The Book Of English Collects
From the Prayer Books of the Anglican Communion: England, Scotland,
Ireland, Canada, South Africa, and the United States of America
With Notes, and an Essay on the Collect Form,
by John Wallace Suter, Jr. Harper & Brothers, 1940
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments (omitted for web)
The Anglican Communion and the Collect Form
Sundays, and Days Dependent on Sundays
This cycle of Days in the Christian Year Calendar contains those observances which fall always on the same days of the week, year after year, and, because they are “fixed” in that respect, vary year by year as to month-date, the latter depending, in any given year, upon the date of Easter and (equally) upon the incidence of days-of-the-week with dates-of-the-month in that particular year.
Dated Days
This cycle of Days in the Christian Year Calendar contains those observances which fall always on the same dates of the month, year after year, and, because they are “fixed” in that respect, vary year by year as to the day of the week, the latter depending, in any given year, upon the incidence of days-of-the-week with dates-of-the-month.
Petition for Sunshine, Rain, and the Increase of the Fruits of the Earth.
Thanksgiving for Sunshine, Rain, and the Fruits of the Earth.
Christian Citizenship. The State. Persons in Civil Authority. Legislatures and Courts. War.
Laying the Foundation Stone. The Consecration. Anniversary. Consecration of a Churchyard.
The Church. Councils. The Parish. Before Service. After Service. The Church’s Mission.
Bishops. Priests. Deacons. Parish Ministers. Vacancies. Increase of the Ministry.
Marriage. Baptism. The Family. Teachers and Learners. Confirmation. Schools, Colleges, Theological Training. Holy Communion.
Morning. Christian Graces. Absent Friends. Travellers. Thanksgiving after Travel. Penitence. Thanksgiving. Night
The Sick. Thanksgiving for Health Restored. The Dying. Hospitals
The Departed. The Bereaved
Introduction to the Notes. Notes on the Collects. Sources, Authors, Dates.
Subject Index (omitted for web)
THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION AND THE COLLECT FORM
This compilation assembles in a single volume all the Collects appearing in the current Prayer Books of those Churches within the Anglican Communion which have Prayer Books of their own in English: The Church of England, The Church of England in the Dominion of Canada, The Episcopal Church in Scotland, The Church of Ireland, The Church of the Province of South Africa, and The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The Collects are here arranged topically, and the Notes supply certain information concerning the variations in wording or form which distinguish the different Books. Of their history almost nothing is said, that subject not falling within the primary purpose of this volume; of their authorship or source, a notation is made in any case where the information has been readily available.
THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION
In spite of the numerical strength, the wide geographical range, and the undoubted influence of the Anglican Communion, one often meets members of it who have never heard of it. This circumstance prompts the compiler to set down here a description of that segment of the Christian Church whose Books of Common Prayer furnish the material of this book.
The Encyclical Letter which introduced the Resolutions and Reports of the Conference of Bishops of the Anglican Communion held at Lambeth Palace in London in the summer of 1920 began:
We, Archbishops and Bishops of the Holy Catholic Church in full communion with the Church of England, two hundred and fifty-two in number, assembled from divers parts of the earth at Lambeth, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury ... give you greeting in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The Letter contained a section on the Anglican Communion, from which the following sentences are taken:
In our Resolutions we call upon each Church of our Communion to develop its constitutional self-government and to give more and better opportunities for service to all its members. The wider and deeper, the more complete and the more effective, is the life of any one Church, the more points of contact will it find with others.
Meeting next in 1930, the Archbishops and Bishops in their Encyclical said of the Anglican Communion:
This Communion is a commonwealth of Churches without a central constitution: it is a federation without a federal government. It has come into existence without any deliberate policy, by the extension of the Churches of Great Britain and Ireland beyond the limits of these Islands. The extension has been of a double nature, and the Churches overseas bear its impress. Some of them are, primarily, Churches of the British people scattered throughout the world; others are, primarily, Churches of other peoples, planted by our Missions. Hitherto, they have all been Anglican, in the sense that they reflect the leading characteristics of the Church of England. They teach – as she does – the Catholic Faith in its entirety and in the proportions in which it is set forth in the Book of Common Prayer. They refuse – as she does – to accept any statement, or practice, as of authority, which is not consistent with the Holy Scriptures and the understanding and practice of our religion as exhibited in the undivided Church. They are, in the idiom of our fathers, “particular or national” Churches, and they repudiate any idea of a central authority, other than Councils of Bishops. They combine respect for antiquity with freedom in the pursuit of truth. They are both Catholic and Evangelical. This is still today a true description of the facts and ideals of the Anglican Communion.
The Anglican Communion, then, is a fellowship of self-governing Churches in full communion with the Church of England. Each of these Churches is “national” in the sense that within its particular country, or geographical unit, it exemplifies Church-of-England Christianity modified by local variations in non-essential matters. Each separate Church within the Anglican Communion has the authority to adopt a Prayer Book of its own, and to revise it, without asking permission of the “Mother” Church. Yet every such Prayer Book claims to conform to the Church of England in its theological foundations and liturgical principles. Thus among all these Churches there exists a community of thought and practice which enables the members of one to feel at home while worshipping in any of the others. The Lambeth Conference, moreover, which meets every ten years in London under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury, not to legislate but to debate and give counsel, reinforces the sense of unity, which might otherwise tend to evaporate with the passage of time. And, since the various Churches in the worldwide sisterhood of Anglicanism have carried on the work of Missions in many lands where English is not spoken, the Lambeth Conference has taken on an even wider significance which suggests, as in a microcosm, Universal Christendom. The names of the Bishops who attended the 1920 or the 1930 Conference, printed, as they are, according to the date of consecration of each, present a picture of earthwide fellowship, as the following excerpts indicate:
Armagh, Calcutta, Sydney, Capetown; ... Wales, Tennessee, London; ... Coventry, Texas, Willesden, Tokyo, Lagos, Saskatchewan; ... Colombo, Shantung, Newark; ... South Carolina, Chekiang, Clogher, St. Andrews, Bombay; ... Zanzibar, Montreal, Washington; ... Virginia, Kingston-on-Thames, Assam; ... Persia, Down, Kalgoorie, Lincoln.
To study the administrative framework, and the personnel, of the leadership of the Anglican Communion, one should consult the Conference of Bishops of the Anglican Communion, 1920, and Lambeth Conference, 1930, both published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knoledge (London) and Macmillan (New York). For an introduction to the spirit and thought of Anglicanism, the reader is referred to Anglicanism: The Thought and Practice of the Church of England, Illustrated from the Religious Literature of the Seventeenth Century, compiled by Paul Elmer More and Frank Leslie Cross, published by Morehouse, New York. This book, which owes its existence largely to the statesmanship and skillful planning of the late Bishop Rhinelander, contains, besides an important essay, “The Spirit of Anglicanism,” by Professor More, chapters on such topics as The Anglican Faith, The Church, The Bible, Standards of Faith, Theology, The Ministry, The Sacraments, Prayer, Ethics. Among the writers whose works are drawn upon are Thomas Browne, George Herbert, John Cosin, Jeremy Taylor, Richard Hooker, William Laud, Peter Heylyn, Lancelot Andrewes, Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton, James Ussher, John Donne, Thomas Ken, Robert Sanderson.
In his essay, “The Spirit of Anglicanism,” More states that in Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity (1594) the Anglican Communion for the first time “was made aware of itself as an independent branch of the Church Universal, neither Roman nor Calvinist, but at once Catholic and Protestant, with a positive doctrine and discipline of its own and a definite mission in the wide economy of Grace.” In another chapter, “Anglicanism in the Seventeenth Century,” by Felix R. Arnott, we read, “The age was preeminently one of stress and storm, and the ideals of Anglicanism were necessarily forged upon the hard anvil of controversy. It was only as the result of a prolonged struggle against both Puritanism and Rome that the independent position of the English Church was at last attained by the Prayer Book of 1662. ... It was the religious aspiration of the Seventeenth-Century divines which made the Via Media become a glorious reality instead of a barren philosophical theory. They desired to gather up all that was best in the Church’s past, and to adapt it for English use, their aim being ‘to do that which to their best understandings they conceived might most tend to the preservation of peace and unity in the Church, the procuring of reverence and exciting of piety and devotion in the public worship of God.’”
THE SEVEN PRAYER BOOKS
The particular Churches whose prayers are assembled in the present book are those which have Prayer Books of their own in English. Of the seven Books, five need no special comment; but concerning the two others some explanation is necessary. The book referred to in the Notes as “ER” (England, Revised)* would now be the authorized Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England if the Resolution establishing it had not been defeated in the House of Commons in 1928. The story, told on the reverse of its Title Page, is as follows:
In July 1927 a Measure was passed in the Church Assembly for the purpose of authorizing the use of a Prayer Book which had been deposited with the Clerk of the Parliaments, and was referred to in the Measure as “The Deposited Book.” The Measure and the Book had been previously approved by large majorities in the Convocations of Canterbury and York. A Resolution under the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, directing that the Measure should be presented to His Majesty, was afterwards passed in the House of Lords by a large majority. But a similar Resolution in the House of Commons was defeated on the 15th of December, 1927, and the Prayer Book Measure of 1927, therefore, could not be presented for the Royal Assent.
*This Preface adopts the abbreviations that are used in the Notes: – English Prayer Book; ER, English Revised; C, Canadian; S, Scottish; I, Irish; SA, South African; US, United States of America.
Early in the year 1928 a second Measure (known as the Prayer Book Measure, 1928) was introduced in the Church Assembly, proposing to authorize the use of the Deposited Book with certain amendments thereto which were set out in a Schedule to the Measure. This Measure again was approved by large majorities both in the Convocations and the Church Assembly; but a Resolution directing that it should be presented to His Majesty was defeated in the House of Commons on 14th June, 1928.
This Book is a copy of the Deposited Book referred to in the Prayer Book Measure of 1927, as amended in accordance with the provisions of the Prayer Book Measure, 1928.
The publication of this Book does not directly or indirectly imply that it can be regarded as authorized for use in churches.
NOTE.—If the Prayer Book Measure, 1928, had received the Royal Assent, the following would have been printed as the title of this Book:
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TOGETHER WITH THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING, AND CONSECRATING OF BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS. THE BOOK OF 1662 WITH ADDITIONS AND DEVIATIONS APPROVED IN 1928.
The book referred to in the Notes as “SA” (South Africa) is not a complete Prayer Book, but two booklets, one (of 105 pages) containing The Calendar, Tables, Rules, Forms of Baptism and Reception, Confirmation, Confession and Absolution, Solemnization of Matrimony, Thanksgiving after Childbirth, Ministry to the Sick, Burial Offices; the other (of 32 pages) containing an Alternative Form for the Holy Communion, with Notes. As will be seen from the Title Page of each booklet, the materials which they contain are “Alternative Forms,” and therefore the portions of the Prayer Book which are not included in these booklets are used, in South Africa, in the form in which they appear in the Prayer Book of the Church of England.
The exact wording of the Title Page of each of the seven Books is seen in the following pages. [Blank line spaces have been eliminated for web page.]
THE BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER
AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS, AND
OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH
ACCORDING TO THE USE OF
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALTER OR PSALMS OF DAVID
POINTED AS THEY ARE TO BE SUNG
OR SAID IN CHURCHES
AND THE
FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING
AND CONSECRATING OF BISHOPS
PRIESTS, AND DEACONS
THE BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER
WITH THE
ADDITIONS AND DEVIATIONS
PROPOSED IN 1928
THE BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER
AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS
AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH
ACCORDING TO THE USE OF
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
IN THE DOMINION OF CANADA
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALTER OR PSALMS OF DAVID
POINTED AS THEY ARE TO BE SUNG OR SAID IN CHURCHES
AND THE FORM OR MANNER OF MAKING
ORDAINING AND CONSECRATING OF
BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND DEACONS
THE SCOTTISH BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER
AND
ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND
OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF
THE CHURCH
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALTER
POINTED AS IT IS TO BE SUNG OR SAID IN CHURCHES
AND THE FORM OR MANNER OF MAKING
ORDAINING AND CONSECRATING OF
BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND DEACONS
THE BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER
AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS
AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF
THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE USE OF
THE CHURCH OF IRELAND
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALTER OR PSALMS OF DAVID
POINTED AS THEY ARE TO BE SUNG OR SAID
IN CHURCHES
AND
THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING
ORDAINING AND CONSECRATING OF BISHOPS
PRIESTS AND DEACONS
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS
AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES
OF THE CHURCH
ACCORDING TO THE USE OF
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALTER OR PSALMS OF DAVID
AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF
THE CALENDAR AND
OCCASIONAL OFFICES
OF THE CHURCH
SET FORTH BY AUTHORITY
FOR USE IN THE CHURCH OF
THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH
AFRICA WHERE ALLOWED BY
THE BISHOP
AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF
THE ORDER FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF
THE
HOLY COMMUNION
SET FORTH BY AUTHORITY FOR
USE IN THE CHURCH OF THE
PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
WHERE ALLOWED BY THE BISHOP
THE NATURE OF THE COLLECT
The Collect has been the subject of many essays, and of a chapter or more in many a book. Not only has its history received attention, but analytical study has been brought to bear upon its literary structure. It is not a simple matter to devise a criterion which will determine precisely whether a given prayer should or should not be classified as a Collect. The word is often very loosely employed. By some it is thought to mean any prayer in an authorized Prayer Book; by others, any short prayer wherever found, or any written prayer however long. The Anglican worshipper who has given the matter no special study, if asked what a Collect is, will say that it is a short prayer which is read just before the Epistle, and that there is a different one for each Sunday. This, the narrowest possible definition, is the least knowledgeable. At the other extreme is the too-inclusive definition suggested by Clarke and Harris in Liturgy and Worship, where we read that the word designates one of the three primary forms of liturgical prayer, the other two being Litany, which is prayer in dialogue, and Eucharistic Prayer, which is a solemn act of praise (not necessarily connected with the Holy Eucharist).
The word Collect is best used to identify a particular literary prayer-form: a certain mould into which prayer-words may be poured: one which, while admitting variations within limits, yet adheres to recognizable rules of composition. “Speaking generally,” says Bright, “a Collect is a comparatively short prayer, more or less condensed in form, and aiming at a single point, or at two points closely connected with each other. Thus, the terser it is, and the more concentrated in purpose, – the more it is characterized by ‘unity of sentiment,’ – the truer it will be to type of its class: in as far as it is diffuse, it deviates from the standard.”
A Collect is a written prayer intended primarily to be said aloud on behalf of a worshipping congregation. Often it consists of one sentence; usually it expresses a single main thought, which is either a petition or a thanksgiving. Its ideas are couched in rhythmic prose; a listener accustomed to the Collect-form can usually tell, after he has heard the opening words, approximately how the prayer will continue: not anticipating the actual words, but sensing the pattern. He can as it were see the end from the beginning. In a general way a Collect may be said to scan. “A Collect,” say Parsons and Jones in The American Prayer Book, “is as exacting an art-form as a sonnet. It is free poetry, where thoughts, instead of words, rhyme in definite strophe-patterns. It has underlying principles of prose-rhythm.” Not that strict conformity to a particular style-pattern guarantees worthiness. A Collect perfectly formed and smoothly cadenced, well polished and neatly turned, can be dull or empty, and can express theological and moral ideas incongruous with sound religious teaching. Judged by the latter standard the Collects of the Prayer Books represent varying degrees of excellence. The literary standard, too, assigns to some a place much higher than that of others. Indeed, there is no department of Prayer Book writing which illustrates more clearly than the Collects do, the unevenness of Prayer Book style. When, however, as sometimes occurs, the purest form enshrines the highest thought, the result is a prayer so admirable (if human minds can judge) that the presence of a considerable number of these in its pages has done much to give the Prayer Book its reputation as a classic of devotional literature.
LENGTH
Every writer on the Collect speaks of its brevity. Yet, while it is true that no rambling, rhetorical prayer can ever be classified as a Collect, it is possible to enlarge the Collect-form and still have it retain the proportions which make a true Collect. The symmetry, sequence, and rhythm can be preserved, even if the number of parts be doubled or trebled. Sometimes in such a case more than one sentence is required; usually, too, the difficulty of achieving literary success is increased; yet good Collects have been written in this way.
The shortest imaginable Collect might read:
O God, who art holy: Sanctify us by thy Spirit; through Jesus Christ.
Lengthening this slightly, we have:
O Almighty God, the fountain of all holiness: Sanctify our hearts, we beseech thee, by thy pure Spirit, that we may grow in grace and in knowledge of thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
By the process of “doubling,” we could then read:
Almighty and everlasting God, who art the fountain of all holiness, and before whose beauty the very heavens are unclean: We beseech thee so to sanctify our hearts and illumine our minds by the outpouring of thy pure Spirit, that, following in the steps of thy blessed Son, we may grow in grace and in knowledge of thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
The next step in enlargement would require a new clause, or possibly a new sentence, after the words thy pure Spirit. This would be an additional petition. The closing portion, that, following in the steps, etc., would be lengthened correspondingly by the addition of another balancing clause. Thus a Collect may be expanded without losing its pattern, and therefore without forfeiting its right to be called a Collect.
A two-sentence Collect is seen in 22, where, between the opening and closing parts, two sets of clauses occur: (1) so guide ... that they may lay ... , (2) give thy grace ... that ... they may show. . . . Here the writer has more to say than can be compacted within the usual compass, for he has in mind (1) the need for wisdom in choosing ministers, and (2) the need for God’s grace to fortify even those who are wisely chosen. Yet he wishes to make one prayer instead of two, and he desires that the resultant form regarded as a whole shall exhibit the cadence and rhythm of a single Collect. Numbers 42 and 188, on the other hand, are not essentially two-sentence Collects, and a more careful editing would have used a single sentence.
The sequence of short sentences in Collect 59 resembles the suffrages of a Litany. Of this type there are many examples in the Prayer Books, and in certain cases it has been difficult to judge whether or not the prayer in question should be included in a compilation of Collects. Concerning borderline cases opinions will differ. But the compiler has preferred to risk being at fault through over-inclusiveness rather than by the too strict application of a fixed rule to omit prayers which the reader might naturally expect to find; for if there are eight prayers on a certain topic, of which five are true Collects and three questionable, the exclusion of the latter on the ground of style alone would probably reduce, rather than enhance, the usefulness of this book. Similar to Collect 59 are 206, 207, 208, and 209. Before each short sentence in the body of such a prayer, one could insert the words “That it may please thee to” and at the end of each, “We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.” Thus the Litany-form and the Collect-form overlap, and one is tempted to coin a new designation: either Collected Litany, or Litanized Collect.
Among the more successful longer Collects, stylistically speaking, are 213, 219, 223, and 337; the last notable for its twenty-eight line sentence which, because it is well fashioned, bears without strain the weight of a large but graceful pattern. Long also is the twenty-one line sentence in 258, a prayer cast in a mould more unmistakably that of the Collect than is many a prayer of shorter length. From start to finish the author never loses the sense of being governed by the framework:
Eternal God, whom heaven cannot contain:
Be present with us who are here to consecrate this place.
Accept and bless this service;
through Jesus Christ.
Though clause is added to clause, and phrase piled upon phrase, the pattern is not broken. The same may be said of the shorter and simpler 234. And 266 affords another example of the long sentence.
In Collect 285 we find a different type, a long prayer being made out of several short ones. Here the sense of unity is achieved not only by the sequence of ideas, but also by the joining of parts in so skillful a way that the joints do not obtrude – a difficult feat accomplished with admirable felicity.
