ADVERTISEMENT.

AS it is the prerogative of every autonomous branch of the Church to establish its own formularies of worship, so it is not to be expected that Liturgies and Offices should be the same in all places, or even among those national churches that are of the same communion. It is not, therefore, a valid ground of objection to the formularies of the Mexican Episcopal Church that they depart somewhat widely from the Anglican type. It is sufficient to justify them that, liturgically, they are sanctioned by the Mozarabic rite, from which the greater part of them is derived, and by other ancient orthodox liturgies; and that, theologically, they are in harmony with the Catholic faith.
    These formularies are provisional, in the sense that they are still undergoing the criticism of the Mexican Church, where they have been in use upwards of a year, with a view of curing any defects that may be realized in the light of experience; and are also subject to the control of the Bishop, in the exercise of his power to license. The present edition, in Spanish and English, is intended to exhibit the worship and doctrine of the Mexican Church to all those other branches of the Church with which it is in communion, and especially to the Church in the United States.

J WILLIAMS,

PROVISIONAL OFFICES

OF THE

MEXICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH

OR

CHURCH OF JESUS.

AUTHORIZATIONS.

DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT,
November 29, 1893.

I do hereby, with the approval of my Episcopal Advisers, approve, for provisional use in Mexico, the Form following for Morning and Evening Prayer, and the Offices for Holy Baptism and the Holy Communion: the same having been accepted by the Cuerpo Eclesiástico through its Standing Committee.

JOHN WILLIAMS,

RESOLUTIONS

OF THE

CUERPO ECLESIÁSTICO OF THE MEXICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH, OR CHURCH OF JESUS.

ADOPTED IN THE SESSION OF JANUARY 3. 1894.

   1. These Offices having been approved by the Provisional Bishop of this Church and by this Body, it is hereby ordered that they be printed and put in use.
   2. The Psalter, the Selections of Psalms,. the Lessons from Holy Scripture, and whatever else may be wanting to this Book, shall be taken temporarily, from the "Prayer-Book of the American Church."

   MEXICO, January 3,. 1894.
      A true copy.

MORNING PRAYER.

    At the beginning of Morning Prayer, all standing up, the Minister shall say one or both of the following verses:

“THE Lord is in his holy temple : let all the earth keep : silence before him.”   Hab. ii : 20.
    “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”   St. Matt. xviii: 20.
    Min.—In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Light and Peace be unto us. Amen.

   Then shall be said the Proper Sentence and Response, according to what followeth :

In Advent.

The Lord cometh,
Ans.—Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.   1 Cor. iv: 5.

Christmas to Epiphany.

The Dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Ans.—To give light to them that sit in darkness.   St. Luke i : 78, 79.

Epiphany to Septuagesima.

Jesus said, I am the Light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness,
Ans.—But shall have the light of life.   St. John viii: 12.

Septuagesima to Lent.

Show the light of Thy countenance upon Thy servant,
Ans.—And teach me Thy statutes.   Ps. cxix : 135.

Lent.

God be merciful unto us, and bless is,
Ans.—And show us the light of His countenance, and be merciful unto us.   Ps. lxvii : l.

Easter to Ascension.

Christ hath abolished death,
Ans.—And brought life and immortality to light, through the Gospel.   2 Tim. i : 10.

Ascension to Whitsun-day.

O send out Thy light and Thy truth.
Ans.—That they may lead me, and bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.   Ps. xliii: 3.

Whitsun-day to Trinity Sunday.

With Thee is the well of life,
Ans.—And in Thy light shall we see light.   Psalm xxxvi : 9.

Trinity to Advent.

God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all;
Ans.—And the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.   1 St. John i : 5, 7.

Memorial Days.

Light is sown for the righteous,
Ans.—And gladness for the upright in heart.   Ps. xcvii: 11.

Then shall the Minister say:

The Lord be ever with you.

And the People shall answer:

And with Thy spirit.
Min.—Let us pray.

