THE
LORD’S
SERVICE
Interim Rite

 
NOTE.—In the form printed herein the Oblation and Communion prayers from THE COMMUNION in the Book of Common Prayer have been restored to the order of the first English Mass of 1549.
 

THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS

The PREPARATION of Priest and Ministers being ended, the Priest still standing at the foot of the Altar says the Lord’s Prayer, followed by:

ALMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts be 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.
R. Amen.

When the Priest has approached the Altar he goes to the south side to read:

THE INTROIT

Which ended, if the Ten Commandments with the Responses be not rehearsed, he says alternately with the Ministers:

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

This is said on Sundays (except in Advent and Lent) and on all holy-days.

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee; we bless thee; we worship thee; we glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy: thou only art the Lord: thou only, O Jesu Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
 

The Priest salutes the people, saying:

V. The Lord be with you:
R. And with thy spirit.

Then follow:

Let us pray.

THE COLLECTS

THE EPISTLE

R. Thanks be to God.

THE GRADUAL

The Priest then prays before the Cross that he may read the Gospel worthily, and going to the north side of the Altar, salutes the people:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

THE NICENE CREED

This is said on Sundays and all great feasts.

I BELIEVE in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: and of all things visible and invisible.
    And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Begotten of his Father before all worlds. God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten not made; being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven [Kneel here in reverence for Christ’s Incarnation], and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, AND WAS MADE MAN. And was crucified also for us; under Pontius Pilate he suffered, and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father: and he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall have no end.
    And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified: who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead + and the life of the world to come. Amen.

If there be a sermon it is preached here, and a collection may be made. Before

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Let us pray.

Then, after reading an offertory verse, he takes bread and wine and offers them with appropriate prayers, and when he has placed them in order upon the Altar he calls down the blessing of God upon them, making the sign of the cross over them.

Then he washes his hands, and after a final prayer, said privately, turning to the congregation he invites them to pray with him, saying:

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church, militant here in earth.

Then follows:

THE PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord.
    And grant, that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity, and godly love.
    We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian kings, princes, and governors; and specially thy servant, Elizabeth, our Queen: that under her we may be godly and quietly governed; and grant unto her whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under her, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.
    Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.
    And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace: and specially to this congregation here present: that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
    And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.
    And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear: beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake: our only Mediator and Advocate.
R. Amen.
 

THE PREFACE

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up unto the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
R. It is meet and right so to do.

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.

Then follows the PROPER PREFACE if there be one; if not, is said at once:

THEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying:
Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
 

THE CANON OF THE MASS

This, the central action of the service, the Priest begins by raising his hands to heaven and his eyes to the figure of the Crucified, whose representative he is. Then kissing the Altar to signify the identity of his action with that of the One True Priest, he makes three crosses over the offering of bread and wine he is about to consecrate. Then calling to mind the members of the whole Church on earth bound to him in the unity of faith, but especially the Chief Bishop and the Bishop of the diocese, he remembers the congregation there present, and all for whom he and they desire to pray. Next he recalls his union with the Church triumphant in heaven, especially blessed Mary, the ever Virgin Mother of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, and all his Apostles and Martyrs who have gone before us in the sign of faith, and, lastly, he commends to the mercy of God the souls of the faithful departed, especially those for whom he is bound to pray. Then, spreading his hands over the oblation, he says:

ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus. Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again.
    Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and grant that we receiving + these thy creatures of + bread and + wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed + Body and + Blood.
    Who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took Bread; and, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, TAKE, EAT, THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU: DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
    Likewise after supper, he took the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; DO THIS, AS OFT AS YE SHALL DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.
Wherefore, having in remembrance the blessed passion, mighty resurrection and glorious ascension of thy dear Son, O Lord, and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept + this + our + Sacrifice of + praise and + thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his Blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his Passion.
    And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this + holy + Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly + benediction.
    And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any Sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through + Jesus + Christ our + Lord.
    By + whom, and with + whom, in the + unity of the Holy Ghost, all + honour and glory + be unto thee, O Father Almighty; World without end.
R. Amen.

Let us pray: As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say:

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
R. But deliver us from evil.
 

THE FRACTION

The Priest now breaks the Host, continuing the while to pray privately for deliverance from all evil. He salutes the people, saying:
V. The peace + of the Lord be + alway with + you.
R. And with thy spirit.
and, having placed one portion of the Host in the Cup, says:

O LAMB of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.
    O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.
    O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: grant us thy peace.

The Priest then prays privately for the Unity of the Church according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ; and afterwards, in preparation for the reception of Holy Communion, he says:

WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls washed through his most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

The Priest then receives the Holy Sacrament.

THE ORDER OF MINISTERING HOLY
COMMUNION TO THE PEOPLE

The priest then administers Holy Communion to the people who desire to receive with him, first inviting them to humble confession; and the Clerk in their name says as follows:
 

THE CONFESSION

ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the, remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE ABSOLUTION

ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; have mercy upon you; pardon + and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
 

THE COMFORTABLE WORDS

HEAR what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him.

COME unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
    So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
HEAR also what St. Paul saith.
    This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
HEAR also what St. John saith.
    If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.

THE WORDS OF ADMINISTRATION

THE Body + of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

THE Blood + of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

When holy Communion has been administered, the Priest, having cleansed the vessels and covered them with the veil, goes to the south side of the Altar to say the COMMUNION Sentence. He then salutes the people again, saying:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
 

Then follows:

THE POSTCOMMUNION

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. And dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members. incorporate in the mystical Body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people: and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son.
    And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in: through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end.
R. Amen.

Other collects sometimes follow this.
 

The Priest then dismisses the people with the
PEACE AND BLESSING

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Go forth in peace or, Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

THE peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
    And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father +, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.
R. Amen.

The Priest then passes to the north side of the Altar to read:

✚
THE LAST GOSPEL

This is generally the first fourteen verses of St. John’s Gospel, but when a greater Feast occurs on a Sunday, the Gospel of the Sunday is said here.