The theory that in order to be a Collect a prayer must be short, is doubly refuted by the Prayer Books, which both contain long prayers composed in Collect pattern (E.g., 337), and also use the word Collect as a label for certain long prayers (E.g., 578).
PETITION OR THANKSGIVING
The theory that a prayer should be a petition rather than a thanksgiving in order to be classified as a Collect, also is refuted by the Prayer Books themselves, both in the use of the word Collect as a label for certain thanksgivings (E.g., 248, 464, 465), and also in the fact that many thanksgiving prayers are cast in entirely unmistakable Collect-form. What makes a Collect a Collect is its literary pattern: not its content or its length. The authority for this view rests upon internal Prayer Book evidence, and needs no external confirmation.
DERIVATION
The derivation of the word “Collect” is by no means clear, for it has been used with different meanings in different parts of Christendom, and in different centuries. A discussion of the origins of the word does not come within the scope of the present book, for here we are concerned only with certain English Books currently in use, and are dealing with what the Collects have come to be, rather than with the processes by which they came to be what they are. It will therefore be sufficient for our purpose to say that two Latin words, collectio and collecta, are at the source of the word’s history, and that the authorities who have written on the subject are divided, roughly, into two schools: (1) those who find that the word originally meant a prayer that was a collection of ideas (summing up the silent prayers of individuals who had been bidden to pray for this or that cause); and (2) those who find that the word was used to describe a collection of people, gathered together in one place on their way to a church where a service was to be held – in which case it meant “the prayer said over the people when all are collected.”
THE INVOCATIVE
The use of the imperative verb-form when addressing the Deity is often cited as a distinguishing mark of the Collect, and of the prevailing style in the Prayer Book as a whole. These imperatives resound throughout the Book like the blows of a hammer, giving accent and crispness to its style, and contributing toward the brevity and condensation so greatly prized by liturgical scholars. Sharply contrasted are the styles of both Litany and Oratorical Prayers, where the subjunctive mood sets the tone and we find such flowing and generously-worded clauses as: “We humbly beseech thee that of thy mercy thou wouldest be pleased to bestow.” This, with its tone of pleading, is good style in a Litany and in an Oratorical Prayer. A Collect, on the other hand, would say: “Bestow, we beseech thee, ...”.
From the point of view of theology the custom of addressing imperatives to God may at first appear objectionable. Does the worshipper seek to bend the Divine Will to suit human desires? Is God One to whom man issues orders? If in the human family a child is not encouraged to speak in such manner to his earthly father, much less, one would suppose, should a human being thus approach his Father in heaven. The answer is that a good Christian prayer, “commanding” God to do that which He already wants to do, places the worshipper in line with the current of the Divine Will. Though the verb takes the form grammarians call “imperative,” the intent is “acceptive.” “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts” means “Let the purifying power of thy Spirit have its way with our thoughts.” When we ask this, and even (in a sense) demand it, we place our wills in the position of reverent submission to what is already a fact: God’s influence toward purity and single-mindedness. We enlist as ambassadors and friends of the Almighty. This mood, the very spirit and essence of Christian prayer, has already received its authentication and embodiment in the Lord’s Prayer, with its four mighty imperatives. Students of prayer would therefore do well to adopt a special grammatical nomenclature and speak of the Invocative Mood. To invoke means to call on for aid, or to invite earnestly. Worshippers earnestly invite their Maker to bestow upon them those powers and benefits which His nature confers because it is already His nature. In the oft-quoted words of Archbishop Trench, “We must not conceive of prayer as an overcoming of God’s reluctance, but as a laying hold of his highest willingness.” The use of the “imperative” is therefore fully justified as well on theological as on literary grounds. That the composers of the Prayer Book well understood this problem, and that it occupied their minds more than a little, can be seen in such Collects as 52, 81, 83, 94, 294, 296, 301, 305, 308.
We may conclude this section by saying that in the nature of the case it is all but impossible to fashion an absolutely precise definition of The Collect, since any formula narrow enough to be exact will exclude so many exceptions that it will be inadequate, while any formula broad enough to embrace all the prayers properly known as Collects will admit so wide a range as to be ambiguous and vague. A Condensed Description, however, may be attempted in the following words:
A Collect, as found in the Prayer Books of the Anglican Communion, is a written prayer, composed to be said aloud by a minister on behalf of a group of people, as an act of public worship; offering to God either petition or thanksgiving; following the pattern of one or another of several distinct literary forms, each of which has its own rhythmic design. It can be either short or long, but compactness of expression is a normal characteristic, and more often than not the prayer is limited to a single sentence.
Not included in this book are:
The Lord’s Prayer. – This masterpiece, not a Collect, has its own unique pattern, concerning which much has been written. To analyze it, or to discuss the relative merits of the slight variations in its English wording (as, for instance, among the seven Prayer Books) does not come within the scope of the present volume.
Exhortations. – These are not prayers, though material from certain of them has been used in the composition of a few Collects. (E.g., 294.)
General Confessions and general Thanksgivings. – The tenor, purpose, and form of these prayers, written to be said aloud by a congregation, place them outside the Collect category.
Bidding Prayers, and The Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church. (E.g., US pp. 47–48; 74–75.) Though each paragraph contains Collect-material, the prayer as a whole is not a Collect.
Litanies.
Prayer of Consecration in the Communion Office. – Though Collects are latent here, in view of the Eucharistic character of the prayer as a whole it is not included.
Prayer of Humble Access. – This has a form of its own, without parallel. Its third sentence is a very slightly disguised Collect.
Fragmentary Prayers. – The cycle of short sentences, each with its Amen, in the Office of Baptism (US p. 278), is a case in point.
“Turn thou us, O good Lord ...”
In the Penitential Office (US p. 62). This is spoken by the congregation with the minister.
“It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, ...”
The only one included (377) is from the Ministration of Baptism. ER and S have similar forms in the Ordination Services. These are not Collects, though each one swings into the Collect-form toward the end.
Pronouncements, Declarations, Absolutions, Blessings, Committals, Words of Administration of Sacraments, Words Conferring Authority or Status.
This book does not include statements, however prayer-like in form, which are addressed to people, or to a human person, instead of to God. It may be noted in passing that a certain ambiguity mars the perfection of a few of these by omitting the article “The” before the Name of God which stands at the opening. An example appears in US on page 7, where the Declaration should begin, “The Almighty God” – as the Deity is referred to throughout in the third (grammatical) person, not the second.
THREE COLLECT PATTERNS
Of the Prayer Book prayers which are unmistakably Collects, practically all belong to one or another of three literary Types. These we call A, B, and C.
TYPE A
Examples of Type A are found in Collects 3, 6, 7, 11, 19, 65, 77, 78, 158, 160, 181–185, 247, 331. The design is as follows:
1. The Address to God.
In at least one case (Collect 65 in all but US) the single word God is used for the address; but almost always this word is preceded by O, or by some such adjective as Almighty, or by several adjectives. Any one of the three Persons of the Trinity may be addressed.
2. The Descriptive Clause (or Clauses).
This part mentions the particular attribute of Deity relying on the operation of which, or in view of which, the Petition or Thanksgiving which follows is offered. Instead of a clause, sometimes the grammatical device known as an appositive is employed (283), as having the force of a clause. (Sanctifier of the faithful is the equivalent of who sanctifieth the faithful).
Between the last word of the Descriptive Clause and the first word of the Petition (or Thanksgiving) a uniform punctuation-mark is used, not simply to perform the usual office of a punctuation-mark but also to signalize the turning-point or pivot of the literary design. (This feature gives the name Pivotal to Type A.) For this, E, I, and US employ a semi-colon; ER, C, S, and SA, a colon. The present book adopts the latter, as more strongly marking the “pivotal moment” in the turn of the pattern. The first word of the Petition (or Thanksgiving) invariably begins with a capital letter.
3. The Petition or Thanksgiving.
This is the core of the Collect. When the prayer runs wholly true to type, the first word of this clause is an imperative verb (18, 19, 20, 24, 46, 47, 55, 60, 61, 67, 73, 75, 77, 78). In a somewhat weaker form of this type, the imperative verb is either “Grant” or “Give” (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 23). Another form uses a circumlocution borrowed from the Litany-form (11, 17, 21, 58, 64, 70, 72). The core of the Collect may require several clauses, some independent, some dependent.
4. The Ending.
With few exceptions the Endings are formal and traditional, following a set of rules.
Of the three patterns, Type A has the sharpest outline and is the most readily distinguishable. The reason for this is the Pivot, which divides the prayer into two parts (not equal in length) like the stanzas of a poem. The first part is related to the second as a protasis to an apodosis, the sequence of thought turning with the colon. The result is the feeling that the prayer is “through-composed” (as we say in song-writing), the first part making the second part necessary, the second “resolving” the first and carrying the thought through to its logical conclusion. In this type more than in any other, “we see the end from the beginning.”
The imperative verb which begins the apodosis thus assumes extraordinary importance, and in a strong Collect gives point and force and color to the prayer. The verbs Open (47), Pour (77), Graft (78), Keep (24), Cleanse (430), Defend (439), Mortify (172), Break (122), Fulfil (308), Enlighten (402), Look (328), Shine (144), Send (18), Create (19), distinguish the Collects of which they are the pivotal verbs. A careful composer of a Collect selects this verb with care, conscious that it receives a heavy accent. In choosing a group of Collects to be said in succession, the minister, seeking variety in this respect, does not read one after the other several prayers having the same pivotal verb. The pair of Collects which follow the Collect of the Day in Morning Prayer, though each is excellent, are in this sense badly placed.
Perhaps the most celebrated prayer in the Type A group is the Collect for Singleness of Heart which stands at the opening of the Communion Office. A partial analysis of its rhythm and pattern illustrates the construction of this type at its best.
ADDRESS
Almighty God No. of Syllables 4
THREE DESCRIPTIVE CLAUSES
unto whom all hearts are open 8
all desires known 4
and from whom no secrets are hid: 8
THREE PETITIONARY CLAUSES
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit 18
that we may perfectly love thee 8
and worthily magnify thy holy Name 11
ENDING
through Christ our Lord 4
This prayer exhibits a nicety of construction nowhere surpassed. Balance, smoothness, cadence, and a skillful distribution of stresses, are here seen at their best. The Address, Almighty God, which is almost as short as an address can be, is matched by the ending, through Christ our Lord, which is shorter than most. The Descriptive Clauses have a three-beat rhythm, which finds its echo in the three clauses of the Petition. Balance of thought is wedded to balance of style. When the two triads are studied side by side, it becomes evident that the parallelism in thought is perfect. “Unto whom all hearts are open” matches “Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts,” “all desires known” is linked with “perfectly love thee;” and “from whom no secrets are hid” is associated with “worthily magnify thy holy Name.” Mathematically, the distribution of syllables as between the two triads (Descriptive and Petition) is 8–4–8, 18–8–11. In each, the middle clause is the short one. This makes for symmetry. But the symmetry is not mathematically exact, as it would be if each term in the second triad doubled the corresponding term in the first (8–4–8; 16–8–16). And here we observe one of the rhythmic elements that make a beautiful Collect beautiful: basic symmetry, with just enough irregularity to avoid sing-song, just enough unbalance to prevent jingle. Cadenced prose rather than metered poetry is what makes good Collect-writing.
If syllables were added and subtracted in the right places, this famous Collect could be re-written (and spoiled) to conform to an exact 8–4–8; 16–8–16 scheme. Thus we should have:
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the entrance of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify the excellence of thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Of prayers that are virtually poems, and therefore not in the Prayer Book, the two which follow are examples. Their pattern is of a character not congruous with Prayer Book style, not designed for public recital in liturgical worship.
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know thee more clearly, may we love thee more dearly, may we follow thee more nearly.
(Bishop of Chichester. Twelfth Century.)
Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest; to give, and not to count the cost; to fight, and not to heed the wounds; to toil, and not to seek for rest; to labour, and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Ignatius Loyola. Sixteenth Century.)
Each of these prayers has enriched the life of many a person. Their spiritual value is not questioned. If, however, one were to read either of them aloud on behalf of a worshipping congregation, their rhythm would hinder rather than help, for it obtrudes upon the ear of the listener instead of providing, as Collects do, an undercurrent of delicately suggested beats.
TYPE B
Examples of Type B may be seen in Collects 2, 26, 37, 43, 68, 76, 80, 81, 86, 92, 96, 161, 257, 303, 371, 385, 398, 399, 418, 423, 437, 447, 480, 550. The pattern is as follows:
1. An Imperative (Invocative) Verb introduces at once the Petition or Thanksgiving. (This is like the verb after the colon in Type A.)
2. The Address to God occurs parenthetically embedded in the first clause, or immediately after it, accompanied often by we beseech thee or its equivalent.
3. Clauses follow, and phrases, the number depending upon the complexity of thought. There may be several independent clauses, and each may support a subordinate clause.
4. The Ending.
Two features give to this Type its peculiar character. First, the opening word, which in a strong Collect sets the tone and determines the spirit of the whole prayer. Characteristic are Assist (37), Send (68), Keep (86), Stir up (96), Look (205), Be mindful (207), Guide (274), Regard (292), Lighten (480). (In the weaker form, the initial word is Grant, or one of its equivalents.) Second, the tendency of the clauses to “descend” in length and also in emphasis as the prayer proceeds. The strongest accent falls on the opening word of the Collect, and the strongest clause is the first. The general effect, in many Type B Collects, is that of a pendulum gradually running down. Unlike Type A, where the rhythm builds up to a climax at the Pivot, Type B starts at the highest point and tapers down toward the Ending. For this reason this Type is often used in prayers for Evening, Consolation, Peace, and the Close of a Service. The pattern has no turning-point; the prayer does not consist of two parts, each answering to the other; clauses and phrases follow each other as it were in a straight line, and are usually connected by the simple conjunction and. The following will serve as illustrations:
(96) Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(480) Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Of the Collects in this group which begin with the word Grant, the most famous perhaps, as certainly it is the most beautiful, is:
(92) Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It not infrequently happens that a Collect takes a form which, stylistically speaking, is ambiguous. The authors, after all, were not chiefly interested in style-types, even if, as no one can deny, Collect-writing is prayer-composition at its most stylized. The result is that here and there we find a Collect whose intention (whether consciously in the mind of the author or not) is conformity to one of the Types, but whose actual form, perhaps in only one detail, obscures the essential pattern. A case in point is Collect 481, fashioned out of the closing sentences of a sermon by Cardinal Newman. The editor who made the words into a prayer devised what is virtually a Type B Collect. All that is needed to make it wholly so is to transpose the first pair of words with the second pair, so that it shall read:
Support us, O Lord, all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There are several other Collects to which a slight alteration would bring sharpness of outline and stylistic strength, revealing an inherent pattern which the present arrangement of words inadvertently obscures. For example:
Collect 5 should begin (as it does in the Latin): Raise up, we pray thee O Lord, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; ...
The following are potentially, and are here shown as actually, of Type A:
(7) Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Enkindle, we pray thee, the same light in our hearts, that it may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(54) Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: Pour forth thy blessing, we beseech thee, upon this land, and give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The following, if re-edited and pointed-up, would read:
(70) Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity: Keep us, we beseech thee, stedfast in this faith, and defend us from all adversities; that in the power of the divine Majesty we may evermore worship thy Unity, who livest and reignest one God, world without end.
(121) O merciful God, whose holy Apostle Saint James left his father and all that he had, and without delay obediently followed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
TYPE C
Of Type C, examples are found in Collects 14, 25, 27, 74, 93, 95, 110, 113, 156, 186, 302, 306, 366-368, 415, 420, 432, 468, 553.
(27) We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people, that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(74) O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The distinguishing mark of this pattern is its likeness to the Litany-form. First comes the Address to God, often coupled with we beseech thee or its equivalent; and these two items may occur in either order. There follow without any break the clauses of the body of the prayer, most often connected by and or that.
The influence of Litany-style upon this pattern is most easily discernible if one takes a typical suffrage from a Litany and re-casts it in Collect-form. For example:
In the Litany we have: That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit; we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
In a Collect this would become: We beseech thee, merciful Lord, to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word, to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
or,
We beseech thee, Almighty God, to give to thy people such increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word and to receive it with pure affection, that they may bring forth the fruits of the Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
or,
Almighty God, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that thy people, meekly hearing thy Word and receiving it with pure affection, may ever bring forth the fruits of the Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
There is here no Descriptive Clause and Pivot, as in Type A; and, unlike Type B, this form never starts with an Imperative Verb. The beginning is gradual, and there is a continuous and smooth flow from start to finish. Some of the loveliest Collects of all are written in this mould, which is noted for gracefulness and facility. The two which follow are among the best known:
(468) We humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and, for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(432) O Almighty Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
ENDINGS
In An Alternative Form of The Calendar and Occasional Offices of the Church, SA gives a series of Rules for Endings, as follows:
If the prayer is addressed to the First Person of the Blessed Trinity, the words who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end are added after through Jesus Christ our Lord.
If the name of our Lord has been mentioned in the body of the Collect, the words the same are inserted before the words Jesus Christ.
If the name of the Holy Ghost has been mentioned in the body of the Collect, the words in the unity of the same Spirit are substituted for the words in the unity of the Holy Ghost.
If the prayer is addressed to the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the ending is who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one god, world without end.
If these endings are used, it should be noted that when more Collects than one are said, the full ending is added only to the Collect for the Day and to the last of the Memorials.
SA also says, “If desired, the traditional endings of the Collects may be used”, thus inviting the minister to exercise a discretion employed less often than it should be.
It must be added that the words the same, before Jesus Christ, are frequently omitted, when otherwise called for, if the words the same have already been used in another connection. This is done to avoid repetition.
There is also a traditional ending employed when the prayer is addressed to the Holy Spirit (284).
There is one Ending-form which requires special mention, though its employment is by no means to be encouraged. This is the device by which the words Jesus Christ our Lord (or some counterpart) are made to do double service, both as an integral part of the body of the prayer (the Petition, for example) and as an Ending. By so organizing the phrases of the Petition that those words come at its end, the words Jesus Christ our Lord are, as it were, counted twice: as rounding out the sense of the Petition, and as closing the prayer. Examples of this adroit but deplorable device are found in Collects 3, 196, 269, 391. In Collects 83 and 301, the ambiguity is legitimate because the subject of each of these prayers is the necessity of Christ’s worthiness and mediation as the means by which we may pray at all.
Unusual Endings are found in Collects 153, 170 (not unique), 183, 328, 341.
Certain Collects are printed without Endings. This does not mean that a conventional Ending may not be added at the discretion of the minister. The usual reason for the omission is the fact that the prayer appears in the Prayer Book as one of several paragraphs in a cycle. (Collects 290–293, 295, 357, 369–371, 399, 407, 410, 411, 413, 420, 421.)
A true Ending is one which fulfills the following conditions:
The prayer itself (Petition or Thanksgiving) is completed, and its meaning rounded out, before the Ending begins. The Ending is an addition. Sometimes it takes the form of a complete new sentence.
In every case where the Ending is wholly true to form, it follows a prayer which, grammatically speaking, could have come to a full stop before the Ending; and the idea which the Ending adds is either:
An ascription of praise to God; or
A statement of the name or spirit in which the prayer is offered; or for whose sake; or through whose merits; or relying upon what power and grace. The entire Ending is understood as adverbially qualifying the entire prayer.
