+
The Beatitudes of Our Lord have appeared in various liturgical orders of the Anglican peoples around the world. The following is from Jeremy Taylor's AN OFFICE OR ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, ACCORDING TO THE WAY OF THE APOSTOLICAL CHURCHES, AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (1658) where it appears in the Ante-Communion or Liturgy of the Word.
The use of these Scriptures in this fashion is drawn from the Easter Divine Liturgies, but Taylor adapts the Beatitudes to the Anglican liturgical order in English in manner equivalent to Cranmer's adaptation of the Decalogue as litany in the Book of Common Prayer.
It is worth noting that Cranmer's adaptation of the Decalogue as a litany was his attempt to give the English Liturgy an equivalent to the Litany of Peace in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The liturgical use of the Beatitudes also appears in similar fashion in the failed Liturgy of Comprehension.
Then shall the Minister, rising up, rehearse, with a loud voice, the Eight Beatitudes: the People still kneeling.
Minister. Our Lord Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
1. Blessed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
Minister.
2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
4. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
7. Blessed are the Peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
People.
Lord, pardon our faults, and incline our hearts to obey thee, that we may inherit this blessing.
8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
People.
Lord, make us ready in heart and body to obey thee in every thing, that we may inherit all these blessings in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
+
