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Today (8 December) is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for Roman Catholics, and for most Anglicans it is known by the ancient title the Feast of the Conception of the Virgin Mary (or the Blessed Virgin Mary).The feast is observed in most parts of the Anglican Communion although it is not to be found in the Books of Common Prayer of Ireland and the United States. However, some in the United States and Ireland will observe the feast because the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is found in the Kalendar of the Church of England and has been observed in the liturgical calendars of the Anglican Communion's official worldwide bodies called "the instruments of communion".
As a black letter day in the Books of Common Prayer of the Church of England, collects and propers were not printed in the BCP but were authorised from time to time by diocesan bishops under the bishops' ius liturgicum. Sometimes a "Common" of the Blessed Virgin Mary was used for this and other feasts which concerned the Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, Our God and Saviour. Some provinces and national churches of the Anglican Communion have provided collects and sometimes particular propers for this feast.
(1) The following is appointed for the Feast of the Conception of the B.V.M. in the Scottish Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer, 1929:
O ALMIGHTY God,
who didst endue with singular grace
the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord:
Vouchsafe, we beseech thee,
to hallow our bodies in purity,
and our souls in humility and love;
through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
(2) The following is from The Book of Common Prayer, 1954, Church of the Province of Southern Africa:
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God,
who didst prepare the body and soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary
that she should become the mother of thy Son:
Grant that we may be kept unspotted from the world
and made a pure temple for his dwelling,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
now and evermore. Amen.
(3) The following are found in private Anglican volumes, liturgical books of Anglican religious communities, and diocesan resources in some parts of the Anglican Communion :
O GOD, Most High,
Who didst endue with wonderful virtue and grace
the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord:
Grant that we, who now call her blessèd,
may be made very members of the heavenly family of Him
Who was pleased to be called the first-born among many brethren;
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen.
O MERCIFUL God,
hear the supplication of thy servants:
that we who are gathered together
to honour the Conception of the Virgin Mother of God,
may through her intercession
be delievered by thee from the perils which beset us.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
from The Anglican Breviary,
a private Anglican version
of the ancient Benedictine Breviary.
a private Anglican version
of the ancient Benedictine Breviary.
O GOD,
who in the foreknowledge of thy Son’s most precious death
didst consecrate for him a dwelling place
by the spotless Conception of the Blessed Virgin:
mercifully grant that she who was preserved from all defilement;
may evermore pray for us until we attain unto thee in purity of heart.
Through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Found in the privately printed volume
'The Anglican Missal',
in books of some religious communities,
and a few diocesan liturgical resources.