Almost any Collect in this compilation will be found to follow one or another of these three Patterns. Exceptions, however, here and there occur, in some cases because the prayers result from a combination of two or more other prayers and the editorial work of fitting the phrases and the ideas into a new pattern has not been carried out with complete success. In other cases, unusual designs have been experimented with. In the long run the survival of a particular pattern, as of an individual prayer, depends upon its acceptability to the people of the Church as a whole over a period of years. Forms not sufficiently liked drop away; rhythm-schemes that do not satisfy the ear become discarded. In all matters of form (as distinguished from meaning) the standard is that set by the great majority of the Collects that have survived. One may speak, in this connection, of the Church’s corporate taste. Any judgments, therefore, that are made or implied by the compiler, in reference to the style of this or that prayer, are based, not upon personal preference or whim, but upon the prevailing standard within the collection of prayers themselves. The Prayer Book is its own judge, and by its own voice accords a higher place to some forms than to others.
REFERENCES
The following are among the many books which should be consulted by anyone wishing to make a thorough study of the Collects.
WORSHIP, by Evelyn Underhill. Harper & Brothers.
LITURGY AND WORSHIP, by W. K. Lowther Clarke and Charles Harris. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. London.
ANGLICANISM, by Paul Elmer More and Frank Leslie Cross. Morehouse-Gorham Co.
A NEW HISTORY OF THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, by Procter and Frere.
PRAYER-BOOK COMMENTARY, by F. E. Warren. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Macmillan.
A HISTORY OF THE COLLECTS, by Frederick Armitage. Weare & Co. London.
A CENTURY OF COLLECTS, by A. M. Y. Baylay. Mowbray & Co. London.
THE AMERICAN PRAYER BOOK, by Parsons and Jones. Scribner’s.
THE MASS, by Adrian Fortescue. Longman’s, Green.
The Year Of Our Lord
SUNDAYS, AND DAYS DEPENDENT ON SUNDAYS
1 – The First Sunday in Advent
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again, in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
2 – During Advent
GRANT, O Almighty God, that as thy blessed Son Jesus Christ at his first advent came to seek and to save that which was lost, so at his second and glorious appearing he may find in us the fruits of the redemption which he wrought; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
3 – The Second Sunday in Advent
BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
4 – The Third Sunday in Advent
O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
5 – The Fourth Sunday in Advent
O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that, whereas through our sins and wickedness we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory world without end. Amen.
6 – The First Sunday after Christmas
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thine only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
7 – The Second Sunday after Christmas
ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
8 – O GOD, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ became man that we might become the sons of God: Grant, we beseech thee, that being made partakers of the divine nature of thy Son, we may be conformed to his likeness; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
9 – ALMIGHTY God, who didst wonderfully create man in thine own image, and didst yet more wonderfully restore him: Grant, we beseech thee, that as thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ was made in the likeness of men, so we may be made partakers of the divine nature; through the same thy Son, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen.
10 – The First Sunday after the Epiphany
O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
11 – The Second Sunday after the Epiphany
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
12 – The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13 – The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
O GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
14 – The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
O LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
15 – The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
O GOD, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure; that when he shall appear again, with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God world without end. Amen.
16 – Septuagesima, The Third Sunday before Lent
O LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God world without end. Amen.
17 – Sexagesima, The Second Sunday before Lent
O LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do: Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
18 – Quinquagesima, The Sunday next before Lent
O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth: Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
19 – Ash Wednesday, The First Day of Lent
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
20 – The First Sunday in Lent
O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights: Give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness; to thy honour and glory who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
The Lenten Ember Days: THE WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY AFTER THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
21 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast committed to the hands of men the ministry of reconciliation: We humbly beseech thee by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit to put it into the hearts of many to offer themselves for this ministry, that thereby mankind may be drawn to thy blessed kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
22 – ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son: Mercifully look upon the same, and so guide and govern the minds of thy servants the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those who shall be ordained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction, that both by their life and doctrine they may show forth thy glory and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
23 – ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
24 – The Second Sunday in Lent
ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us, both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
25 – The Third Sunday in Lent
WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
26 – The Fourth Sunday in Lent
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
27 – Passion Sunday, The Fifth Sunday in Lent
WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people, that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
28 – Passion Sunday to Good Friday, inclusive
O LORD God, our heavenly Father: Regard, we beseech thee, with thy divine pity, the pains of all thy children; and grant that the passion of our Lord, and his infinite merits, may make fruitful for good the miseries of the innocent, the sufferings of the sick, and the sorrows of the bereaved; through him who suffered in our flesh and died for our sake, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
29 – O GOD, who by the cross and passion of thy Son Jesus Christ didst save and deliver mankind: Grant that by stedfast faith in the merits of that holy sacrifice we may find help and salvation, and may triumph in the power of his victory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
30 – O GOD, who didst will that thy Son should suffer death upon the cross, that thou mightest deliver us from the snares of the enemy: Grant that by the merits of his death we may know the power of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
31 – O GOD, whose blessed Son did overcome death for our salvation: Mercifully grant that we, who have his glorious passion in remembrance, may take up our cross daily and follow him; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
32 – O LORD God, whose blessed Son did bear our sins in his own body on the tree: Give us, we pray thee, such true repentance and amendment of life, that we may never crucify him afresh, and put him to an open shame, by conscious and wilful sin; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
33 – O GOD, whose blessed Son did suffer for all mankind: Grant unto us that, rightly observing this holy season, we may learn to know thee better, to love thee more, and to serve thee with a more perfect will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
34 – Palm Sunday, The Sunday next before Easter
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
35 – The Monday before Easter
ALMIGHTY God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
36 – The Tuesday before Easter
O LORD God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his back to the smiters, and hid not his face from shame: Grant us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
37 – The Wednesday before Easter
ASSIST us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts whereby thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
38 – Maundy Thursday, The Thursday before Easter
ALMIGHTY Father, whose dear Son on the night before he suffered did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same, in remembrance of him who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God world without end. Amen.
39 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy passion: Grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
40 – Good Friday
ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God world without end. Amen.
41 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
42 – O MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live: Have mercy upon thine ancient people the Jews, and upon all who have not known thee, or who deny the faith of Christ crucified. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that we may be made one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
43 – Easter Eve
GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
44 – Easter Day
ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech thee that as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God world without end. Amen.
45 – O GOD, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
46 – Easter Day to the Eve of Ascension Day, inclusive
O LORD God Almighty, whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ did on the third day rise triumphant over death: Raise us, we beseech thee, from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he sitteth on thy right hand in glory; and this we beg for the sake of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
47 – The Monday in Easter Week
O GOD, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold thee in all thy works; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
48 – The Tuesday in Easter Week
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast, may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
49 – Low Sunday, The First Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may alway serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
50 – The Second Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
51 – The Third Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
52 – The Fourth Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
53 – Rogation Sunday, The Fifth Sunday after Easter
O LORD, from whom all good things do come: Grant to us thy humble servants that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Rogation Days: THE MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE ASCENSION DAY
54 – ALMIGHTY God, Lord of heaven and earth: We beseech thee to pour forth thy blessing upon this land, and to give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
55 – ALMIGHTY and merciful God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Bless, we beseech thee, the labours of thy people, and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits abundantly in their season, that we may with grateful hearts give thanks to thee for the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
56 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast blessed the earth that it should be fruitful and bring forth abundantly whatsoever is needful for the life of man: Prosper, we beseech thee, the labours of the husbandman, and grant such seasonable weather that we may gather in the fruits of the earth, and ever rejoice in thy goodness, to the praise of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
57 – O ALMIGHTY God, who hast created the earth for man, and man for thy glory: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and be mindful of thy covenant; that both the earth may yield her increase, and the good seed of thy Word may bring forth abundantly, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
58 – ALMIGHTY God, Lord of heaven and earth, in whom we live and move and have our being, who makest the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust: We beseech thee at this time favourably to behold thy people who call upon thee, and to send thine abundant blessing upon the earth that it may bring forth its fruits in due season; and that we, being filled with thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee, the giver of all good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
59 – O GRACIOUS Father, who openest thine hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness: We beseech thee of thine infinite goodness to hear us, who now make our prayers and supplications unto thee. Remember not our sins, but thy promises of mercy. Vouchsafe to bless the lands and multiply the harvests of the world. Let thy breath go forth that it may renew the face of the earth. Show thy loving-kindness, that our land may give her increase; and so fill us with good things that the poor and needy may give thanks unto thy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
60 – O ALMIGHTY God, who hast made the sea and all that moveth therein: Bestow thy blessing on the harvest of the waters, that it may be abundant in its season, and on our fishermen and mariners, that they may be kept safe in every peril of the deep; so that we all with thankful hearts may acknowledge thee, who art the Lord of the sea and of the dry land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
61 – ALMIGHTY Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast sanctified labour to the welfare of mankind: Prosper, we pray thee, the industries of this land, and all those who are engaged therein; that, shielded in all their temptations and dangers, and receiving a due reward of their labours, they may praise thee by living according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
62 – The Ascension Day
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that, like as we do believe thine only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
63 – The Ascension Day to the Vigil of Whitsunday, inclusive
ALMIGHTY God, whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that according to his promise he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
64 – The Sunday after Ascension Day
O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee leave us not comfortless, but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
65 – Whitsunday
O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
66 – ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, grant, we beseech thee, that by the indwelling of thy Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
67 – Whitsunday, and six Days after
O ALMIGHTY God, who on the day of Pentecost didst send the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to abide in thy Church unto the end: Bestow upon us, and upon all thy faithful people, his manifold gifts of grace; that, with minds enlightened by his truth and hearts purified by his presence, we may day by day be strengthened with power in the inward man; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen.
68 – The Monday in Whitsun Week
SEND, we beseech thee, Almighty God, thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to thy will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the same Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen.
69 – The Tuesday in Whitsun Week
GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
The Whitsuntide Ember Days: THE WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY AFTER WHITSUNDAY — Collects 21, 22, 23.
70 – Trinity Sunday
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities; who livest and reignest one God world without end. Amen.
71 – O LORD God Almighty, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the mysteries of whose being are unsearchable: Accept, we beseech thee, our praises for the revelation which thou hast made of thyself, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons, and one God; and mercifully grant that ever holding fast this faith we may magnify thy glorious Name; who livest and reignest one God world without end. Amen.
72 – The First Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee: Mercifully accept our prayers, and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
73 – The Second Sunday after Trinity
O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love: Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
74 – The Third Sunday after Trinity
O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
75 – The Fourth Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
76 – The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
77 – The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
78 – The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
79 – The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth: We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
80 – The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
81 – The Tenth Sunday after Trinity
LET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
82 – The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
83 – The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord. Amen.
84 – The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
85 – The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
86 – The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable, to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
87 – The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
O LORD, we beseech thee let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
88 – The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
LORD, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
89 – The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
LORD, we beseech thee grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
90 – The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
91 – The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
O ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
92 – The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace; that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
93 – The Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity
LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
94 – The Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness: Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
95 – The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity
O LORD, we beseech thee absolve thy people from their offences, that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
96 – The Sunday next before Advent; The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DATED DAYS
97 – The Circumcision of Christ, JANUARY 1
ALMIGHTY God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man: Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts and all our members being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
98 – O SAVIOUR of the world, who as on this day wast called Jesus, according to the word of the angel: Fulfil unto us, we beseech thee, the gracious promise of that holy Name, and, of thy great mercy, save thy people from their sins; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God world without end. Amen.
99 – New Year’s Day
O ALMIGHTY God, who alone art without variableness or shadow of turning, and hast safely brought us through the changes of time to the beginning of another year: We beseech thee to pardon the sins we have committed in the year which is past, and give us grace that we may spend the remainder of our days to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
100 – O IMMORTAL Lord God, who inhabitest eternity, and hast brought us, thine unworthy servants, to the beginning of another year: Pardon, we most humbly beseech thee, our transgressions in the past, and graciously abide with us all the days of our life; guard and direct us in all trials and temptations, that by thy blessing we may grow in grace as we grow in years, and at the last may finish our course with joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
101 – O ETERNAL Lord God, who hast brought thy servants to the beginning of another year: Pardon, we humbly beseech thee, our transgressions in the past, and graciously abide with us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
102 – Days between the Circumcision and the Epiphany, JANUARY 2–5
ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Also Collects 8 and 9.
103 – The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, JANUARY 6
O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
104 – The Epiphany, and seven Days after
ALMIGHTY God, who at the baptism of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan didst manifest his glorious Godhead: Grant, we beseech thee, that the brightness of his presence may shine in our hearts, and his glory be set forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
105 – Saint Kentigern, JANUARY 13
O GOD, who by the preaching of thy blessed servant [Saint Kentigern] didst cause the light of the Gospel to shine in this our land [in these islands]: Grant we beseech thee that, having his life and labours in remembrance, we may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
106 – The Conversion of Saint Paul, JANUARY 25
O GOD, who through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
107 – The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, or the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin, FEBRUARY 2
ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty that, as thine only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
108 – Saint Matthias, FEBRUARY 24
O ALMIGHTY God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles: Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
109 – Saint Patrick, MARCH 17
O ALMIGHTY God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, that he might bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
110 – The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, MARCH 25
WE beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
111 – Saint Mark, APRIL 25
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thine Evangelist Saint Mark: Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
112 – Saint Philip and Saint James, MAY 1
O ALMIGHTY God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life; that, following the steps of thy holy Apostles Saint Philip and Saint James, we may stedfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
113 – Saint John before the Latin Gate, MAY 6
MERCIFUL Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church; that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
114 – Saint Columba, JUNE 9
Collect 105.
115 Saint Barnabas, JUNE 11
O LORD God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost: Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thine honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
116 Saint John Baptist, JUNE 24
ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
117 – Saint Peter, JUNE 29
O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
118 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, JULY 2
O GOD, who didst lead the Blessed Virgin Mary to visit Elisabeth, to their exceeding joy and comfort: Grant unto us thy people that, as Mary did rejoice to be called the Mother of the Lord, so we may ever rejoice to believe the incarnation of thine only-begotten Son; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory world without end. Amen.
119 – Independence Day, JULY 4
O ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old: Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
120 – Saint Mary Magdalen, JULY 22
O ALMIGHTY God, whose blessed Son did sanctify Mary Magdalen, and did call her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by thy grace we may be healed of all our infirmities, and alway serve thee in the power of his endless life; who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen.
121 – Saint James, JULY 25
GRANT, O merciful God, that, as thy holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
122 – Lammas Day, Saint Peter’s Chains, AUGUST 1
O GOD, who didst cause thy holy Apostle Peter to be loosed from his chains and to depart without hurt: Break, we beseech thee, the chains of our sins, and mercifully put away all evil from us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
123 – The Transfiguration of Christ, AUGUST 6
O GOD, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty; who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen.
124 – O GOD, who on the holy mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thy well-beloved Son wonderfully transfigured: Mercifully grant unto us such a vision of his divine Majesty that we, being purified and strengthened by thy grace, may be transformed into his likeness from glory to glory; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
125 – O GOD, who before the passion of thine only-begotten Son didst reveal his glory upon the holy mount: Grant unto us thy servants that, in faith beholding the light of his countenance, we may be strengthened to bear the cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
126 – O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, whose blessed Son revealed himself to his chosen apostles when he was transfigured on the holy mount, and amidst the excellent glory spake with Moses and Elijah of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem: Grant to us thy servants that, beholding the brightness of thy countenance, we may be strengthened to bear the cross; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
127 – The Name of Jesus, AUGUST 7
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast given unto thy Son Jesus Christ the Name which is above every name, and hast taught us that there is none other whereby we may be saved: Mercifully grant that as thy faithful people have comfort and peace in his Name, so they may ever labour to proclaim it unto all nations; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
128 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast taught us that in the Name of Jesus Christ alone is salvation: Mercifully grant that thy faithful people, ever glorying in his Name, may make thy salvation known to all the world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
129 – The Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary, AUGUST 15
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.
130 – Saint Bartholomew, AUGUST 24
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word: Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
131 – The Beheading of Saint John Baptist, AUGUST 29
O GOD, who didst vouchsafe to thy servant John Baptist to be in birth and death the forerunner of thy Son: Grant that as he was slain for truth and righteousness, so we may contend for the same unto the end; for the love of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
132 – The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, SEPTEMBER 8
O MERCIFUL God, hear the prayers of thy servants who commemorate the Nativity of the Mother of the Lord, and grant that by the incarnation of thy dear Son we may indeed be made nigh unto him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
Also Collect 129.
133 – Holy Cross, SEPTEMBER 14
O GOD, who by the passion of thy blessed Son hast made the instrument of shameful death to be unto us the means of life and peace: Grant us so to glory in the Cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss; for the sake of the same thy Son our Lord. Amen.
The September Ember Days: THE WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY AFTER SEPTEMBER 14
Collects 21, 22, 23.
134 – Saint Ninian. SEPTEMBER 16
Collect 105.
135 – Saint Matthew, SEPTEMBER 21
O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an apostle and evangelist: Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
136 – Saint Michael and All Angels, SEPTEMBER 29
O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
137 – Saint Luke, OCTOBER 18
ALMIGHTY God, who calledst Luke the physician, whose praise is in the Gospel, to be an evangelist, and physician of the soul: May it please thee that, by the wholesome medicines of the doctrine delivered by him, all the diseases of our souls may be healed; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
138 – ALMIGHTY God, who didst inspire thy servant Saint Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son: Manifest in thy Church the like power and love, to the healing of our bodies and our souls; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
139 – Saint Simon and Saint Jude, OCTOBER 28
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
140 – All Saints, NOVEMBER 1
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
141 – Saints’ Days not Otherwise Provided For
ALMIGHTY God, who dost choose thine elect out of every nation, and dost show forth thy glory in their lives: Grant, we pray thee, that following the example of thy servant [Saint —], we may be fruitful in good works to the praise of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
142 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost enkindle the flame of thy love in the hearts of the Saints: Grant to us, thy humble servants, the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice in their triumphs, we may profit by their examples; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
143 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant [ Saint —], may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length through thy mercy we, with them, attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
144 – O ALMIGHTY God, who willest to be glorified in thy Saints, and didst raise up thy servant — to shine as a light in the world: Shine, we pray thee, in our hearts, that we also, in our generation, may show forth thy praises, who hast called us out of darkness into thy marvellous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
145 – A Saint and Martyr
ALMIGHTY God, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr Saint — triumphed over suffering and death: Endue us, we beseech thee, with the same power, that we may finish our course in faith, and with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
146 – All Souls, NOVEMBER 2
O ETERNAL Lord God, who holdest all souls in life: We beseech thee to shed forth upon all the faithful departed the bright beams of thy light and heavenly comfort; and grant that they, and we with them, may at length attain to the joys of thine eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
147 – O LORD, the maker and redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed all the unsearchable benefits of thy Son’s passion, that in the day of his appearing they may be manifested as thy true children; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
148 – O GOD, who hast brought us near to an innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect: Grant us, during our pilgrimage, to abide in their fellowship, and in our heavenly country to become partakers of their joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
149 – A Martyr or Martyrs
ALMIGHTY God, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr —[Martyrs —, —] triumphed over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight, we may with the noble army of Martyrs receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
150 – A Doctor or Confessor
O GOD, who hast enlightened thy Church by the teaching of thy servant —: Enrich it evermore, we beseech thee, with thy heavenly grace, and raise up faithful witnesses who, by their life and doctrine, may set forth to all men the truth of thy salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
151 – A Bishop
O GOD, the light of the faithful, and shepherd of souls, who didst set blessed — to be a Bishop in the Church, that he might feed thy sheep by his word and guide them by his example: Grant us, we pray thee, to keep the faith which he taught, and to follow in his footsteps; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
152 – An Abbot or Abbess
O GOD, by whose grace the blessed Abbot [Abbess] enkindled with the fire of thy love, became a burning and a shining light in thy Church: Grant that we may be inflamed with the same spirit of discipline and love, and ever walk before thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
153 – A Matron
O GOD, who hast built up thy Church through the divers gifts and graces of thy saints: We give thee humble thanks for the example of holy women, and especially, this day, for thy servant —; and we beseech thee to maintain among us the shelter of a mother’s love and the protection of a mother’s prayer; in the grace of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
154 – A Virgin or Virgin Martyr
O GOD, who didst endue thy holy Virgin — with grace to witness a good confession [and to suffer gladly for thy sake]: Grant that we, after her example, may be found ready when the Bridegroom cometh, and enter with him to the marriage feast; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
155 – The Faithful Departed
O GOD of the spirits of all flesh: We praise and magnify thy holy Name for all thy servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear; for the blessed Virgin Mary, for the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs, and for all other thy righteous servants, known to us or unknown; and we beseech thee that, encouraged by their examples and strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be found meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
156 – Saints, Martyrs, Missionaries, and Doctors, of the Church of England, NOVEMBER 8
WE beseech thee, O Lord, to multiply thy grace upon us who commemorate the saints of our nation; that, as we rejoice to be their fellow-citizens on earth, so we may have fellowship also with them in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
157 – Saint Margaret of Scotland, NOVEMBER 16
O GOD, who didst call thy servant Queen Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance thy heavenly kingdom, and didst endue her with zeal for thy Church and charity towards thy people: Mercifully grant that we, who commemorate her example, may be fruitful in good works and attain to the glorious fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
158 – Thanksgiving Day
O MOST merciful Father, who hast blessed the labours of the husbandman in the returns of the fruits of the earth: We give thee humble and hearty thanks for this thy bounty, beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness to us, that our land may still yield her increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
159 – O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who crownest the year with thy goodness, and hast given unto us the fruits of the earth in their season: Give us grateful hearts, that we may unfeignedly thank thee for all thy loving-kindness, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
160 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast graciously given to us the fruits of the earth in their season: We yield thee humble and hearty thanks for these thy bounties, beseeching thee to give us grace rightly to use them to thy glory and the relief of those that need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
161 – STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, who have freely received of thy bounty, may of thy bounty freely give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
162 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast taught us that man doth not live by bread alone: Feed us, we humbly beseech thee, with the true Bread that cometh down from heaven, even thyself, O blessed Saviour; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
163 – ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, we glorify thee that thou hast again fulfilled to us thy gracious promise, that while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest shall not fail. We bless thee for the kindly fruits of the earth which thou hast given to our use. Teach us, we beseech thee, to remember that it is not by bread alone that man doth live; and grant us evermore to feed on him who is the true Bread from heaven, Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory world without end. Amen.
