Anglican Patrimony: 'An Office of Preparation'

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The Anglican liturgical patrimony, though planted in the West, has faced East for its development and inspiration.  The following 'Office of Preparation' for divine worship is typical of the Anglican adaptation of liturgical materials from the Christian East, in this case the Divine Liturgy of the Syriac Orthodox (previously called the Syrian Jacobites):

HOLY is the holy Father,

Holy is the holy Son,

Holy is the living and holy Spirit.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

And upon us, weak and sinful, be mercy and grace at all times.

Lord have mercy.

Vouchsafe unto us, O Lord God, with knowledge and fear and beauty of spiritual order to stand before thee in purity and holiness, and to worship thee as the Lord and Creator of all, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for ever.

Lord have mercy.

To thee, O Lord, do I stretch forth the hands of my heart, and implore forgiveness, albeit unworthy; and do beseech thee, keep my mind from the operations of the enemy, mine eyes that they look not incotinently, mine ears that they hearken not to vanities, mine hands from the service of hateful things, and my reins that they be moved in thee so that I be entirely thine, O Christ our God for ever.

Lord have mercy.

Into thy house, O God, have we entered, thy holy vessels have we prepared, the garments of purity put on.  Unto thy sanctuary come we to minister, before thy whole church on earth and in the holy company of the redeemed, to make oblation at thine altar and to worship in thy presence, O Christ our God for ever.

Lord have mercy.

O wash mine hands in innocency;

And so shall I go to thine altar.

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;

And thy saints sing with joyfulness.

Let us pray.

Cleanse our hearts and members, O Lord, that they may be instruments of righteousness and meet for all good and right works, making us pure temples and chosen vessels that are fit for the service of thy glory, and for the praise of thy holy name, O Lord and God for ever. Amen.

O pure and spotless Lamb, who offered to the Father an acceptable offering for the expiation and redemption of the whole world; Vouchsafe us to offer ourselves to thee a living sacrifice and like unto thy sacrifice, which was for us, O Christ our God for ever. Amen.

Sacrifices of praise may we be accounted worthy to offer unto thee, O Lord, as a sweet-smelling savour, even all our thoughts and words and deeds in pure longing after thee; and so without spot to appear before thee all the days of our life, O Father, Son and Holy Ghost for ever. Amen.

Holy is the holy Father,

Holy is the holy Son,

Holy is the living and holy Spirit. Amen. 

from The Cuddesdon College Office Book, 1961

+Agios o Theos.

From 'An Office of Preparation'

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V.  I said, Lord, be merciful unto me;

R.  Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last;

And be gracious unto thy servants.

Let thy merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us.

Like as we do put our trust in thee.

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;

And thy saints sing with joyfulness.

Cleanse thou me from my secret faults;

Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins.

Lord, hear my prayer;

And let my cry come unto thee.

The Lord be with you;

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

MOST gracious God, incline thy merciful ears to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of thy Holy Spirit; that we may worthily approach thy holy Mysteries, and love thee with an everlasting love.

     O Lord, we beseech thee, may the Comforter who proceedeth from thee illuminate our minds, and lead us, as thy Son hath promised, into all truth.

     O Lord, we beseech thee, may the power of the Holy Ghost be with us, and both mercifully cleanse and purge our hearts, and defend us from all adversities.

     Cleanse our consciences, we beseech thee, O Lord, by thy visitation; that thy Son our LORD JESUS Christ, when he cometh, may find in us a dwelling-place prepared for himself; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, behold we approach the Sacrament of thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  As sick, we come to the Physician of life: as unclean, to the Fountain of mercy: as blind, to the Light of eternal splendour: as needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth: as naked, to the King of glory.

     We pray thee, therefore, of the abundance of thine infinite majesty, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to heal our sickness, to wash our foulness, to lighten our darkness, to enrich our poverty, to clothe our nakedness; that we may receive the Bread of angels, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, with such reverence and fear, such contrition and love, such faith and purity, such devotion and humility, as is expedient for the welfare of our souls.  Grant, we beseech thee, that we may receive not only the outward sign of the Lord's Body and Blood, but also the very gift and virtue of the same.  O most merciful God, grant us so to receive the Body of thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, which he took of the Virgin Mary, that we may be incorporated into his mystical Body, and ever reckoned among his members.  And, O most loving Father, grant that whom we now purpose to receive under a veil we may at length behold with open face, even thy beloved Son, who with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

JOY with peace, amendment of life, time for true repentance, the grace and comfort of thy Holy Spirit, perseverance in good works, grant us, O almighty and merciful Lord. Amen.

The Lord be with you;

And with thy spirit.

Let us bless the Lord;

Thanks be to God.

BLESSED be God, who blesseth and sanctifieth us through our partaking of his holy and precious and heavenly Mysteries, now and for ever and world without end. Amen.

The Cuddesdon College Office Book

London: Oxford University Press, 1961

+Exaudi nos, Domine