  

Click here to read an article about this discovery hosted on NBCnews.com

Clownfish hiding within sea anemones

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Anglican Patrimony: Father Andrew

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Lord, I was made for Thee,

So let me rest

Not otherwise than on Thy breast.

Let the pure thought of Thee

Quiet my mind,

In Thy dear Heart my heart

Its haven find.

Yea, let myself, this little soul,

Come to so great a goal.

For though of clay Thou madest me,

My clay was touched with Thine eternity,

And I am 'restless till I rest in Thee.'

Father Andrew

Prayers of Father Andrew

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Mezimur: I am Nothing without Him

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The Mezimur is a form of Spiritual Song in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.  It is without a doubt an art form of surpassing beauty.  

Some Catholics are familiar with the chants or Mezimur sung by Mirtinesh which have been featured on several blogs including that of my friend Dawn Eden.  

I believe the following Mezimur translates as "I am nothing without Him".  Here it is sung by one of the great spiritual singers of Ethiopia named Yilma Hailu.  

Although you, dear reader, may not understand the words, I think it is salutary for the soul to simply contemplate the English words "I am nothing without Him" and listen to this cantor of God offering up his heart to Christ as he sings:


I am nothing without you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Anglican Patrimony: A Forgotten Prayer

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I imagine that the prayer posted below could be used by some enterprising and inventive members of the clergy of the various Anglican and Episcopalian churches.  Who knows maybe some day the Ordinariates may find it useful.  

It is certainly a beautiful prayer once used within part of the Anglican Communion and now a prayer within the Anglican Patrimony that, if not completely forgotten, is unknown to most.  It is based upon a prayer from the Divine Liturgy of St. James.  This prayer could be used at the presentation of the Gifts, the offering of the unconsecrated bread and wine before the Sursum Corda:

O Lord our God, who didst send forth thy heavenly Bread, the food of the whole world, even Jesus Christ thine only Son, to save us and to redeem us, to bless us and to sanctify us: Vouchsafe now to bless + 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, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and world without end. Amen. 

The Indian Liturgy

The Church of India, Burma, and Ceylon

1948 

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Anglican Patrimony: The Blessing of the Light

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The following was a ceremony employed as part of a form for the blessing of a home.  In several dioceses it was used separately as part of an alternate form for worship in the evening hours with the word 'enter' changed to 'gather' in the collect. 

Priests have used this form at the start of many different occasions from bible studies to prayer meetings to sessions of the vestry or parish council.

¶ A Candle shall be brought to the Priest, who shall light it and bless it as follows.
 
    Hear the words of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.
    Glory be to thee, O Lord.

THE GOSPEL. ST. MATTHEW 5:14
 YE are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
    Praise be to thee, O Christ.

        There is sprung up a light for the righteous;
        And joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted.
        The Lord be with you;
        And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.
 O GOD, whose glory shines as the light in the face of Jesus Christ; Bless, we beseech thee, this candle for the illumination of this place, and grant that as it giveth light unto all that are in the house, so those who enter [gather] here may show forth in their lives the brightness of good works; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Book of Offices

The Episcopal Church USA

1949

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Caryll Houselander: The Mystical Body of Christ

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I knew that too that since Christ is One in all men, as He is One in countless Hosts, everyone is included in Him; there can be no outcasts, no excommunicates, excepting those who excommunicate themselves — and they too may be saved, Christ rising from death in them.

Christ is everywhere; in Him every kind of life has a meaning and has an influence on every other kind of life. It is not the foolish sinner like myself, running about the world with reprobates and feeling magnanimous, who comes closest to them and brings them healing; it is the contemplative in her cell who has never set eyes on them, but in whom Christ fasts and prays for them — or it may be a charwoman in whom Christ makes Himself a servant again, or a king whose crown of gold hides a crown of thorns. Realisation of our oneness in Christ is the only cure for human loneliness. For me, too, it is the only ultimate meaning of life, the only thing that gives meaning and purpose to every life.

After a few days the ‘vision’ faded. People looked the same again, there was no longer the same shock of insight for me each time I was face to face with another human being. Christ was hidden again; indeed, through the years to come I would have to seek for Him, and usually I would find Him in others — and still more in myself only through a deliberate and blind act of faith. But if the “vision” had faded, the knowledge had not; on the contrary, that knowledge, touched by a ray of the Holy Spirit, is like a tree touched by the sun — it puts out leaf and flowers, bearing fruit and blossom from splendour to splendour.


For me, the greatest joy in being once again in full communion with the Catholic Church has been, and is now, the ever-growing reassurance given by the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ, with its teaching that we are the Church and that “Christ and His Church are one” — and that because Christ and His Church are one, the world’s sorrow, with which I have always been obsessed, and which is a common obsession in these tragic years, is only the shadow cast by the spread arms of the crucified King to shelter us until the morning of resurrection from the blaze of everlasting love.

Caryll Houselander

Caryll Houselander: Essential Writings

pp. 37-39

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Anglican Patrimony: Upon Entering a Church

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Devotions upon entering a church or chapel

 
When you enter the church, kneel, make the sign of the Cross, and say:
 
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer.  Amen.

O Lord God, give unto us grace, that with due reverence we may draw near to this Holy Sacrifice, that together with Thy Priest we may offer it unto Thee, first to Thy Honor and Glory; second, in thankful memory of the life and death of Jesus Christ Thy Son Our Lord; third, in thanksgiving for all Thy mercies to us (especially ...); fourth, that Thou mayest give unto us Thy continual help (especially for ...); fifth, for the blessing of all dear to us (especially ...); and sixth for rest and peace to all the blessed dead. Hear us, we beseech Thee, for the sake of Christ Our Lord.  Amen.
 

While waiting for the service to begin, read hymns, psalms, or other portions of the Holy Bible.

As the priest enters, say this prayer for him:
 
May the Lord look upon thee with favour, forgive all thy sins, pardon thine unworthiness, and make thee an acceptable minister, that thou mayest rightly offer these Holy Mysteries. Amen.

 With slight adaptations from

THE PEOPLE'S BOOK OF


THE HOLY EUCHARIST

ARRANGED BY
 THE VERY REVEREND


BERNARD IDDINGS BELL, S. T. B.

DEAN OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

 FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN

1914

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