164 – Saint Andrew, NOVEMBER 30
ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay: Grant unto us all that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
165 – The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, DECEMBER 8
O MERCIFUL God, hear the prayers of thy servants who commemorate the Conception of the Mother of the Lord, and grant that by the incarnation of thy dear Son we may indeed be made nigh unto him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world
without end. Amen.
The December Ember Days: THE WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY AFTER DECEMBER 13
Collects 21, 22, 23.
166 – Saint Thomas, DECEMBER 21
ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who, for the greater confirmation of the faith, didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son’s resurrection: Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory now and for evermore. Amen.
167 – Christmas Eve, DECEMBER 24
O GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
168 – Christmas Day, The Nativity of our Lord, DECEMBER 25
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thine only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
169 – Christmas Day to the Eve of the Epiphany, inclusive, DECEMBER 25–JANUARY 5
O GOD, who hast given us grace at this time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ: We laud and magnify thy glorious Name for the countless blessings which he hath brought unto us, and we beseech thee to grant that we may ever set forth thy praise in joyful obedience to thy will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
170 – Saint Stephen, DECEMBER 26
GRANT, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first martyr, Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those who suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
171 – Saint John the Evangelist, DECEMBER 27
Collect 113.
172 – The Holy Innocents, DECEMBER 28
O ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace that, by the innocency of our lives and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Earth Is The Lord’s
PETITION FOR SUNSHINE, RAIN, AND THE INCREASE
OF THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH
173 – Petition for Sunshine
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee, of thy great goodness, to restrain those immoderate rains wherewith thou hast afflicted us. And we pray thee to send us such seasonable weather that the earth may, in due time, yield her increase for our use and benefit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
174 – ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who art the author and giver of all good things: Look, we beseech thee, in thy loving-kindness upon us thine unworthy servants, and grant to us at this time such fair weather that we may receive the fruits of the earth in their season, to our comfort and the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
175 – O GOD, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised, to them that seek first thy kingdom and thy righteousness, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance: Send us, we beseech thee, such seasonable weather that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and to thy honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
176 – ALMIGHTY Lord God, who for the sin of man didst once drown all the world except eight persons, and afterward of thy great mercy didst promise never to destroy it so again: We humbly beseech thee that although we for our iniquities have worthily deserved a plague of rain and waters, yet upon our true repentance thou wilt send us such weather as that we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season, and learn, both by thy punishment to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to give thee praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
177 – Petition for Rain
O GOD, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised, to all those who seek thy kingdom and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance: Send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and to thy honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
178 – Petition for Plenty
O GOD, our heavenly Father, who by thy blessed Son hast taught us to ask our daily bread of thee: Behold, we beseech thee, the affliction of thy people, and send us a seasonable relief in this our necessity. Increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction; and grant that we, receiving with thankfulness thy gracious gifts, may use the same to thy glory, the relief of those that are needy, and our own comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
179 – O GOD, merciful Father, who in the time of Elisha the prophet didst suddenly in Samaria turn great scarcity and dearth into plenty and cheapness: Have mercy upon us, that we, who are now for our sins punished with like adversity, may likewise find a seasonable relief. Increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction; and grant that we, receiving thy bountiful liberality, may use the same to thy glory, the relief of those that are needy, and our own comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
180 – O GOD, heavenly Father, whose gift it is that the rain doth fall, and the earth bring forth her increase: Behold, we beseech thee, the afflictions of thy people; increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction; and grant that the scarcity and dearth, which we now most justly suffer for our sins, may, through thy goodness, be mercifully turned into plenty; for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory now and for ever. Amen.
THANKSGIVING FOR SUNSHINE, RAIN, AND THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH
181 Thanksgiving for Sunshine
O LORD God, who hast justly humbled us by thy late visitation of us with immoderate rain and waters, and in thy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather: We praise and glorify thy holy Name for this thy mercy, and will always declare thy loving-kindness from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
182 – O LORD God, who hast in thy mercy relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather: We yield thee hearty thanks for this thy goodness towards us, beseeching thee to give us grace to use this and all thy mercies to the honour and glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
183 – Thanksgiving for Rain
O GOD, our heavenly Father, who by thy gracious providence dost cause the former and the latter rain to descend upon the earth, that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man: We give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased thee, in our great necessity, to send us at the last a joyful rain upon thine inheritance, and to refresh it when it was dry, to the great comfort of us thy unworthy servants and to the glory of thy holy Name; through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
184 – O GOD, our heavenly Father, by whose gracious providence the former and the latter rain descend upon the earth, that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man: We give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased thee to send us rain, to our great comfort and to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
185 – Thanksgiving for Plenty
O MOST merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and hast granted us to gather, in their season, the kindly fruits of the earth and the harvest of the seas: We give thee humble thanks for this thy bounty, beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness towards us, that our land may yield her increase; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
186 – O ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, we glorify thee that we are once more permitted to enjoy the fulfilment of thy gracious promise, that while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest shall not fail. Blessed be thou, who hast given us the fruits of the earth in their season. Teach us to remember that it is not by bread alone that man doth live; but grant that we may feed on him who is the true Bread which cometh down from heaven, even Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour; to whom with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
187 – O MERCIFUL God, at whose bidding the earth withholdeth her increase or rendereth her fruits in their season: Give us grace that we may learn, both from thy mercies and thy judgments, our entire dependence upon thee for the supply of our daily bread; and grant that we, remembering that thy blessings are for our trial as well as for our comfort, may with thankful hearts give unto thee of thine own, ministering gladly to the maintenance of thy Church, the relief of the poor and the afflicted, the widow and the orphan; to the glory of thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
188 – MOST gracious God, by whose knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew: We yield thee unfeigned thanks and praise for the return of seed-time and harvest, for the increase of the ground and the gathering in of the fruits thereof, and for all the other blessings of thy merciful providence bestowed upon this nation and people. And we beseech thee give us a just sense of these great mercies, such as may appear in our lives by an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all glory and honour world without end. Amen.
189 – ALMIGHTY Father, who hast watered our fields with the dew of heaven, and poured out upon us the former and the latter rain, according to our need, and hast reserved unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest: We bless and praise thee that, in love to thy children, thou hast at this season bestowed upon us such an abundant supply for all our necessities. Grant that we may never be destitute of those better gifts which nourish and enrich the soul. Pour down, we beseech thee, upon us thy heavenly grace, and endue us with the gifts of thy Holy Spirit, that we may bring forth abundant fruits to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
190 – O LORD God Almighty, who hast promised that while the earth remaineth seed-time and harvest shall not cease: We give thee hearty thanks for the blessings of the harvest, which of thy bounty we have received; and for these and all other thy mercies we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory now and for evermore. Amen.
191 – O LORD God Almighty, the Creator and Father of all: We yield thee hearty thanks that thou hast ordained for mankind both seed-time and harvest, and dost now bestow upon us thy children the fruits of the earth in their season. For these and all other thy mercies we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
192 – O LORD God of hosts, who dwellest in the high and holy place, and yet hast respect unto the lowly; who makest thy sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust; who by thy mighty power dost order all things in heaven and earth: We yield thee hearty thanks that thou hast safely brought us to the season of harvest, visiting the earth and blessing it, and crowning the year with thy goodness. We praise thee for the fruits of the ground which thou hast bestowed upon us, filling our hearts with food and gladness. For these and all thy mercies we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; beseeching thee to sow the seed of thy Word in our hearts, and to pour upon us the continual dew of thy blessing; so that we may bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, and at the last great day be gathered into thy heavenly garner; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory now and for evermore. Amen.
193 – Thanksgiving in a Lean Year
ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, who hast in wisdom seen fit to withhold from us at this time thine accustomed bounty: We most humbly praise thee for still bestowing upon us far more than we deserve. Make us truly thankful for our many blessings; increase in us more and more a lively faith and love, and a humble submission to thy blessed will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Commonwealth Of God
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP
194 – The Peace of the World
ALMIGHTY God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray thee, in the hearts of all men, the true love of peace, and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity thy kingdom may go forward, till the earth be filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
195 – The Assembly and Council of the League of Nations
O GOD, who art the lover of justice and peace: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to the Assembly [Council] of the League of Nations; and so guide them by thy Holy Spirit, that by word and deed they may promote thy glory, and set forward peace and good-will among men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
196 – The Family of Nations
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father: Guide, we beseech thee, the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness; that they may become the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
197 – Industrial Peace
O GOD, the Father of all mankind: We beseech thee to inspire us with such love, truth, and equity, that in all our dealings one with another we may show forth our brotherhood in thee; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
198 – GOD, who in thy providence hast appointed to every man his work: We humbly beseech thee to put away all strife and contention, between those who are engaged in the labours of industry and those who employ their labour. Deliver them from all greed and covetousness, and grant that they, seeking only that which is just and equal, may live and work together in brotherly union and concord, to thy glory, their own wellbeing, and the prosperity of their country; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
199 – Social Justice
ALMIGHTY God, who hast created man in thine own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
200 – Daily Work
O LORD, our heavenly Father, by whose providence the duties of men are variously ordered: Grant to us all the spirit to labour heartily to do our work in our several stations, in serving one Master and looking for one reward. Teach us to put to good account whatever talents thou hast lent to us, and enable us to redeem our time by patience and zeal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
201 – ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon; that we may do the work which thou givest us to do in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
202 – Faithfulness in the Use of this World’s Goods
ALMIGHTY God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honour thee with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
203 – Christian Service
O LORD, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be ministered unto, but to minister: We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage, to strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; that, being inspired by thy love, they may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who
laid down his life for us, the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
204 – In Time of Calamity
O GOD, merciful and compassionate, who art ever ready to hear the prayers of those who put their trust in thee: Graciously hearken to us who call upon thee, and grant us thy help in this our need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
205 – A Christian Society
LOOK, we beseech thee, O Lord, upon the people of this land who are called after thy holy Name; and grant that they may ever walk worthy of their Christian profession. Grant unto us all that, laying aside our divisions, we may be united in heart and mind to bear the burdens which are laid upon us. Help us to respond to the call of our country according to our several powers; put far from us selfish indifference to the needs of others; and give us grace to fulfil our daily duties with sober diligence. Keep us from all uncharitableness in word or deed, and enable us by patient continuance in well-doing to glorify thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
206 – O GOD, at whose word man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening: Be merciful to all whose duties are difficult or burdensome, and comfort them concerning their toil. Shield from bodily accident and harm the workmen at their work. Protect the efforts of sober and honest industry, and suffer not the hire of the labourers to be kept back by fraud. Incline the heart of employers, and of those whom they employ, to mutual forbearance, fairness, and good-will. Give the spirit of governance and of a sound mind to all in places of authority. Bless all those who labour in works of mercy or in schools of good learning. Care for all aged persons, and all little children, the sick and the afflicted, and those who travel by land or by sea. Remember all who by reason of weakness are overtasked, or because of poverty are forgotten. Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee, and, according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die. Give ear unto our prayer, O merciful and gracious Father, for the love of thy dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
207 – BE mindful, O Lord, of thy people present here before thee, and of those who are absent through age, sickness, or infirmity. Care for the infants, guide the young, support the aged, encourage the faint-hearted, collect the scattered, and bring the wandering to thy fold. Travel with the voyagers, defend the widows, shield the orphans, deliver the captives, heal the sick. Succour all who are in tribulation, necessity, or distress. Remember for good all those that love us, and those that hate us; and those that have desired us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. And those whom we have forgotten, do thou, O Lord, remember. For thou art the Helper of the helpless, the Saviour of the lost, the Refuge of the wanderer, the Healer of the sick. Thou, who knowest each man’s need, and hast heard his prayer, grant unto each according to thy merciful loving-kindness and thy eternal love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
208 – ACCEPT, O Lord, our intercessions for all mankind. Let the light of thy Gospel shine upon all nations, and may as many as have received it live as becomes it. Be gracious unto thy Church, and grant that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may serve thee faithfully. Bless all in authority over us; and so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that they may punish wickedness and vice, and maintain thy true religion and virtue. Send down thy blessings, temporal and spiritual, upon all our relations, friends, and neighbours. Reward all who have done us good, and pardon all those who have done or wish us evil, and give them repentance and better minds. Be merciful to all who are in any trouble; and do thou, the God of pity, administer to them according to their several necessities; for his sake who went about doing good, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
209 – O GOD, Almighty and merciful, who healest those that are broken in heart, and turnest the sadness of the sorrowful to joy: Let thy fatherly goodness be upon all that thou hast made. Remember in pity such as are this day destitute, homeless, or forgotten of their fellow men. Bless the congregation of thy poor. Uplift those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all discouraged and unhappy people, and by thy heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose penury tempteth them to sin; though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they be perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him who for our sakes became poor, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE STATE
210 – The United States of America
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government; that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to thy law we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
211 – The British Empire
ALMIGHTY God, who dost raise up nations and empires to fulfil thy purposes: Bind into one, we beseech thee, the hearts of the peoples in our Empire; that, inspired by a common loyalty, they may be strong to further thy holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
212 – ALMIGHTY God, who rulest in the kingdom of men, and hast given to our Sovereign Lord, King George, a great dominion in all parts of the earth: Draw together, we pray thee, in true fellowship, the men of divers races, languages, and customs, who dwell therein; that, bearing one another’s burdens and working together in brotherly concord, they may fulfil the purpose of thy providence and set forward thine everlasting kingdom. Pardon, we beseech thee, our sins and shortcomings; keep far from us all selfishness and pride; and give us grace to employ thy good gifts of order and freedom to thy glory, and the welfare of mankind; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all glory and dominion world without end. Amen.
213 – O LORD God of hosts, who dost order all the kingdoms of the world according to thy good pleasure: We give thee humble thanks for thy favour and goodness to our motherland and all the whole Empire; for upholding us with thy mighty arm in all the ways by which from age to age thou hast led us; for granting unto us opportunities of service in many lands, and enabling us to extend thy kingdom amongst peoples that have not known thee, even unto the uttermost part of the earth. And we beseech thee to continue thy loving-kindness to us that, united, free, and mindful of our stewardship, we may through thy grace so fulfil thy purpose that our Empire may be a witness to thee among the kingdoms of the world, to the advancement of thy glory and the good of all mankind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
214 – Canada
ALMIGHTY and merciful God, who in thy wisdom dost divide to the nations their inheritance: We yield thee hearty thanks for thy loving-kindness in appointing this good land to be our dwelling place among the children of men; for the wealth and glory of its plains and mountains, its fruitful fields and teeming waters; for the precious things of heaven, the dew, the sunshine, snow and rain, in their season, and the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof; for a land wherein there is bread without scarceness. For all this, and the opportunities thus vouchsafed to us, we bless thee and magnify thy Name. And, we pray thee, grant us grace so to sanctify thee in our heritage that the world may know that thou art our God for ever and ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
215 – O LORD God Almighty, supreme Ruler of nations, without whom no people can be great: We thank thee for the progress and prosperity vouchsafed to this Dominion, and for the countless blessings, temporal and spiritual, bestowed upon its people. Make us, we beseech thee, more sensible of thy goodness, and of our responsibility as stewards of thy gifts; and grant us such virtue and true religion that by our works, and by our lives, thy holy Name may be for ever glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
216 – ALMIGHTY God, who didst lead our fathers into this land and set their feet in a large room: Give thy grace, we beseech thee, to us their children, that we may approve ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our Dominion with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from lawlessness and discord, pride and arrogance; and fashion into one godly people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Give to all the spirit of service and love and mutual forbearance. In prosperity make us thankful unto thee, and in the day of trouble suffer not our trust in thee to fail; so that, loving thee above all things, we may fulfil thy gracious purpose in this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
217 – O GOD, the fountain of all wisdom, we bless and praise thy holy Name that thou didst move our rulers and statesmen to bring together under one government the scattered communities of our Empire on this continent, and to unite them into one Dominion from sea to sea; and we humbly beseech thee to give us grace so to serve thee that the heritage received from our fathers may be preserved in our time, and handed down unimpaired to our children; and grant that from generation to generation we may remain a people united and loyal to the Throne and Empire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
218 – Ireland
ALMIGHTY and merciful God, who in days of old didst give to this land the benediction of thy holy Church: Withdraw not, we pray thee, thy favour from us, but so correct what is amiss, and supply what is lacking, that we may more and more bring forth fruit to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PERSONS IN CIVIL AUTHORITY
219 – The President of the United States, and All in Civil Authority
O LORD, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold and bless thy servant THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and all others in authority; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperity long to live; and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
220 – O LORD our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
221 – ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite: Have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The Governor of this State, and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thine honour and glory; and that we and all the People, duly considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and obediently honour them according to thy blessed Word and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever, one God world without end. Amen.
