The Book of Common Prayer,
Formatted as the original

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The Litany for Ordinations
 
For use at Ordinations as directed. On Ember Days or other occasions, if desired, this Litany may be used for the Prayers of the People at the Eucharist or the Daily Office, or it may be used separately.
 
God the Father,
Have mercy on us.
 
God the Son,
Have mercy on us.
 
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
 
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
  
We pray to you, Lord Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For the holy Church of God, that it may be filled with truth 
and love, and be found without fault at the Day of your Coming,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For all members of your Church in their vocation and
ministry, that they may serve you in a true and godly life,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For N., our Presiding Bishop, and for all bishops, priests, and
deacons, that they may be filled with your love, may hunger 
for truth, and may thirst after righteousness,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For N., chosen bishop (priest, deacon) in your Church,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
That he may faithfully fulfill the duties of this ministry, build up your Church, and glorify your Name,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

That by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit he may be sustained
and encouraged to persevere to the end,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For his family [the members of his household or community],
that they may be adorned with all Christian virtues,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For all who fear God and believe in you, Lord Christ, that our divisions may cease and that all may be one as you and the Father are one,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may
preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For those who do not yet believe, and for those who have lost
their faith, that they may receive the light of the Gospel,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For the peace of the world, that a spirit of respect and
forbearance may grow among nations and peoples,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those in positions of public trust [especially___________],
that they may serve justice and promote the dignity and
freedom of every person,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For a blessing upon all human labor, and for the right use 
of the riches of creation, that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer; for
refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger; that they may 
be relieved and protected,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the
grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
For all who have died in the communion of your Church, and
those whose faith is known to you alone, that, with all the
saints, they may have rest in that place where there is no pain
or grief, but life eternal,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Rejoicing in the fellowship of [the ever-blessed Virgin Mary,
(blessed N.) and] all the saints, let us commend ourselves,
and one another, and all our life to Christ our God.
To you, O Lord our God.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

At ordinations, the Bishop who is presiding stands and says
 
		The Lord be with you. 
People  	And also with you. 
Bishop  	Let us pray.
 
The Bishop says the appointed Collect.
  
When this Litany is used on other occasions, the Officiant concludes
with a suitable Collect.

 

Additional Directions

At all Ordinations
 
The celebration of the Holy Eucharist may be according to Rite One or 
Rite Two. In either case, the rubrics of the service of ordination are 
followed.  The Summary of the Law, the Gloria in excelsis, the Prayers of 
the People after the Creed, the General Confession, and the usual postcommunion prayer are not used.
 
At the Presentation of the Ordinand, the Declaration “I do believe the 
Holy Scriptures. . .” is to be provided as a separate document to be 
signed, as directed by Article VIII of the Constitution of this Church and 
by the rubrics in each of the ordination rites. (When there are more ordinands than one, each is to be presented with a separate copy for signature.)
 
The hymn to the Holy Spirit before the Prayer of Consecration may be 
sung responsively between a bishop and the congregation, or in some 
other convenient manner.
 
If vestments or other symbols of office are to be dedicated, such blessing 
is to take place at some convenient time prior to the service. The 
following form may be used.
V.    Our help is in the Name of the Lord; 
R.    The maker of heaven and earth. 
V.    The Lord be with you. 
R.    And also with you.
 
Let us pray.
 
Everliving God, whose power is limitless, we place before 
you, with our praise and thanks, these tokens of your 
servant’s ministry and dignity. Grant that N., who has been called to leadership in your Church, and bears these signs, 
may faithfully serve you and share in the fullness of your 
life-giving Spirit; through the high priest and good shepherd 
of us all, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

At the Ordination of a Bishop
 
Following the Consecration Prayer, and while the new bishop is being clothed with the vesture of the episcopate, instrumental music may be played.
 
Following the presentation of the Bible, and the formula “Receive the 
Holy Scriptures. . .” a ring, staff, and mitre, or other suitable 
insignia of office may be presented.
 
During the Eucharistic Prayer, it is appropriate that some of the consecrating bishops, and representative presbyters of the diocese, stand 
with the new bishop at the Altar as fellow ministers of the Sacrament.
 
The newly ordained bishop, assisted by other ministers, distributes Holy Communion to the people.  When necessary, the administration may take place at several conveniently separated places in the church.
 
After the pontifical blessing and the dismissal, a hymn of praise may be sung.
 
The bishops who are present are not to depart without signing the Letters 
of Consecration. 
 
At the Ordination of a Priest
 
Reasonable opportunity is to be given for the priests present to join in the laying on of hands.
 
The stole worn about the neck, or other insignia of the office of priest, is placed upon the new priest after the entire Prayer of Consecration is completed, and immediately before the Bible is presented. Afterwards, 
other instruments or symbols of office may be given.
 
If two or more are ordained together, each is to have his own presenters.  The ordinands may be presented together, or in succession, as the bishop may direct. Thereafter, references to the ordinand in the singular are 
changed to the plural where necessary. The ordinands are examined 
together.
 
During the Prayer of Consecration, the bishop and priests lay their hands upon the head of each ordinand. During the laying on of hands, the 
bishop alone says over each ordinand “Father, through Jesus Christ your

 Son, give your Holy Spirit to N.; fill him with grace and power, and make him a priest in your Church.” When they have laid their hands upon all 
the ordinands, the bishop continues “May they exalt you, O Lord, in the midst. . .”
 
A Bible is to be given to each new priest, and the words “Receive this
Bible. . .” are to be said to each one.
 
All the newly ordained take part in the exchange of the Peace, and join
the bishop and other priests at the Altar for the Great Thanksgiving.
Similarly, all the new priests break the consecrated Bread and receive
Holy Communion. 
 
At the Ordination of a Deacon
 
The stole worn over the left shoulder, or other insignia of the office of deacon, is placed upon the new deacon after the entire Prayer of 
Consecration is completed, and immediately before the Bible is given.
 
If two or more are ordained together, each is to have his own presenters.  The ordinands may be presented together, or in succession, as the bishop may direct. Thereafter, references to the ordinand in the singular are 
changed to the plural where necessary. The ordinands are examined 
together.
 
During the Prayer of Consecration, the Bishop is to lay hands upon the 
head of each ordinand, and say over each one “Father, through Jesus 
Christ your Son, give your Holy Spirit to N.; fill him with grace and 
power, and make him a deacon in your Church.”  After laying hands 
upon all the ordinands, the bishop continues “Make them, O Lord, 
modest and humble...”
 
A Bible is to be given to each new deacon, and the words “Receive this
Bible . . . ” are also to be said to each one.
 
After participating in the Peace, the deacons go to the Altar for the Offertory. If there are many deacons, some assist in the Offertory and 
others administer Holy Communion.  One, appointed by the bishop, is 
to say the dismissal.

When desired, deacons may be appointed to carry the Sacrament and minister Holy Communion to those communicants who, because of 
sickness or other grave cause, could not be present at the ordination.

If the remaining Elements are not required for the Communion of the absent, it is appropriate for the deacons to remove the vessels from the 
Altar, consume the remaining Elements, and cleanse the vessels in some convenient place.