The Minister standing and the people kneeling, shall be said or sung, together or by alternate verses, from the LI. Psalm, as followeth:

The Minister may, however, at his discretion, pass at once to the Lord's Prayer.
 

Have Mercy upon Me, O God.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness : according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.
    Wash me throughly from my wickedness : and cleanse me from my sin.
    For I acknowledge my faults : and my sin is ever before me.
    Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight : that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
    Behold, I was shapen in wickedness : and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
    But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts : and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
    Turn Thy face from my sins : and put out all my misdeeds.
    Make me a clean heart, O God : and renew a right spirit within me.
    Cast me not away from Thy presence : and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
    Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: world without end. Amen.

    NOTE.—That whenever this Gloria is appointed in Divine Service, it shall be said or sung by the Minister and People together.
    Then shall be said by the Minister and the People, remaining on their knees:
 

TURN Thy face from our sins, O Lord, and put out all our misdeeds; Look not upon our evil doings, but lend a merciful ear to our confessions ,: And since thou art pleased with the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart, grant that we may offer this which Thou dost require, and may so obtain the pardon which Thou dost promise the penitent; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
    For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

    Min.—O Lord, open Thou our lips.
    Ans.—And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.

Then, all standing up, shall be said or sung:

    Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen .
    Min.—From the rising lip of the sun, unto the going down of the same,
    Ans.—The Lord's Name be praised.
    Min.—Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from this time forth, for evermore.
    Ans.—The Lord's Name be praised.

    Then shall be said or sung the XCV. Psalm, except on those days for which other Anthems may be appointed.
 

O come, let us sing unto the Lord.

O COME, let us sing unto the Lord : let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
    Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving : and show ourselves glad in Him with psalms.
    For the Lord is a great God : and a great King above all gods.
    In His hand are all the corners of the earth : and the strength of the hills is His also.
    The sea is His and He made it : and His hands prepared the dry land.
    O come, let us worship and fall down : and kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
    For He is the Lord our God : and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
    O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness : let the whole earth stand in awe of Him.
    For He cometh to judge the earth : and with righteousness to judge the world~ and the people with His truth.
    Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost : world without end. Amen.

    This Gloria may in like manner be said or sung at the end of every Psalm, and shalt be at the end of the Psalms for the day.

Then shall follow the Psalms as they are appointed.

Then shall be read the appointed First Lesson, the Minister first saying, while all stand:

The blessing of God Almighty, Who spake in time past unto the fathers by the Prophets, be upon you that hear His Holy Word.

And the people shall answer to this:

And upon you that read it.

NOTE,—That before each Lesson he that readeth shall say :

Here beginneth such a chapter (or verse of such a chapter) of such a Book; and after every lesson: Here endeth the First (or the Second) Lesson.

Then shall be said or sung the following Hymn:
 

We praise Thee, O God.

WE praise Thee, O God : we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
    All the earth doth worship Thee : the Father everlasting.
    To Thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein;
    To Thee, Cherubim and Seraphim : continually do cry,
    Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth ; Heaven and earth are full of the glory of Thy majesty.
    The glorious company of the Apostles;
    The goodly fellowship of the Prophets;
    The white-robed .Martyrs :
    All one army praise Thee.
    The holy Church throughout all the world : doth acknowledge Thee;
    The Father: of an Infinite Majesty;
    Thine adorable, true, and only Son;
    Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
    Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.
    Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.
    When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man : Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a Virgin.
    When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
    Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father.
    We believe that Thou shalt come : to be our Judge.
    We therefore pray Thee help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
    Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints : in glory everlasting.
    O Lord, save Thy people : and bless Thine heritage.
    Govern them : and lift them up forever.
    Day by day: we magnify Thee;
    And we worship Thy name : ever world without end.
    Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.
    O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.
    O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us : as our trust is in Thee.
    O Lord, in Thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.

Or this:

Blessed art Thou.