222 – The King of England and the Royal Family
ALMIGHTY God, who rulest over all the kingdoms of the world, and dost order them according to thy good pleasure: We yield thee unfeigned thanks for that thou wast pleased [as on this day] to set thy servant our Sovereign Lord, King George, upon the throne of this realm. Let thy wisdom be his guide, and let thine arm strengthen him; let truth and justice, holiness and righteousness, peace and charity, abound in his days; direct all his counsels and endeavours to thy glory, and the welfare of his subjects; give us grace to obey him cheerfully for conscience sake, and let him always possess the hearts of his people; let his reign be long and prosperous, and crown him with everlasting life in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
223 – O LORD our God, who upholdest and governest all things by the word of thy power: Receive our humble prayers for our Sovereign Lord George, [as on this day] set over us by thy grace and providence to be our King; and, together with him, bless, we beseech thee, our gracious Queen Elizabeth, .Mary the Queen Mother, the Princess Elizabeth, and all the Royal Family; that they, ever trusting in thy goodness, protected by thy power, and crowned with thy gracious and endless favour, may long continue before thee in peace and safety, joy and honour, and after death may obtain everlasting life and glory; by the merits and mediation of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever, one God world without end. Amen.
224 – ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness: We humbly beseech thee to bless our gracious Queen Elizabeth, Mary the Queen Mother, the Princess Elizabeth, and all the Royal Family. Endue them with thy Holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace, prosper them with all happiness, and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
225 – O GOD, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest over them in love: Vouchsafe so to bless thy servant our King, that under him this nation may be wisely governed, and thy Church may serve thee in all godly quietness; and grant that he, being devoted to thee with his whole heart and persevering in good works unto the end, may, by thy guidance, come to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God world without end. Amen.
226 – O LORD our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lord, King George; and so replenish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant him in health and wealth long to live; strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies, and finally after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
227 – ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite: Have mercy upon the whole Church; and so rule the heart of thy chosen servant George, our King and Governor, that he, knowing whose minister he is, may above all things seek thine honour and glory; and that we and all his subjects, duly considering whose authority he hath, may faithfully serve, honour, and humbly obey him, in thee and for thee, according to thy blessed Word and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever, one God world without end. Amen.
228 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, we are taught by thy holy Word that the hearts of kings are in thy rule and governance, and that thou dost dispose and turn them as it seemeth best to thy godly wisdom. We humbly beseech thee so to dispose and govern the heart of George thy servant, our King and Governor, that in all his thoughts, words, and works he may ever seek thine honour and glory, and study to preserve thy people committed to his charge in wealth, peace, and godliness. Grant this, O merciful Father, for thy dear Son’s sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
229 – O LORD God Almighty, who rulest the nations of the earth: We humbly beseech thee with thy favour to behold our Sovereign Lord, King George, that in all things he may be led by thy guidance and protected by thy power. We pray thee also to bless our gracious Queen Elizabeth, Mary the Queen Mother, the Princess Elizabeth, and all the Royal Family. Endue with wisdom the Governor-General of this Dominion, the Lieutenant-Governors of the Provinces, the Legislators of the Empire, and all who are set in authority over us; that all things may be so ordered and settled, by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
230 – O LORD, God of our fathers: We humbly beseech thee to look with thy favour upon our Country and Empire, and preserve them from all perils. Save and protect our Sovereign Lord, King George, enrich him plenteously with heavenly gifts, and prosper his counsels for the welfare of his people. Bless also our gracious Queen Elizabeth, Mary the Queen Mother, the Princess Elizabeth, and all the Royal Family. Guard in thy good providence this our land. Bless and direct the Chief Governors in Ireland, and those who bear rule under them. Endue with wisdom and strength the ministers of the Crown, [the High Court of Parliament, and] the Parliament in Ireland, at this time assembled, and all who are set in authority. Grant them so to use the power entrusted to them for thine honour and glory, that righteousness and peace may be established among us for all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
231 – O LORD God of our fathers, who rulest the nations of the earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our Sovereign Lord, King George, that he may alway incline to thy will and walk in thy way; and together with him bless our gracious Queen Elizabeth, Mary the Queen Mother, the Princess Elizabeth, and all the Royal Family. Endue with wisdom the Ministers of the Crown, [the High Court of Parliament at this time assembled,] and those who are set in authority over us; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
232 – The Governor=General of the Dominion of Canada, and the Lieutenant-Governors of the Provinces
LORD of all power and mercy: We beseech thee to assist with thy favour the Governor-General of this Dominion, and the Lieutenant-Governor of this Province. Cause them, we pray thee, to walk before thee in truth and righteousness, and to use their power to thy glory and the public good; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
233 – The Chief Governors in Ireland
ALMIGHTY God, from whom all power is derived: We humbly beseech thee to bless thy servants, the Chief Governors in Ireland. Let thy grace enlighten them, thy goodness confirm them, and thy providence protect them; and grant that they, and all who are in authority under them, may advance thy glory, the honour of his Majesty the King, and the welfare of this our land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LEGISLATURES AND COURTS
234 – The Congress of the United States of America
MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the people of these United States in general, so especially for their Senate and Representatives in Congress assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
235 – A State Legislature
O GOD, the fountain of wisdom, whose statutes are good, and gracious, and whose law is truth: We beseech thee so to guide and bless the Legislature of this State, that it may ordain for our governance only such things as please thee, to the glory of thy Name and the welfare of the people; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
236 – Courts of Justice
ALMIGHTY God, who sittest in the throne judging right: We humbly beseech thee to bless the courts of justice and the magistrates, in all this land; and give unto them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they may discern the truth, and impartially administer the law in the fear of thee alone; through him who shall come to be our judge, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
237 – King and Parliaments
ALMIGHTY God, who reignest over the kingdoms of men: We humbly beseech thee to bless our Sovereign Lord, King George, his Ministers and Parliaments, and all who are set in authority under him throughout his dominions; that they may order all things in wisdom and righteousness, to the honour of thy holy Name and the good of thy Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
238 – The Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Dominion Parliament, and the Provincial Legislatures
MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this Empire in general, so especially for the High Court of Parliament [the Parliament of this Dominion] [the Legislature of this Province], under our most religious and gracious King at this time assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and his Dominions; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
239 – At the Time of a Parliamentary or Civic Election
ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom: Guide, we beseech thee, the minds of all those who are called at this time to exercise the duty of electing fit persons to serve in Parliament [in the Council of this County or City or Town]. Grant that the issue of their choice may promote thy glory and the welfare of this people; and, to all those who shall be elected, give the spirit of wisdom, courage, and true godliness. And this we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WAR
240 – In Time of War
O ALMIGHTY Lord, who art a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in thee: Be now and evermore our defence; grant us victory, if it be thy will. Look in pity upon the wounded and the prisoners, cheer the anxious, comfort the bereaved, succour the dying, have mercy on the fallen, and hasten the time when war shall cease in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
241 – O ALMIGHTY God, King of all kings and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent: Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thine only Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
242 – O MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, the Lord of hosts, that rulest and commandest all things: Thou sittest in the throne judging right, and therefore we make, our address to thy Divine Majesty in this our necessity, that thou wouldest take the cause into thine own hand and judge between us and our enemies. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us; for thou givest not alway the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few. O let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance, but hear us, thy poor servants, begging mercy and imploring thy help, and that thou wouldest be a defence unto us against the face of the enemy. Make it appear that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
243 – Armed Forces
O LORD of hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the forces of our King in every peril of sea, and land, and air. Shelter them in the day of battle, and in time of peace keep them safe from all evil; endue them ever with loyalty and courage; and grant that in all things they may serve as seeing thee who art invisible; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
244 – O ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end: Be pleased to receive into thine almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy servants, and the fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy, that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lord, King George, and his Dominions, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Empire may in peace and quietness serve thee, our God, and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
245 – O ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea: Vouchsafe to take into thine almighty and most gracious protection our country’s Navy, and all who serve therein. Preserve them from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy, that they may be a safeguard unto the United States of America, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our land may in peace and quietness serve thee, our God, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
246 – Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Enemies
O ALMIGHTY God, who art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies: We yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparent dangers wherewith we were compassed. We acknowledge it thy goodness that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them; beseeching thee still to continue such thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
247 – O ALMIGHTY God, who art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies: We yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance [for thy gracious gift of peace], confessing that it is of thy goodness alone that we have been preserved; and we beseech thee to continue thy mercies towards us, that we may always acknowledge thee as our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
248 – O ALMIGHTY God, the sovereign commander of all the world, in whose hand is power and might which none is able to withstand: We bless and magnify thy great and glorious Name for this happy victory, the whole glory whereof we do ascribe to thee, who art the only giver of victory. And, we beseech thee, give us grace to improve this great mercy to thy glory, the advancement of thy Gospel, the honour of our Sovereign, and, as much as in us lieth, to the good of all mankind. And we beseech thee give us such a sense of this great mercy as may engage us to a true thankfulness, such as may appear in our lives by an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, as for all thy mercies, so in particular for this victory and deliverance, be all glory and honour world without end. Amen.
249 – Thanksgiving for Domestic Peace
O ETERNAL God, our heavenly Father, who alone makest men to be of one mind in an house: We bless thy holy Name that it hath pleased thee to appease the strife which hath lately prevailed amongst us; most humbly beseeching thee to grant to all of us grace, that we may henceforth obediently walk in thy holy commandments; and leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, may continually offer unto thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
250 – Memorial Days
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in Whose hands are the living and the dead: We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy, and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
The House of God
251 – Laying the Foundation Stone of a Church or Chapel
O LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who art the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of his person, the one foundation, and the chief corner-stone: Bless what we now do in laying this stone in thy Name, and be thou, we beseech thee, the beginning, the increase, and the consummation of this work, which is undertaken to thy glory; who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest one God world without end. Amen.
252 – O ETERNAL God, mighty in power, of infinite majesty, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands; who yet hast promised to be present wherever two or three are gathered together in thy Name: Direct and bless, we pray thee, our efforts to build this house for thy worship and service, and grant us such success as may tend to thy glory and the salvation of thy people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
253 – O GOD, who art the shield and defence of thy people: Be ever at hand, we beseech thee, to protect and succour the builders of this house; keep them, in their building, from all sin and profaneness, and shelter them from all accident and peril; that the work, which through thy mercy hath now been begun, may by their labour be brought to a happy end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
254 – O GOD, who hast laid in Sion a chief corner-stone, deal, precious, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, upon whom alone thou dost build the living temple of thy Church: Grant, unto the work of thine own hands, continual increase of glory and spiritual strength, and daily make thy people more meet for the eternal tabernacle of thy rest in the heavens; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, be honour and glory now and for evermore. Amen.
255 – O ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
256 – The Consecration of a Church or Chapel
BLESSED be thy Name, O Lord, that it hath pleased thee to put into the heart of thy servants to erect this House to thine honour and worship. Bless, O Lord, them, their families, and their substance, and accept the work of their hands; and grant that all who shall enjoy the benefit of this pious work may show forth their thankfulness by making a right use of the same, to the glory of thy blessed Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
257 – BLESSED be thy Name, O Lord God, for that it pleaseth thee to have thy habitation among the sons of men, and to dwell in the midst of the assembly of thy saints upon earth. Accept, we beseech thee, these our services this day, and grant that in this place, now set apart to thy glory, thy holy Name may be worshipped in truth and purity to all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
258 – O ETERNAL God, mighty in power, and of majesty incomprehensible; whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands, and who yet hast been graciously pleased to promise thine especial presence wherever two or three of thy faithful servants shall assemble in thy Name to offer up their praises and supplications unto thee: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to be present with us who are here gathered together, with all humility and readiness of heart, to consecrate this place to the honour of thy great Name, separating it henceforth from all unhallowed, ordinary, and common uses, and dedicating it to thy service; for reading thy holy Word, for celebrating thy holy Sacraments, for offering to thy glorious majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving, for blessing thy people in thy Name, and for all other holy offices. Accept, O Lord, this service at our hands, and bless it with such success as may tend most to thy glory, and the furtherance of our happiness both temporal and spiritual; through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
259 – O MOST glorious Lord God, we acknowledge that we are not worthy to offer unto thee anything belonging to us; yet we beseech thee, of thy great goodness, graciously to accept the dedication of this place to thy service, and to prosper this our undertaking. Receive the prayers and intercessions of all thy servants who, either now or hereafter, entering into this thine House, shall call upon thee; and by thy grace prepare our hearts to serve thee with reverence and godly fear. Fill us, we beseech thee, with a deep sense of our unworthiness, that so, approaching thy sanctuary with lowliness and devotion, and coming before thee with pure hearts, with bodies undefiled, and minds sanctified, we may always render a service acceptable to thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
260 – O MOST glorious God, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain: Graciously accept the dedication of this place to thy service; and grant that all who shall call upon thee here may worship thee in spirit and in truth, and may in their lives show forth thy praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
261 – O MOST blessed Saviour, who didst vouchsafe thy gracious presence at the Feast of Dedication: Be present with us at this time by thy Holy Spirit, and so possess our souls by thy grace that we may be living temples, holy and acceptable unto thee; and, being cleansed from all carnal and corrupt affections, may be devoutly given to serve thee in good works; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost ever, one God world without end. Amen.
262 – Anniversary of the Dedication or Consecration of a Church
O God, whom year by year we praise for the dedication [consecration] of this church: Hear, we beseech thee, the prayers of thy people, and grant that whosoever shall worship before thee in this place may obtain thy merciful aid and protection; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
263 – O God, by whose providence we celebrate again the consecration [dedication] of this church: Send down upon us, we beseech thee, thy heavenly blessing; and, because holiness becometh thine house for ever, make us living temples, holy and acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
264 – ALMIGHTY God, whom year by year we praise for the dedication [consecration] of this church, and who hast preserved us in safety to worship therein: Hear, we beseech thee, the prayers of thy people, and grant that whosoever in this place shall make his supplication before thee may, by the granting of his petitions, be filled with joy, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
265 – The Consecration of a Churchyard
GRANT, O Lord, that all who within this place shall call upon thy Name may be so raised from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that they may be delivered from the bitter pains of eternal death, and have their part in the glorious resurrection of the just; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
266 – O GOD, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord; and who, by the example of thy holy servants in all ages, hast taught us to assign peculiar places where the bodies of thy people may rest in peace, and be preserved from all indignities, whilst their souls are safely kept in the hands of their faithful Creator: Accept, we beseech thee, the separation of this portion of ground to that good end; and grant us grace so to consider how frail our condition here on earth is, as to apply our hearts unto wisdom; that, in the midst of life, thinking upon death, and daily preparing ourselves for the judgment that is to follow, we may have our part in the resurrection of eternal life; through him who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
267 – The Hallowing of a Grave in Unconsecrated Ground
O LORD Jesus Christ, who by thy burial didst sanctify an earthly sepulchre: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to bless and hallow this grave, that it may be a resting-place, peaceful and secure, for the body of thy servant, which we are about to commit [which has been committed] to thy gracious keeping, who art the Resurrection and the Life, and who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
The Church of God
THE CHURCH
268 – The Church
O GRACIOUS Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church that thou wouldest be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again and ever liveth to make intercession, for us, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
269 – O GOD, of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favourably on thy whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; and, by the tranquil operation of thy perpetual providence, carry out the work of man’s salvation, and let the whole world feel and see that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and all things are returning to perfection through him from whom they took their origin, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
270 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our Bishops and other Clergy, and upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
271 – ALMIGHTY God, whose mercy is over all thy works: We praise thee for the blessings which have been brought to mankind by thy holy Church throughout all the world. We bless thee for the grace of thy Sacraments; for our fellowship in Christ with thee, and with one another; for the teaching of the Scriptures and for the preaching of thy Word. We thank thee for the holy example of thy saints in all ages; for thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, and for the memory and example of all that has been true and good in their lives. And we humbly beseech thee that we may be numbered with them in the great company of the redeemed in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
272 – Peace and Unity
O LORD Jesus Christ, who sadist unto thine apostles, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Regard not our sins, but the faith of thy Church; and grant to it that peace and unity which is according to thy will, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
273 – O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
274 – The National Assembly of the Church of England
GUIDE, we beseech thee, Almighty God, with the light of thy Holy Spirit, the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity in the Church Assembly; that they may wisely take counsel together for the good of thy Church, and the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
275 – The Convocations of the Church
O LORD God, the Father of lights and fountain of all wisdom, who in the days of the apostles didst send thy Holy Spirit to direct the first Council of thy Church in Jerusalem: Look mercifully upon us, and so bless the Bishops and Clergy in Convocation assembled, that through their deliberations thy Church may be preserved in the true faith, and in godly discipline; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
276 – The Representative Church Council, the Diocesan Councils, and the Consultative Church Council
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh wisdom and understanding: Be present, we humbly beseech thee, with thy servants about to deliberate [assembled to deliberate] in Council upon those things that make for the maintenance, wellbeing, and extension of thy holy Church; and grant that they, seeking only thine honour and glory, may be guided in all their consultations to perceive the more excellent way, and may have grace and strength to follow the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
277 – The General Synod of the Church of Ireland
O LORD God, the Father of lights and the fountain of all wisdom, who hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy universal Church to the end of the world: We humbly beseech thee with thy favour to behold the Bishops, Clergy, and People, who are about to assemble and take counsel together [who are now assembled and taking counsel together] in thy Name, for this Church. Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may rest upon them, enlighten, and guide them; and that all their consultations may be prospered to the advancement of thine honour and glory, and the welfare of thy Church. Lead them and us into all truth; that so this Church may evermore hold fast and abide in the Apostolic and true Catholic faith, and serve thee without fear in pureness of worship and life, according to thy holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
278 – Synods of the Church, Provincial or Diocesan
O ETERNAL God, the fountain of all wisdom, who didst send thy Holy Spirit to lead the disciples into all the truth: Vouchsafe that he, being present with thy servants the Bishops [Bishop] and Presbyters about to assemble [now assembled] in the Synod of this Province [Diocese], may so rule their hearts, and guide their counsels, that in all things they may seek only thy glory and the good of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
279 – Meetings of Convention
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by thy Holy Spirit didst preside in the Council of the blessed apostles, and hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church to the end of the world: We beseech thee to be with the Council of thy Church [here] assembled in thy Name and presence. Save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to direct sanctify, and govern us in our work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, to the breaking down the kingdom of sin, Satan, and death; till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being gathered into one fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life; through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
280 – Synods of the Church
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by thy Holy Spirit didst preside in the Council of the blessed apostles, and hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church to the end of the world: We beseech thee to be present with the General Synod [the Synod of this Province or the Synod of this Diocese] now [about to be] assembled in thy Name. Save them from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe so to direct, govern, and sanctify them in their deliberations by thy Holy Spirit, that through thy blessing the Gospel of Christ may be faithfully preached and obeyed, the order and discipline of thy Church maintained, and the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ enlarged and extended. Grant this, we beseech thee, through the merits and mediation of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE PARISH
281 – The Parish
MOST merciful Father, we beseech thee to send down thy heavenly blessing upon thy Church in this Parish, that all its members may dwell together in unity and brotherly love. Keep far from us all self-will and discord. Endue thy ministers with righteousness, and enable them faithfully to dispense thy holy Word and Sacraments, to bring again the outcasts, and to seek the lost. And grant to us so to receive their ministrations, and to use thy means of grace, that in all our words and deeds we may seek thy glory and the advancement of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
282 – ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee to bless this our Parish. Forgive us our many and grievous sins. Draw us nearer to thyself, and cause true religion to increase and abound amongst us. Prosper the reading and preaching of thy Word, and bless all the ministrations of thy Church. Give patience to the sick and afflicted, and make their sufferings a blessing to them. Visit with thy favour the schools and all who teach or learn therein, and make us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of thee and of thy dear Son, whom to know is life eternal. Hear us for the sake of him who died for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
283 – O GOD the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful: Sanctify this Parish by thine abiding presence. Bless those who minister in holy things. Enlighten the minds of thy people more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel. Bring erring souls to the knowledge of God our Saviour; and those who are walking in the way of life, keep stedfast unto the end. Give patience to the sick and afflicted, and make their sufferings a blessing to them. Guard from forgetfulness of thee, those who are strong and prosperous; and make us all to be fruitful in good works, O blessed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son together, we worship and glorify, one God world without end. Amen.
284 – O GOD, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful: Visit, we pray thee, this Congregation with thy love and favour; enlighten their minds more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel; graft in their hearts a love of the truth; increase in them true religion; nourish them with all goodness; and, of thy great mercy, keep them in the same, O blessed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son together, we worship and glorify as one God world without end. Amen.
285 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone: Grant that by the operation of the Holy Ghost all Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy temple acceptable unto thee. And especially to this Congregation present, give the abundance of thy grace; that with one heart they may desire the prosperity of thy holy apostolic Church, and with one mouth may profess the faith once delivered to the saints. Defend them from the sins of heresy and schism; let not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt them, nor the hand of the ungodly to cast them down. And grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; that so they may walk in the ways of truth and peace, and at last be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting; through the merits of the same thy blessed Son Jesus Christ, the gracious Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
286 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear our prayers, and grant unto us in this Congregation and District all things that are needful for our spiritual welfare. Strengthen and confirm the faithful, visit and relieve the sick, bless and protect the children, turn and soften the wicked, arouse the careless, recover the fallen, restore the penitent, remove all hindrances to the advancement of thy truth, and bring all to be of one heart and mind within the fold of thy holy Church; to the honour and glory of thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
287 – A Parochial Mission
O GOD, our heavenly Father, we humbly pray thee to bless abundantly the efforts that are now being made [about to be made] to turn thy people in this Parish [and Diocese] to more sincere repentance and more living faith. Prepare all hearts to receive the seed of thy Word. Grant that it may take deep root, and bring forth fruit to thy glory. Arouse the careless amongst us, humble the self-righteous, soften the hardened, encourage the fearful, relieve the doubting, bring many souls in loving faith and self-surrender to thyself, and visit us with thy salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BEFORE SERVICE
288 – Before Service: Sunday
O LORD Jesus Christ, who as on this day didst rise from the dead: Teach us to reverence this thy holy day, and give us grace so to use it that we may rise to newness of life; to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
289 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast given a day of rest to thy people, and, through thy Spirit in the Church, hast consecrated the first day of the week to be a perpetual memorial of thy Son’s resurrection: Grant that we may so use thy gift that, refreshed and strengthened in soul and body, we may serve thee faithfully all the days of our life; through the same Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
290 – Before Service: Any Day
GRANT, O Lord, that all who worship within this place may present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto thee; and that they may themselves be temples of the Holy Ghost, wherein thou wilt dwell for evermore. Amen.
291 – GRANT, O Lord, to thy people, when they offer of their substance to thee in this place, that they may feel and know that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that with such sacrifices thou art well pleased; and that their alms may come up as a memorial before thee. Amen.
292 – REGARD, O Lord, the supplications of thy servants, and grant that thy Word, which shall be read and preached in this place, may have such success that it may never be spoken in vain. Grant also that the people may have grace to hear and receive what shall be delivered out of thy most holy Word, or agreeable to the same, as the means of their salvation; that in all their words and deeds they may seek thy glory, and the increase of thy kingdom. Amen.
293 – GRANT, O Lord, that by thy holy Word which shall be read and preached in this place, and by thy Holy Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the hearers thereof may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may have power and strength to fulfil the same. Amen.
294 – GRANT, we beseech thee, blessed Lord, that whosoever shall draw near to thee in this place to give thee thanks for the benefits which they have received at thy hands, to set forth thy most worthy praise, to confess their sins unto thee, and to ask such things as are requisite and necessary as well for the body as for the soul, may do it with such steadiness of faith, and with such seriousness, affection, and devotion of mind, that thou mayest accept their bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to give whatever, in thine infinite wisdom, thou shalt see to be most expedient for them. All which we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
295 – GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall confess their sins and offer up their prayers and praises unto thy Divine Majesty in this place, may be kept from all worldly and wandering thoughts, and may draw near unto thee with such stedfastness of faith and devout affection of mind, that they may be graciously accepted in thy sight. O Lord, pardon their sins, compassionate their infirmities, enlighten and sanctity them by thy Holy Spirit, and enable them so to serve and worship thee here below, that finally they may be received into thy presence, to praise and glorify thee for evermore. Amen.
296 – GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever in this place shall confess their sins, and pray unto thee, and praise thy Name, may be kept by thy Holy Spirit from all wandering thoughts, and worldly and carnal imaginations. Let their prayers and praises come up before thee, and be accepted in thy sight. Enlighten their understandings, purify their hearts, sanctify their spirits. And those things which they faithfully ask according to thy will, vouchsafe to give them, to the relief of their necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
297 – O ALMIGHTY Father, well-spring of life to all things that have being: From amid the unwearied praises of Cherubin and Seraphin, who stand about thy throne of light which no man can approach unto, give ear, we humbly beseech thee, to the supplications of thy people, who put their sure trust in thy mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
298 – O ALMIGHTY God, who pourest out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw nigh to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind; that with stedfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
299 – O GOD, in whose temple at Jerusalem were appointed singers and those skilled in instruments of music to set forth thy praises: Be present, we beseech thee, with us thy servants, and grant that in this our service we may worship thee in spirit and in truth, and at last be found meet to glorify thy Name in thy temple which is on high; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
AFTER SERVICE
300 – After Service: Sunday
O GOD, who makest us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of thy Son our Lord: Vouchsafe us this day such blessing through our worship of thee, that the days to come may be spent in thy service; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
301 – After Service: Any Day
ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities, and, those things which for our unworthiness we dare not and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us for the worthiness of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
302 – O LORD, we pray thee sow the seed of thy Word in our hearts, and send down upon us the showers of thy grace; that we may bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, and at the great day of harvest may be gathered by the holy angels into the heavenly garner; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
303 – ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
304 – GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears may, through thy grace, be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
305 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in thy Son’s Name: We beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
306 – ALMIGHTY God, we humbly beseech thee to accept the offerings which we have presented unto thee, and mercifully to receive our supplications and prayers; and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
307 – O LORD God Almighty, whose glory the Cherubin and Seraphin, and all the host of heaven, with ceaseless voice proclaim: We beseech thee to look graciously from thy dwelling-place upon us, thy humble servants, and in thy mercy vouchsafe to accept our unworthy prayers and praises; for the sake of our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
308 – ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee, and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
THE CHURCH’S MISSION
309 – Generosity and Zeal
FATHER of mercies, who to thine Apostle Saint Peter didst reveal in three-fold vision thy boundless compassion: Forgive, we pray thee, our unbelief, and so enlarge our hearts and enkindle our zeal, that we may fervently desire the salvation of all men, and with more ready diligence labour in the extension of thy kingdom; for his sake who gave himself for the life of the world, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
310 – ALMIGHTY Saviour, who, being exalted by the right hand of God, didst receive gifts for men: Send down the grace of thy Holy Spirit upon thy people, and grant that they may give cheerfully of their substance for the evangelizing of the world. Bless all those who are banded together for the spread of the Gospel [especially —]; make them faithful and true witnesses in proclaiming thy glorious Name; and prosper the work of their hands upon them, that the light of thy truth may shine into the darkest corners of the earth. Hear us, O merciful Saviour, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest ever, one God world without end. Amen.
311 – Missionaries
O GOD, our heavenly Father, who didst manifest thy love by sending thine only-begotten Son into the world that all might live through him: Pour thy Spirit upon thy Church, that it may fulfil his command to preach the Gospel to every creature; send forth, we beseech thee, labourers into thy harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and all Israel shall be saved; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
312 – O HEAVENLY Father, Lord of the harvest: Have respect, we beseech thee, to the prayers of thy people, and send forth more labourers into thy harvest. Fit and prepare them by thy grace for the work of thy ministry; give them the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind; strengthen them to endure hardness; and grant that thy Holy Spirit may prosper their work, and that by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
313 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who callest to thee whom thou willest, and sendest them whither thou dost choose: We thank thee for calling thy servant to preach thy Gospel to the nations; and we humbly pray thee to raise up among us those who shall be heralds and evangelists of thy kingdom, and shall build up thy Church in every land; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
314 – O MERCIFUL God, who didst send forth apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to preach the Gospel to every creature, and to build up thy Church: Grant thy heavenly grace to the Bishops and Clergy now labouring in the missionary districts of our own country, that they may faithfully minister thy Word and Sacraments, and make thy Church a praise in the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
315 – O GOD, who willest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth: Prosper, we pray thee, our brethren who labour in distant lands [especially those for whom our prayers are desired]. Protect them in all perils by land and sea; support them in loneliness and in the hour of trial; give them grace to bear faithful witness unto thee; and endue them with burning zeal and love, that they may turn many to righteousness, and finally obtain a crown of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
316 – O ALMIGHTY God, whose dearly beloved Son, after his resurrection, sent his apostles into all the world, and, on the day of Pentecost, endued them with special gifts of the Holy Ghost, that they might gather in the spiritual harvest: We beseech thee to look down from heaven upon the fields, now white unto the harvest, and to send forth more labourers to gather fruit unto eternal life. And grant us grace so to help them with our prayers and offerings, that, when the harvest of the earth is ripe, and the time for reaping is come, we, together with them, may rejoice before thee according to the joy in harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
317 – The Christianizing of the World
BLESSED Saviour, who at this hour didst hang upon the cross stretching out thy loving arms: Grant that all mankind may look unto thee and be saved, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost ever, one God world without end. Amen.
318 – ALMIGHTY Saviour, who at mid-day didst call thy servant Saint Paul to be an Apostle to the Gentiles: We beseech thee to illumine the world with the radiance of thy glory, that all nations may come and worship thee; who art, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
319 – HEAVENLY Father, we thank thee for loving us, and for sending thy dear Son into the world to save us from our sins. We pray to thee for all who do not know of thy love, both at home and in foreign lands. Grant that through the work of our missionaries they may be led to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and may with us become soldiers and servants in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
320 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who desirest not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn to thee and live: Mercifully receive our prayer, and deliver the heathen from idolatry, and gather them into thy holy Church, to the praise and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
321 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who in days of old didst cause thy Word to grow mightily and to prevail: We praise and magnify thy holy Name for the manifestation of thy presence in this our day, and we beseech thee to pour out thy Spirit upon the Church, that thy way may be known upon earth and thy saving health among all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
322 – O GOD, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the whole earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh: Grant that all men everywhere may seek after thee and find thee. Bring the nations into thy fold, pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten thy kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
323 – O GOD, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and didst send thy blessed Son Jesus Christ to preach peace to them that are afar off, and to them that are nigh: Grant that all the peoples of the world may feel after thee and find thee; and hasten, O Lord, the fulfilment of thy promise, to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
324 – O GOD of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes of the heathen, who, though created in thine image, are ignorant of thy love; and, according to the propitiation of thy Son Jesus Christ, grant that by the prayers and labours of thy holy Church they may be delivered from all superstition and unbelief, and brought to worship thee; through him whom thou hast sent to be our salvation, the Resurrection and the Life of all the faithful, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
325 – ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give commandment to the apostles that they should go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature: Grant to us, whom thou hast called into thy Church, a ready will to obey thy Word, and fill us with a hearty desire to make thy way known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Look with compassion upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the multitudes that are scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Raise up, we pray thee, true and faithful men, to seek and find thy sheep dispersed and lost, and by thy help to bring them home to thy flock, that they may be saved forever; through the same thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
326 – ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give commandment to the apostles that they should go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature: Grant to us, whom thou hast called into thy Church, a ready will to obey thy Word, and fill us with a hearty desire to make thy way known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Look with compassion upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the multitudes that are scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. O heavenly Father, Lord of the harvest, have respect, we beseech thee, to our prayers, and send forth labourers into thy harvest. Fit and prepare them by thy grace for the work of their ministry; give them the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind; strengthen them to endure hardness; and grant that thy Holy Spirit may prosper their work, and that by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
327 – Home Missions
O LORD Jesus Christ, thou good Shepherd of the sheep, who didst come to seek and to save that which was lost: We beseech thee to be present in thy power with the Missions of thy Church in this our land. Show forth thy compassion to the helpless, enlighten the ignorant, succour those in peril, and bring home the wanderers in safety to thy fold; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
328 – The Jews
O GOD, the God of Abraham: Look upon thine everlasting covenant, and cause the captivity of Judah and Israel to return. They are thy people, O be thou their Saviour; that all who love Jerusalem and mourn for her may rejoice with her; for Jesus Christ’s sake, their Saviour and ours. Amen.
329 – O GOD, who didst choose Israel to be thine inheritance: Look, we beseech thee, upon thy chosen people; take away the blindness which is fallen upon them; grant that they may see and confess the Lord Jesus to be thy Son and their true Messiah, and that, believing, they may have life through his Name. Bless those who labour to bring them to the knowledge of thy truth, and hasten the time when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, and all Israel shall be saved; through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
330 – Mohammedans and All Who Know Not Christ
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who in thy goodness hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine in our land: Extend thy mercy, we beseech thee, to the nations of the world that still walk in darkness; enlighten the Moslems with the knowledge of thy truth; and grant that the Gospel of salvation may be made known in all lands, that the heart of the peoples may be turned unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
331 – Thanksgiving for Missionary Enterprise
ALMIGHTY God, whose compassions fail not, and whose loving-kindness reacheth unto the world’s end: We give thee humble thanks for opening heathen lands to the light of thy truth, for making paths in the deep waters and highways in the desert, and for planting thy Church in all the earth. Grant, we beseech thee, unto us thy servants that with lively faith we may labour abundantly to make known to all men thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
332 – ALMIGHTY God, we give thee humble and hearty thanks for thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We thank thee for the light of thy Gospel, the labours of thy servants, and the ministrations of thy Church. We also bless thy holy Name for those who have lived, and suffered, and died for thy sake in the waste places of the earth; beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may at last attain thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
333 – O GOD, the Father of all mankind: We thank thee for thy servants who have gone forth to preach the Gospel throughout the world. We praise thee for the witness they have borne in their lives, or by their deaths. We thank thee for those who have been led from heathen bondage to the glorious liberty of thy kingdom; for the Churches planted in many lands; for their clergy and teachers. We pray that we may show our thankfulness by greater zeal for the spread of the Gospel and more fervent love for all those for whom Christ died. These our thanksgivings and prayers we offer in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ministers of God
BISHOPS
334 – Bishops
MOST merciful Father, send down, we beseech thee, upon this thy servant, thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit that he, preaching thy Word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke, with all patience and doctrine; but also may be, to such as believe, a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that, faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the Lord Jesus, the righteous judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
335 – ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy apostles many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed thy flock: Give grace, we beseech thee, to all Bishops, the pastors of thy Church, that they may diligently preach thy Word, and duly administer the godly discipline thereof; and grant to the people that they may obediently follow the same, that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
336 – ALMIGHTY God and most merciful Father, who of thine infinite goodness hast given thine only and dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ to be our redeemer and the author of everlasting life; who, after that he had made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, poured down his gifts abundantly upon men, making some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and doctors, to the edifying and making perfect his Church: Grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant such grace that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy Gospel, the glad tidings of reconciliation with thee, and use the authority given him, not to destruction but to salvation; not to hurt but to help; so that, as a wise and faithful servant, giving to thy family their portion in due season, he may at last be received into everlasting joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen.
PRIESTS
337 – Priests
ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, who of thine infinite love and goodness towards us hast given to us thine only and most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be our redeemer and the author of everlasting life; who, after he had made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, sent abroad into the world his apostles, prophets, evangelists, doctors, and pastors, by whose labour and ministry he gathered together a great flock in all the parts of the world, to set forth the eternal praise of thy holy Name: For these so great benefits of thine eternal goodness, and for that thou hast vouchsafed to call these thy servants here present to the same office and ministry, appointed for the salvation of mankind, we render unto thee most hearty thanks; we praise and worship thee; and we humbly beseech thee, by the same thy blessed Son, to grant unto all, which either here or elsewhere call upon thy holy Name, that we may continue to show ourselves thankful unto thee for these and all other thy benefits; and that we may daily increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son, by the Holy Spirit. So that as well by these thy ministers, as by them over whom they shall be appointed thy ministers, thy holy Name may be for ever glorified and thy blessed kingdom enlarged; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
338 – MOST merciful Father, we beseech thee to send upon these thy servants thy heavenly blessing; that they may be clothed with righteousness, and that thy Word, spoken by their mouths, may have such success that it may never be spoken in vain. Grant also that we may have grace to hear and receive what they shall deliver out of thy most holy Word, or agreeable to the same, as the means of our salvation; that, in all our words and deeds, we may seek thy glory and the increase of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
339 – ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers orders of ministers in thy Church: Mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the office of Priesthood; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that, both by word and good example, they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy Name and the edification of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
DEACONS
340 – Deacons
ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the office of Deacons in thy Church: Make them, we beseech thee, O Lord, to be modest, humble, and constant in their ministration, to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline; that they, having always the testimony of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ, may so well behave themselves in this inferior office, that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher ministries in thy Church; through the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honour world without end. Amen.
PARISH MINISTERS
341 – Parish Ministers
O HOLY Jesus, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church, and hast promised to be with the ministers of apostolic succession to the end of the world: Be graciously pleased to bless the ministry and service of him who is now appointed to offer the sacrifices of prayer and praise to thee, in this house which is called by thy Name. May the words of his mouth, and the meditation of his heart, be alway acceptable in thy sight; O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
342 – GRANT, we pray thee, that this thy servant may so minister thy Word and Sacraments that, having faithfully fulfilled his course, he may at last receive the crown of righteousness from the Lord, the righteous judge; who liveth and reigneth one God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
343 – BLESS, O Lord, we pray thee, thy servant to whom the care of the souls of thy people in this parish is now to be committed. Pour out thy Holy Spirit upon him, and fit him to perform, with all faithfulness and diligence, the sacred duties with which he has been entrusted. Give to him the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound judgment. Make his ministry to be the means of awakening the careless, of strengthening the faithful, of comforting the afflicted, and of edifying thy Church. Guard him against the snares of temptation, that he may be kept pure in heart and stedfast in the right way; and grant that at the last he may receive the crown of life, which thou hast promised to thy faithful ones; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
344 – O ALMIGHTY God, who makest us to will and to do of thy good pleasure: Give thy servant grace truly to perform the solemn vows and promises by him made. Grant that he may be a faithful dispenser of thy holy Word and Sacraments, and that he may be a godly example to the people committed to his charge; so that, after this life is ended, together they may come to thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
345 – Religious Communities
O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast taught us that he who loseth his life for thy sake shall find it: Bestow, we pray thee, thine abundant blessing on those who have left all, that they may give themselves to this service; and grant that those whom thou dost call may hear and obey thy voice, and receive the manifold reward, which thou hast promised, in this time, and in the world to come life everlasting; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
VACANCIES
346 – During the Vacancy of a Pastoral Charge
O GOD, who knowest the needs of thy Church in every place: Look graciously at this time upon the people of this parish, and give to them a faithful pastor who may serve before thee in all diligence and lowliness of heart, and, by thy blessing, bring many souls to the joys of thine eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
347 – During the Vacancy of a Pastoral Charge or of a See
ALMIGHTY God, the giver of every good gift: Look graciously, we beseech thee, on thy Church; and so guide with thy heavenly wisdom the minds of those to whom is committed the choice of a bishop for this diocese [rector or vicar for this parish] that we may receive a faithful pastor, who shall feed thy flock according to thy will, and make ready a people acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord. Amen.