BLESSED art Thou. O Lord God of our fathers : and to be praised and exalted above all forever.
    And blessed is Thy glorious and holy name : and to be praised and exalted above all forever.
    Blessed art Thou' in the temple of Thine holy glory : and to be praised and glorified above all forever.
    Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubim : and to be praised and exalted above all forever.
    Blessed art Thou on the glorious Throne of Thy kingdom : and to be praised and glorified above all forever.
    Blessed art Thou in the firmament of heaven : and to be praised and glorified above all forever.
    Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost : world without end. Amen.

    Then shall be read the appointed Second Lesson, the Minister first saying, while all stand:

The Blessing of God Almighty, Who hath, in these last days, spoken unto us by His Son, be upon you that hear His Holy Word ..

And the People shall answer to this:

And upon you that read it.

And after that shall be said or sung the following :
 

Blessed be.—St. Luke i. 68.

BLESSED be the Lord God of Israel : For He hath visited, and redeemed His people;
    And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us : in the house of His servant David;
    And He spake by the mouth of His holy Prophets : which have been since the world began;
    That we should be saved from our enemies : and from the hands of all that hate us;
    To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers : and to remember His holy Covenant;
    To perform the oath which He sware to our forefather Abraham : that He would give us ;
    That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies : might serve Him without fear;
    In holiness and righteousness before Him : all the days of our life.
    Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost : world without end. Amen ..

Then shall be said by the Minister and the People, all standing :

The Apostles’ Creed.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth :
    In Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin :Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell, the third day He rose from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence He shall come, at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting after death. Amen.

    After that shall be said the following prayers, the Minister first pronouncing:

The Lord be ever with you.
Ans.—And with thy Spirit.
Min.—Let us pray.
Min.—Lord, have mercy upon us.
Ans.—Christ, have mercy upon us.
Min.—Lord, have mercy upon us.

Then the Minister and the People shall Say :
 

OUR Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As .we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
    For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Then shall the .Minister say:

    Deliver us from evil, and confirm us in Thy fear, O Triune God, and make us, with unceasing service, to serve Thee, our God and our Lord, W livest, and governest all things, world without end. Amen.
    Min.—O Lord, show Thy mercy upon us,
    Ans.—And grant us Thy salvation.
    Min.—O Lord, save our country,
    Ans.—And mercifully hear us when we call upon Thee.
    Min.—Endue Thy ministers with righteousness,
    Ans.—And make Thy chosen people joyful.
    Min.—O Lord, save Thy people,
    Ans.—And bless Thine inheritance.
    Min.—Give peace in our time, O Lord;
    Ans.—For it is Thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.
    Min.—O God, make clean our hearts within us,
    Ans.—And take not Thy Holy Spirit from us.

    Then, unless the Holy Communion is immediately to follow, shall be said the Collect for the Season and that for the day.

Then shall be said the Collects following:

For Peace.

O GOD, the Author of peace; Shed abroad, we pray Thee, Thy peace in our hearts and minds; guard and protect us in all dangers; and make us, ever trusting in Thy defence, to serve Thee without fear, all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ am Lord. Amen.

For Grace.

O LORD Jesus Christ, Who didst take upon Thee the weakness of our mortal nature; Grant that we may pass this day in safety, and without sin, resisting all the temptations of the enemy, and that at eventide we may joyfully praise thee, O King Eternal; through Thy mercy, O our God, Who art blessed, and dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

    Here may be sung an anthem.
   Then, the sermon.
   Then shall be sung a hymn, and meantime the offerings of the people may be taken.
   Then may follow one or more of the authorized Collects, besides the following three Which are obligatory :

1. For the rulers of the Country.
2. For the human race.
3. The Thanksgiving.

And then shall be said:

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us now and evermore. Amen.

Or this :

MAY the Everlasting God bless us this day; may He save and defend us from all that is evil; and make us, at last, partakers of His heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then, all standing up, the Minister shall say :

IN the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, let us retire in peace.
   Ans.—Thanks be to God.