348 – During the Vacancy of a See
O ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Holy Spirit dost move the hearts of thy people: May it please thee so to direct the counsels of those who are appointed to choose a bishop for this Church and diocese, that we may be given a pastor who in faithfulness and wisdom shall lead thy flock in the way of holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
349 – O ALMIGHTY God, the giver of every good gift: Bestow at this time, we humbly beseech thee, thine especial blessing upon the presbyters and lay-electors of the Diocese of — [of this Diocese] about to assemble for the election of a bishop; and grant unto them in their deliberations the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that by thee they may be guided to the choice of a chief pastor who shall minister before thee to the glory of thy holy Name, the good government of the flock committed to him, and the welfare of thy whole Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR THE INCREASE OF THE MINISTRY
350 – For the Increase of the Ministry
O LORD Jesus Christ, whose servants, Simon Peter and Andrew his brother, did at thy word straightway leave their nets to become fishers of men: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to those whom thou dost call to the sacred ministry of thy Church, that they may hear thy voice, and with glad hearts obey thy call; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
351 – O GOD, who dost ever hallow and protect thy Church: Raise up therein, through thy Spirit, good and faithful stewards of the mysteries of Christ; that by their ministry and example thy people may abide in thy favour, and be guided in the way of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
352 – O ALMIGHTY God, look mercifully upon the world redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and send forth many more to do the work of the ministry; that perishing souls may be rescued, and thy glorious triumph may be hastened by the perfecting of thine elect; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
353 – O ALMIGHTY God, look mercifully upon the world which thou hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and incline the hearts of many to offer themselves for the sacred ministry of thy Church; so that by their labours thy light may shine in the darkness, and the coming of thy kingdom may be hastened by the perfecting of thine elect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
354 – O ALMIGHTY God, look mercifully upon the world which thou hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and incline the hearts of many to dedicate themselves to the sacred ministry of thy Church; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Children Of God
MARRIAGE
355 – For Those Joined in Matrimony
O ETERNAL God, we humbly beseech thee favourably to behold these thy servants now [about to be] joined in wedlock according to thy holy ordinance; and grant that they, seeking first thy kingdom and thy righteousness, may obtain the manifold blessings of thy grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
356 – O GOD, who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony that in it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
357 – GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall be joined together in this place in the holy estate of Matrimony, may faithfully perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may remain in perfect love together unto their life’s end. Amen.
358 – O HEAVENLY Father, who didst join together in marriage our first parents, Adam and Eve: Sanctify and bless these thy servants, and grant that those whom thou by matrimony dost make one, may stedfastly keep the covenant betwixt them made, and ever remain in perfect love and peace together; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
359 – O GOD of our fathers, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same; that so, obeying thy will and alway being in safety under thy protection, they may abide in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
360 – O HEAVENLY Father, who hast taught us by thy Son that except we love one another we cannot fulfil thy law: Grant that thy Holy Spirit may lead these thy servants in the way of love, and joy, and peace, even unto eternal life; that they, obeying thy will and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit ever, one God world without end. Amen.
361 – O GOD our Father, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us that love is the fulfilling of the law: Grant to these thy servants that, loving one another, they may continue in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
362 – O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that they, living faithfully together, may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
363 – O MERCIFUL Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious blessing mankind is increased: Bestow, we beseech thee, on these thy servants the heritage and gift of children; and grant that they may also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
364 – O GOD, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one; O God, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh), and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
365 – O GOD, who hast taught us that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony hast made one, and hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife according to thy Word, as Christ did love his spouse the Church; and also that this woman may be loving and faithful to her husband, and in all things be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BAPTISM
366 – For the Mother of a Child
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we give thee humble and hearty thanks for that thou hast preserved thy servant through her time of trial, and hast caused her to rejoice in the gift of a child. Continue, we beseech thee, thy goodness to her; restore her to health and strength; and give her grace so to train this child for thee, that together they may attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
367 – O ALMIGHTY God, we give thee hearty thanks for that thou hast vouchsafed to bless this woman thy servant, and to bestow upon her the gift of a child. Grant, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, that she [with her husband] may diligently lead her child in the way of righteousness, to their own great blessing and the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
368 – O ALMIGHTY God, we give thee humble thanks for that thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve, through the great pain and peril of childbirth, this woman, thy servant, who desireth now to offer her praises and thanksgivings unto thee. Grant, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, that she through thy help may faithfully live according to thy will in this life, and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
369 – GRANT, O Lord, that all such as have through thy mercy been preserved in the great danger of child-birth, and shall come to this place to give thee thanks for the same, may, through thy help, both faithfully live and walk according to thy will in this life present, and also be partakers of everlasting glory in the life to come. Amen.
370 – For All Who Come to Be Baptized
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall be dedicated to thee in this place by Baptism, and incorporated into thy holy Church, may, by the power of the Holy Ghost, ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children. Amen.
371 – REGARD, O Lord, the supplications of thy servants, and grant that whosoever in this house shall be received by Baptism into the congregation of Christ’s flock, may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and may continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end. Amen.
372 – For Adults Who Embrace the Christian Religion
O LORD God of Hosts, before the terrors of whose presence the armies of hell are put to flight: Deliver these thy servants from the might of Satan; cast out from them every evil and unclean spirit that lurketh in the heart, the spirit of error and wickedness, the spirit of lying and all uncleanness; and make them meet to receive the Holy Spirit of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
373 – O LORD, our heavenly Father, almighty, everlasting God, who givest light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death: Lift up, we beseech thee, the light of thy countenance upon these thy servants who are wandering uncertain and doubtful in the night of this world. Make known unto them the way of truth and peace, and open the eyes of their understanding that they may walk therein; enable them to acknowledge thee, one God, the Father in the Son, and the Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit; and keep them stedfast in this faith, that, loyally serving thee in this life, they may receive thy blessing in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
374 – O ALMIGHTY and merciful Father, who hast made all mankind, and dost restore through grace that which was lost by the infirmity of nature: Mercifully behold these thy servants, and let their names be written in the Book of Life; that, being defended by thy mercy, they may attain unto the glory of regeneration, and, receiving the fulness of thy grace, may be numbered amongst the children of the promise, through Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord, who through death hath destroyed death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory world without end. Amen.
375 – O HOLY Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, who hast been from all eternity, and abidest unto the end; whose beginning is unknown, and thine end no man can find out: We humbly beseech thee for these thy servants whom thou hast called from the errors of the heathen, and from the shameful deeds of this world, that, being cleansed from the pollution of sin, and being regenerated by water and the Holy Spirit, they may put off the old man and put on the new, which according to thee is created in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
376 – The Blessing of the Water
ALMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
377 – IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, for that thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child [this thy Servant], now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and evermore. Amen.
378 – For the Person Baptized
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin: Mercifully look upon this Child; wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Spirit, that he may be received into the ark of Christ’s Church; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
379 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water, and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy baptism; and, by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan, didst sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin: We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon this Child; wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost; that he, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ’s Church; and, being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world that finally he may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
380 – ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead: We call upon thee for this Child [this thy Servant], that he, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of sin by spiritual regeneration. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us who ask; let us who seek, find; open the gate unto us who knock; that this Child [this thy Servant] may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.
381 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father: We give thee humble thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee. Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to this Child [this thy Servant], that he may be born again, and be made an heir of everlasting salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
382 – O GOD, who hast united men of every nation in the confession of thy Name, and dost continually multiply thy Church with new offspring: Grant that those who have been born again, of water and of the Spirit, may be one both in inward faith and in outward devotion, and with thankful hearts may show forth in their lives the grace of that sacrament which they have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
383 – WE yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this Child [this thy Servant] with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant that he, being dead unto sin, may live unto righteousness; and, being buried with Christ in his death, may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
384 – Thanksgiving for the Institution of Baptism
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast given us the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, that souls, thereby being born again, may be made heirs of everlasting salvation: We yield thee hearty thanks for this thy gift, and humbly we beseech thee to grant that we, who have thus been made partakers of the death of thy Son, may also be partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE FAMILY
385 – The Family
VISIT, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive from it all the snares of the enemy. Let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace, and may thy blessing be upon us evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
386 – ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son did share at Nazareth the life of an earthly home: Bless, we beseech thee, the home of this Child; and grant wisdom and understanding to all who have the care of him, that he may grow up in thy constant fear and love; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
387 – MERCIFUL Saviour, who didst love Martha and Mary and Lazarus, blessing their home with thy sacred presence: Bless, we beseech thee, our home, that thy love may rest upon us and that thy promised presence may be with us. May we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of thee, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Teach us to love one another as thou didst give us commandment. Help us all to choose that better part which shall not be taken away from us. Hear us, O Jesus, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest one God for evermore. Amen.
388 – ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who in holy wedlock have been made one flesh; turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we be evermore kindly affectioned with brotherly love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
389 – For Parents
O GOD, our heavenly Father, who hast blessed thy servants with the gift of a child: Grant, we beseech thee, that they may show their love and thankfulness to thee in so ordering their home, that by the example of their life and teaching they may guide the child in the way of righteousness, and with him be partakers with thy saints in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
390 – O HEAVENLY Father, after whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless, we beseech thee, the parents of this Child, and give to them, and to all in whose charge he may be, the spirit of wisdom and love; that his home may be to him an image of thy kingdom, and the care of his parents a likeness of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
391 – For the Children
ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us light and strength so to train them that they may love whatsoever things are true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report; following the example of their Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
392 – GRANT, we beseech thee, O heavenly Father, that the child of this thy servant may daily increase in wisdom and stature, and grow in thy love and service, until he come to thine eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
393 – O LORD God, who didst reveal thyself to thy prophet Samuel while he was yet a child: Grant unto us, whom thou hast made thy children by adoption and grace, that we may above all things seek to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent; and in all our learning grant us to fear and love thy holy Name; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
394 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who didst take little children into thine arms, and bless them: Bless, we beseech thee, the children of this family; grant that they may grow up in thy fear and love; give unto them day by day thy strength and guidance; that so they may continue in thy love and service unto their lives’ end. Grant this, O blessed Saviour, for thine own Name’s sake. Amen.
395 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who didst sit lowly in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions: Be with us who are assembled in thy Name; and grant to those who teach, a right understanding of thy holy Word, and to those who learn, a readiness to hear and do thy blessed will; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
396 – LORD Jesus, thou great Shepherd of the sheep: Look on these thy children; embrace them with the arms of thy mercy, pour on them the riches of thy blessing, and so fill them with thy manifold gifts of grace that they may continue thine for ever; to the honour and glory of thy Name. Amen.
397 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who dost embrace children with the arms of thy mercy, and dost make them living members of thy Church: Give them grace, we pray thee, to stand fast in thy faith, to obey thy Word, and to abide in thy love; that, being made strong by thy Holy Spirit, they may resist temptation and overcome evil, and may rejoice in the life that now is, and dwell with thee in the life that is to come; through thy merits, O merciful Saviour, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God world without end. Amen.
398 – On a Birthday
WATCH over thy child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be, keeping him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands, comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful, raise him up if he fall; and in his heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
399 – DEFEND, O Lord, this thy child with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.
400 – For Relatives and Friends
O LOVING Father, we commend to thy gracious keeping all who are near and dear to us. Have mercy upon those who are sick, and comfort all who are in pain, anxiety, or sorrow. Awaken all who are careless about eternal things. Bless those who are young and in health, that they may give the days of their strength unto thee. Comfort the aged and infirm, that thy peace may rest upon them. Hallow the ties of kindred, that we may help, and not hinder, one another in all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
401 – ALMIGHTY God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TEACHERS AND LEARNERS
402 – For Teachers and Learners
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast committed to thy holy Church the care and nurture of thy children: Enlighten with thy wisdom those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of thy truth, they may worship thee and serve thee from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
403 – O HEAVENLY Father, whose blessed Son hath said, Suffer the little children to come unto me: Prosper with thy blessing all teachers and scholars; and grant that, as the minds of thy children are enlightened with knowledge, so their hearts may be daily drawn by thy Holy Spirit to the love of thee, and of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
404 – ALMIGHTY Father, who didst send thine only Son that through him all men might be saved: Enable those who teach so to consecrate their lives that, being themselves led of thee, they may lead thy children in the paths of everlasting life; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
405 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable unto thy Divine Majesty: We make our humble supplications unto thee for thy favour and gracious goodness towards all teachers and scholars in our Sunday Schools. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God world without end. Amen.
406 – O HOLY Lord and Saviour, who didst call little children unto thee and bless them: Guide, we pray thee, thy Church in the teaching of the young, that it may wisely order the work of our Sunday Schools, and strive earnestly to feed the lambs of thy flock. Grant alike to pastors and people to see and know the greatness of this work, and give us grace to fulfil it. Make us ever mindful of thy presence in our homes, that our children may be brought up in thy nurture and admonition. Give to our teachers aptness to teach, and to our scholars willingness to learn, thy blessed will. All this we ask in thy Name, O merciful Saviour, whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, we worship as one God, blessed for ever. Amen.
407 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who art the Eternal Wisdom of the Father: We beseech thee to assist us with thy heavenly grace, that we may be blessed in our studies this day, and above all things may attain the knowledge of thee, whom to know is life eternal; and that, according to the example of thy most holy childhood, as we grow in years we may grow in wisdom, and in favour with God and man. Amen.
408 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who as a child didst learn, and didst grow in wisdom: Grant us so to learn thy holy Word, that we may walk in thy ways and daily grow more like unto thee; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
CONFIRMATION
409 – For Those About to Be Confirmed
O GOD, who through the teaching of thy Son Jesus Christ didst prepare the disciples for the coming of the Comforter: Make ready, we beseech thee, the hearts and minds of thy servants who at this time are seeking to be strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands; that, drawing near with penitent and faithful hearts, they may be filled with the power of his divine indwelling; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
410 – GRANT, O Lord, that they who at this place shall in their own persons renew the promises and vows of their baptism and be confirmed by the Bishop, may receive such a measure of thy Holy Spirit that they may grow in grace unto their life’s end. Amen.
411 – GRANT, O Lord, that they who in this place shall renew and confirm in their own persons the solemn profession made on their behalf at their baptism, and thereupon be confirmed by the Bishop, may be strengthened with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until they come unto thine everlasting kingdom. Amen.
412 – O ALMIGHTY God, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: We humbly commend unto thee those who are about to renew before the Church the solemn vows of their baptism, and to seek thy heavenly grace in the laying on of hands. Guard them from the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and give them grace wholly to devote themselves unto thee, body, soul, and spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
413 – For the Confirmed
ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins: Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.
414 – ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things which are good, and acceptable unto thy Divine Majesty: We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy apostles, we have now laid our hands, to certify them, by this sign, of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth ever, one God world without end. Amen.
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND THEOLOGICAL TRAINING
415 – For Schools, Colleges, and Universities
ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee with thy gracious favour to behold our universities, colleges, and schools, that knowledge may be increased among us, and all good learning flourish and abound. Bless all who teach and all who learn, and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look unto thee, who art the fountain of all wisdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
416 – For Universities and Other Places of Learning
VOUCHSAFE, O Lord, to prosper with thy blessing the work of all universities, colleges, and schools, that they who serve thee therein, as teachers or learners, may set thy holy will ever before them, and be led to the knowledge of thy truth; that so both Church and Commonwealth may be bettered by their studies, and they themselves be made meet to be partakers of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
417 – For Theological Colleges
O GOD, who through thy Holy Spirit dost illuminate the minds and sanctify the lives of those whom thou dost call to the work of pastors and teachers: Look with thy favour upon all colleges for the instruction and discipline of those who are to serve in the sacred ministry of thy Church. Bless those who teach and those who learn, that they may apply themselves with such diligence to the knowledge which is able to make men wise unto salvation, and submit themselves with such ready obedience to the law of thy Son our Saviour, that they may fulfil their ministry with joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
418 – Before Holy Communion
BLESS, O Lord,, we beseech thee, these thy gifts, and sanctify them unto this holy use, that by them we may be fed unto everlasting life of soul and body; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
419 – LORD Jesus Christ, who hast ordained this holy Sacrament to be a pledge of thy love and a continual remembrance of thy passion: Grant that we, who partake thereof by faith with thanksgiving, may grow up into thee in all things, until we come to thy eternal joy; who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, one God world without end. Amen.
420 – HEAR us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee, and with thy Holy and Life-giving Spirit vouchsafe to bless and sanctify both us and these thy gifts of Bread and Wine, that they may be unto us the Body and Blood of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to the end that we, receiving the same, may be strengthened and refreshed both in body and soul. Amen.
421 – GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall in this place receive the Sacrament of Christ’s most blessed Body and Blood, may come to that holy ordinance with hearty repentance, true faith, and lively charity; that, so partaking of Christ and being filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, they may, to their great and endless comfort, obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of his passion. Amen.
422 – After Holy Communion
O LORD our God, thou Saviour of the world, through whom we have celebrated these holy mysteries: Receive our humble thanksgiving, and of thy great mercy vouchsafe to sanctify us evermore in body and soul; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
423 – LOOK with favour, most Holy Trinity, on this our act of worship and service, and may this sacrifice, set forth before thine eyes, be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty, and avail for us and for all for whom we have offered it; who livest and reignest, one God world without end. Amen.
424 – O LORD, who in a wonderful sacrament hast left us a memorial of thy passion: Grant us so to reverence the holy mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever know within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
Daily Prayer
MORNING
425 – In the Morning
O GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness and turnest the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may when the night cometh rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
426 – WE give thee hearty thanks for the rest of the past night, and for the gift of a new day. Grant that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of thy service, that at eventide we may again give thanks unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
427 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being: We, thy needy creatures, render thee our humble praises for thy preservation of us from the beginning of our lives to this day, and especially for having delivered us from the dangers of the past night. For these thy mercies we bless and magnify thy glorious Name, humbly beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; for his sake who lay down in the grave and rose again for us, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
428 – O LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with thy mighty power, and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
429 – O LORD God, who hast bidden light to shine out of darkness, who hast again wakened us to praise thee for thy goodness and mercy and to ask for thy grace: Accept now, in thine endless mercy, the offering of our worship and thanksgiving, and grant unto us all such requests as may be acceptable to thy holy will. Make us to be children of the light and of the day, and heirs of thine everlasting inheritance. Remember, O Lord, according to the multitude of thy mercies, thy whole Church, all who join with us in prayer, and all our brethren, wherever they may be in thy vast kingdom, who stand in need of thy grace and succour. Pour down upon us all the riches of thy mercy, so that, redeemed in soul and body, and stedfast in faith, we may ever praise thy wonderful and holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHRISTIAN GRACES
430 – The Thoughts of Our Hearts
ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
431 – ALMIGHTY God, who alone gayest us the breath of life, and alone canst keep alive in us the holy desires thou dost impart: We beseech thee, for thy compassion’s sake, to sanctify all our thoughts and endeavours, that we may neither begin an action without a pure intention, nor continue it without thy blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of the mind opened to behold things invisible and unseen, we may in heart be inspired by thy wisdom, and in work be upheld by thy strength, and in the end be accepted of thee as thy faithful servants; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
432 – Obedience
O ALMIGHTY Lord and everlasting God: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
433 – Guidance
O GOD, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do; that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
434 – Dedication
AND since it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives: We here dedicate both our souls and our bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, righteous, and godly life; in which resolution do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that, as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
435 – Grace
O GOD, who knowest the weakness and corruption of our nature, and the manifold temptations which we daily meet with: We humbly beseech thee to have compassion on our infirmities, and to give us the constant assistance of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be effectually restrained from sin and incited to our duty. Imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judgments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to offend thee. And, above all, keep in our minds a lively remembrance of that great day in which we must give a strict account of our thoughts, words, and actions, to him whom thou hast appointed the judge of quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
436 – AND lest, through our own frailty, or the temptations which encompass us, we be drawn again into sin, vouchsafe us, we beseech thee, the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit. Reform whatever is amiss in the temper and disposition of our souls, that no unclean thoughts, unlawful designs, or inordinate desires may rest there. Purge our hearts from envy, hatred, and malice, that we may never suffer the sun to go down upon our wrath, but may always go to our rest in peace, charity, and good-will, with a conscience void of offence towards thee and towards men; that so we may be preserved pure and blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
437 – DIRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that, in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
438 – Joy in God’s Creation
O HEAVENLY Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open, we beseech thee, our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him by whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
439 – Inner Peace
O GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
440 – O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
441 – O GOD of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
442 – O LORD, who hast pity for all our weakness: Put away from us worry and every anxious fear; that, having ended the labours of the day as in thy sight, and committing our tasks, ourselves, and all we love, into thy keeping, we may, now that night cometh, receive as from thee thy priceless gift of sleep; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
443 – O HEAVENLY Father, thou understandest all thy children. Through thy gift of faith we bring our perplexities to the light of thy wisdom, and receive the blessed encouragement of thy sympathy and a clearer knowledge of thy will. Glory be to thee for all thy gracious gifts. Amen.
444 – O MOST loving Father, who willest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee, who carest for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested unto us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
445 – O HEAVENLY Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that, in all the cares and occupations of our daily life, we may never forget thee, but remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
446 – Thankfulness
O GOD, our loving Father: We thank thee for all the blessings thou hast given us, and above all for our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to show forth our thankfulness by trying in every thing to please thee; for the sake of the same our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
447 – Worthiness
REMEMBER, O Lord, what thou hast wrought in us, and not what we deserve; and, as thou hast called us to thy service, make us worthy of our caning; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
448 – O LORD Jesus Christ, before whose judgment-seat we must all appear and give account of the things done in the body: Grant, we beseech thee, that when the books are opened in that day, the faces of thy servants may not be ashamed; through thy merits, O blessed Saviour, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.
ABSENT FRIENDS
449 – Absent Friends
O GOD, who art present in every place: Mercifully hear our prayers for those whom we love, now absent from us; watch over them, we beseech thee, and protect them in all anxiety, danger, and temptation; teach us and them to know that thou art always near, and that we are one in thee for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
450 – O GOD, whose fatherly care reacheth to the uttermost parts of the earth: We humbly beseech thee graciously to behold and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
451 – O GOD, who art present in every place: Look down with thy mercy upon those whom we love, now absent from us; give thine angels charge over them, and defend them from all dangers of body and soul; bring us together again, if it be thy holy will; grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may draw nearer to one another, and in the end, united in thy presence, may evermore rejoice together in our heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
452 – ALMIGHTY Father, who art present in thy power in every place: Give ear in thy loving-kindness to the supplications which we offer unto thee on behalf of our brethren and friends now absent from us; may thy mighty hand shield and protect them from all evil; may thy Holy Spirit guide them in the right way, and bless their going out and their coming in; [bring them back to us in safety;] and grant that, being united by our fellowship with thee, we may all at the last be gathered in the home which is above; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TRAVELLERS
453 – Travellers
O GOD, who leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron: Grant, we beseech thee, to those who travel a prosperous journey, that they may safely arrive at the place whither they go, and at length come to the haven of everlasting salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
454 – O GOD, our heavenly Father, who art present in thy power in every place: Preserve, we beseech thee, all who travel by land or by water, [especially those for whom our prayers are desired,] surround them with thy loving care, protect them from every danger, and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
455 – Seafarers
O ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the sea: Be pleased to receive into thy protection all those who go down to the sea in ships and occupy their business in great waters. Preserve them both in body and soul, prosper their labours with good success, in all time of danger be their defence, and bring them to the haven where they would be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
456 – O ALMIGHTY God, whose way is in the sea and whose paths are in the great waters: Be present, we beseech thee, with our brethren in the manifold dangers of the deep; protect them from all its perils, prosper them in their course, and in safety bring them with a grateful sense of thy mercies to the haven where they would be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
457 – O ETERNAL God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the sea: We commend to thine almighty protection thy servant, for whose preservation on the great deep our prayers are desired. Guard him, we beseech thee, from the dangers of the sea, from sickness, from the violence of enemies, and from every evil to which he may be exposed. Conduct him in safety to the haven where he would be, with a grateful sense of thy mercies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
458 – O THOU, who slumberest not nor sleepest: Protect, we pray thee, our sailors from the perils of the sea; in the hours of watching, strengthen and sustain them; and grant that in dangers often, in weariness often, they may serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
459 – In Ships at Sea
O ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the sea, who hast compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end: Be pleased to receive into thine almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy servants, and the ship in which we sail. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, that we may reach in safety the land to which we go, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies may praise and glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
460 – In Storms at Sea
O MOST glorious and gracious Lord God, who dwellest in heaven but beholdest all things below: Look down, we beseech thee, and hear us who are in peril; send thy word of command to rebuke the raging winds and the roaring sea, that we, being delivered from this distress, may live to serve thee and to glorify thy Name all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
461 – O MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, at whose command the winds blow and lift up the waves of the sea, and who stillest the rage thereof: We thy creatures, but miserable sinners, do in this our great distress cry unto thee for help. Save, Lord, or else we perish. We confess, when we have been safe and seen all things quiet about us we have forgot thee, our God, and refused to hearken to the still voice of thy word and to obey thy commandments. But now we see how terrible thou art in all thy works of wonder, the great God to be feared above all. And therefore we adore thy Divine Majesty, acknowledging thy power and imploring thy goodness. Help, Lord, and save us for thy mercy’s sake, in Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
THANKSGIVING FOR SAFETY AFTER TRAVEL
462 – Thanksgiving for a Safe Return from a Journey
MOST gracious Lord, whose mercy is over all thy works: We praise thy holy Name that thou hast been pleased to conduct in safety through the perils of the great deep [of his way] this thy servant, who now desireth to return his thanks unto thee in thy holy Church. May he be duly sensible of thy merciful providence towards him, and ever express his thankfulness by a holy trust in thee, and obedience to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
463 – Thanksgiving for a Safe Return from Sea
O ETERNAL Father, who showest thy wondrous power and mercy to those who go down to the sea in ships: We give thee humble thanks for that thou hast been pleased to preserve through the perils of the deep this thy servant who now desireth to offer his praises and thanksgivings unto thee in thy holy Church. Grant that he may be ever mindful of thy merciful providence towards him, and express his thankfulness by a living trust in thee and obedience to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
464 – O MOST blessed and glorious Lord God, who art of infinite goodness and mercy: We thy poor creatures, whom thou hast made and preserved, holding our souls in life and now rescuing us out of the jaws of death, humbly present ourselves again before thy Divine Majesty, to offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for that thou heardest us when we called in our trouble, and didst not cast out our prayer which we made before thee in our great distress. Even when we gave all for lost, our ship, our goods, our lives, then didst thou mercifully look upon us and wonderfully command a deliverance; for which we, now being in safety, do give all praise and glory to thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
465 – O MOST mighty and gracious good God, thy mercy is over all thy works, but in special manner bath been extended toward us whom thou hast so powerfully and wonderfully defended. Thou hast showed us terrible things, and wonders in the deep, that we might see how powerful and gracious a God thou art, how able and ready to help them that trust in thee. Thou hast showed us how both winds and seas obey thy command, that we may learn, even from them, hereafter to obey thy voice and to do thy will. We therefore bless and glorify thy Name for this thy mercy in saving us when we were ready to perish. And, we beseech thee, make us as truly sensible now of thy mercy as we were then of the danger; and give us hearts always ready to express our thankfulness, not only by words but also by our lives, in being more obedient to thy holy commandments. Continue, we beseech thee, this thy goodness to us, that we, whom thou hast saved, may serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
466 – Penitence
O GOD, merciful Father, who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as are sorrowful: Mercifully assist our prayers which we make before thee, in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppress us, and graciously hear us; that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us may, by thy good providence, be brought to nought; that we thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
467 – REMEMBER not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Amen.
468 – WE humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and, for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thine honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
469 – O MOST mighty God and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his sin and be saved: Mercifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Thy property is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to forgive sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed; enter not into judgment with thy servants; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our transgressions and truly repent us of our faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
470 – MOST merciful God, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and hast promised forgiveness to all those who confess and forsake their sins: We come before thee in a humble sense of our own unworthiness, acknowledging our manifold transgressions of thy righteous laws. But, O gracious Father, who desirest not the death of a sinner, look upon us, we beseech thee, in mercy, and forgive us all our transgressions; make us deeply sensible of the great evil of them, and work in us a hearty contrition; that we may obtain forgiveness at thy hands, who art ever ready to receive humble and penitent sinners; for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.
471 – O ALMIGHTY Father, Lord of heaven and earth: We confess that we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed. Have mercy upon us, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies, do away our offences and cleanse us from our sins; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
472 – O HEAVENLY Father, we confess that we have sinned greatly against thee in thought, and word, and deed, and have done that which is wrong in thy sight. We ask thee to forgive us our sins, and to give us grace always to resist temptation and to do thy holy will; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
473 – O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
474 – O GOD, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive: Receive our humble petitions; and, though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us; for the honour of Jesus Christ our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
475 – ALMIGHTY Father, who of thy great love to men didst give thy dearly beloved Son to die for us: Grant that through his cross our sins may be put away, and remembered no more against us; and that, cleansed by his blood, and mindful of his sufferings, we may take up our cross daily and follow him in newness of life, until we come to his everlasting kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
476 – ALMIGHTY God, have mercy upon us, forgive us all our sins, and deliver us from all evil; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
477 – For Prisoners
O GOD, who sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath rememberest mercy: We humbly beseech thee of thy goodness to comfort and succour all prisoners [especially those who are condemned to die]. Give them a right understanding of themselves, and of thy promises; that, trusting wholly in thy mercy, they may not place their confidence anywhere but in thee. Relieve the distressed, protect the innocent, awaken the guilty; and, forasmuch as thou alone bringest light out of darkness and good out of evil, grant to these thy servants that by the power of thy Holy Spirit they may be set free from the chains of sin, and may be brought to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THANKSGIVING
478 – Thanksgiving
TO our prayers, O Lord, we join our unfeigned thanks for all thy mercies; for our being, our reason, and all other endowments and faculties of soul and body; for our health, friends, food, and raiment, and all the other comforts and conveniences of life. Above all, we adore thy mercy in sending thine only Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and eternal death, and in giving us the knowledge and sense of our duty towards thee. We bless thee for thy patience with us, notwithstanding our many and great provocations; for all the directions, assistances, and comforts of thy Holy Spirit; for thy continual care and watchful providence over us through the whole course of our lives, and particularly for the mercies and benefits of the past day; beseeching thee to continue these thy blessings to us, and to give us grace to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience to his laws through whose merits and intercession we received them all, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
479 – O MOST merciful Father, we humbly thank thee for all thy gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For life and health and safety, for power to work and leisure to rest, for all that is beautiful in creation and in the lives of men, we praise and magnify thy holy Name. But above all we thank thee for our spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NIGHT
480 – At Night
LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thine only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
481 – O LORD, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.
482 – O GOD, who art the life of mortal men, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labour, and the repose of the dead: We thank thee for the timely blessings of the day, and humbly supplicate thy merciful protection all this night. Bring us, we beseech thee, in safety to the morning hours; through him who died for us and rose again, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
483 – BE present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may repose upon thine eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
484 – LOOK down, O Lord, from thy heavenly throne, illuminate the darkness of this night with thy celestial brightness, and from the sons of light banish the deeds of darkness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
485 – O LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who at this evening hour didst rest in the sepulchre, and didst thereby sanctify the grave to be a bed of hope to thy people: Make us so to abound in sorrow for our sins, which were the cause of thy passion, that when our bodies lie in the dust our souls may live with thee; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
486 – ALMIGHTY Father, who slumberest not nor sleepest: We humbly pray thee to watch over us this night with the eyes of thy mercy. Grant us quiet and refreshing sleep, such as may fit us for the duties of the morrow. Put far from us all worldly cares and earthly fears, and give us holy thoughts of thee; that we may repose in peace, and, whether we wake or sleep, may live together with him who died and was buried and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
487 – WE beseech thee to continue thy gracious protection to us this night. Defend us from all dangers and mischiefs, and from the fear of them, that we may enjoy such refreshing sleep as may fit us for the duties of the coming day. And grant us grace always to live in such a state that we may never be afraid to die, so that, living and dying, we may be thine; through the merits and satisfaction of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
488 – Sick Persons
ALMIGHTY Father, giver of life and health: Look mercifully, we beseech thee, on the sick and suffering, especially those for whom our prayers are desired; that, by thy blessing upon them and upon those who minister to them, they may be restored, if it be thy gracious will, to health of body and mind, and give thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
489 – ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, the comfort of the sad, the strength of sufferers: Let the prayers of those that cry out of any tribulation come unto thee, that all may rejoice to find that thy mercy is present with them in their afflictions; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
490 – Persons in Mental Darkness
O HEAVENLY Father, we beseech thee to have mercy upon all thy children who are living in mental darkness. Restore them to strength of mind and cheerfulness of spirit, and give them health and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
491 – O MERCIFUL God, giver of life and health: Bless, we pray thee, thy servant —, and those who administer to him of thy healing gifts, that he may be restored to health of body and of mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
492 – O SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us: Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen.
493 – O ALMIGHTY God, who art the giver of all health, and the aid of them that turn to thee for succour: We entreat thy strength and goodness in behalf of this thy servant, that he may be healed of his infirmities, to thine honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
494 – O LORD, holy Father, by whose loving-kindness our souls and bodies are renewed: Mercifully look upon this thy servant, that, every cause of sickness being removed, he may be restored to soundness of health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
495 – O GOD, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to thy servant the help of thy power; that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
496 – O GOD, of heavenly powers, who by the might of thy command drivest away from men’s bodies all sickness and all infirmity: Be present in thy goodness with this thy servant, that his weakness may be banished and his strength recalled; that, his health being thereupon restored, he may bless thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
497 – O FATHER of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech thee to behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servant—, for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, comfort him with a sense of thy goodness, preserve him from the temptations of the enemy, and give him patience under his affliction. In thy good time restore him to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in thy fear and to thy glory; and grant that finally he may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
498 – O ALMIGHTY God, who art the giver of all health, and the aid of all them that seek to thee for succour: We call upon thee mercifully to show thy help and goodness to this thy servant, that he, being healed of his infirmity, may give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
499 – ALMIGHTY and immortal God, giver of life and health: We beseech thee to hear our prayers for this thy servant, that, by thy blessing upon him and upon those who minister to him, he may be restored to health of body and mind, and give thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
500 – O LORD Jesus Christ, thou great Physician: Look with thy gracious favour upon this thy servant; give wisdom and discretion to those who minister to him in his sickness; bless all the means used for his recovery; stretch forth thy hand and, if it be thy will, restore him to health and strength, that he may live to praise thee for thy goodness and thy grace; to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
501 – ALMIGHTY, everliving God, maker of all mankind: We beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant in his affliction. Give him grace to take his sickness with patience and courage; and grant that, if it be thy gracious will, he may recover his bodily health, and serve thee henceforth in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
502 – SANICTIFY, we beseech thee, O Lord, the sickness of this thy servant, that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith and seriousness to his repentance; and grant that he may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
503 – ALMIGHTY, everliving God, maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive: We beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thine hand, and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health, if it be thy gracious will; and that, whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
504 – ACCEPT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, the devout praise of thy humble servant, and grant him an abiding sense of thy loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
505 – HEAR us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thine accustomed goodness to this thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Visit him, O Lord, with thy loving mercy, and so restore him to his former health, that he may give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
506 – HEAR us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thine accustomed goodness to this thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction to him, that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith and seriousness to his repentance; that, if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health, he may lead the residue of his life in thy fear and to thy glory. Or else give him grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
507 – HEAR, O Lord, we beseech thee, these our prayers, as we call upon thee on behalf of this thy servant, and bestow upon him the help of thy merciful consolation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
508 – O LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve thy servant, for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy; restore him, if it be thy good pleasure, to his former health; sanctify this thy fatherly correction to him; give him comfort and sure confidence in thee; defend him from the assaults and fear of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
509 – O LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him in all danger, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
510 – O ALMIGHTY God and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death: Look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy, upon this thy servant now lying upon the bed of sickness. Grant him sincere repentance of his sins past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus Christ. Visit him with thy salvation; deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for thy mercies’ sake; that, if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to thee and be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee faithfully and doing good in his generation. Or else receive him into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercies’ sake, in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God world without end. Amen.
511 – A Sick Child
O HEAVENLY Father, watch with us, we pray thee, over the sick child for whom our prayers are offered, and grant that he may be restored to that perfect health which it is thine alone to give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
512 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who didst with joy receive and bless the children brought to thee: Give thy blessing to this thy child, and in thine own time deliver him from his bodily pain, that he may live to serve thee all his days. Amen.
513 – O LORD Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of the sheep, who dost gather the lambs with thine arms, and carry them in thy bosom: We commit into thy loving hands this child. Relieve his pain, guard him from all danger, restore unto him thy gifts of gladness and strength, and raise him up to a life of service to thee. Hear us, we beseech thee, for thy dear Name’s sake. Amen.
514 – O LORD Jesus Christ, who lovest little children, and thyself didst live as a child upon earth: Have mercy upon this thy child; make him to know and feel that thou art ever near; help him to be meek and gentle, patient and obedient, and lead him to love thee more and more; restore him to health and strength, if it be thy gracious will, that he may live for thee, to the glory of thy holy Name; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. Amen.
515 – A Person about to Undergo an Operation
FATHER of compassion and mercy, who never failest to help and comfort those who cry to thee for succour: Give strength and courage to this thy son in his hour of need. Hold thou him up and he shall be safe; enable him to feel that thou art near, and to know that underneath are the everlasting arms; grant that, resting on thy protection, he may fear no evil, since thou art with him and wilt comfort him; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
516 – ALMIGHTY God our heavenly Father, we beseech thee graciously to comfort thy servant in his suffering, and to bless the means made use of for his cure. Fill his heart with confidence, that, though he be sometime afraid, he yet may put his trust in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
517 – A Person Mentally Disturbed
O HEAVENLY Father, who in thy love and wisdom knowest the anxieties and fears of thy children; whose Son Jesus Christ said to his disciples, It is I, be not afraid; and to the tempest, Peace, be still: Grant that this thy servant may be strengthened to cast all his care upon thee, for thou carest for him. Give him quietness; give him unshaken trust; and may the day-spring from on high guide his feet into the way of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
518 – A Person Needing Sleep
O HEAVENLY Father, who givest thy children sleep for the refreshing of their souls and bodies: Grant this gift to thy servant; keep him in that perfect peace which thou hast promised to those whose minds are stayed on thee; inspire him with a sense of thy presence; so that in the hours of silence he may enjoy the blessed assurance of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
519 – A Despondent Person