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The Book of Common Prayer | ||||||
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Contents Foreword
FOREWORD This book is approved for general use in the Diocese of Nassau and the Bahamas, and is commended to all who seek a simple guide to devotion in private prayer and public worship. + Bernard Nassau and the Bahamas 1963 THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THE PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH 1. To be present at Mass on all Sundays and the chief Holy Days, and to keep Sunday as a day of worship, rest, and recreation. THE HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION Christmass Day, 25 December A RULE OF LIFE Should Include: |
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| Thanks are due to Richard Mammana, who transcribed the text from a copy in the collection of Thomas Rae. | |||
PRAYERS TO LEARN BY HEART THE LORD’S PRAYER OUR FATHER, who 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; But deliver us from evil. HAIL MARY HAIL, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. GLORIA GLORY be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. THE APOSTLES’ CREED I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And 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 again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. THE ANGELUS V. The Angel of the Lord announced unto Mary; Let us pray. 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. R. Amen. From Easter Day to the Saturday before Trinity Sunday should be said: REGINA COELI JOY to thee, O Queen of heaven, Alleluia. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia, Let us pray. O GOD, who by the resurrection of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, has vouchsafed to give joy to the whole world: Grant, we beseech thee, that with the help of his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life; through the same Christ our Lord. PRAYER OF ST IGNATIUS 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. Amen. ANIMA CHRISTI SOUL of Christ, sanctify me. GRACE BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS A suggested Grace before meals:
After meals:
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MORNING PRAYERS
Our Father ... O MY GOD, I thank thee for keeping me safe during the past night and for bringing me to the beginning of another day. ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE O my God, I believe in thee and all that thy Church doth teach, because thou hast said it and thy word is true. PRAYER FOR OTHERS O GOD, bless all those who are near and dear to me. Give them thy grace to know, love and serve thee as they ought. PRAY FOR GRACE O LORD, Jesus Christ watch over my soul, I beseech thee, grant me thy help that I may pass this day without sin and that at eventide I may again give thanks unto thee. PRAYER OF ST IGNATIUS 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. Amen. BLESSING MAY God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost bless, preserve and keep me, may blessed Mary and the Saints pray for me, may my guardian angel defend me, this day and for evermore. Amen. |
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EVENING PRAYERS
Our Father ... O MY GOD, I thank thee for all the blessings thou hast given me. I thank thee for having created and baptized me; for having made me a member of thy Holy Church. And I thank thee, dear Jesus, for having become a little child for my sake, and for having died upon the cross, that I might be forgiven and get to heaven. Also I thank thee for all thy other mercies, most of all those thou hast given me to-day. SELF EXAMINATION O HOLY Spirit, give me sight to see all the sins that I have done this day, and grant me grace to be truly sorry for them. INTERCESSION BLESS, O Lord, all mankind and bring them to a knowledge and love of the Catholic faith. Bless thy Holy Church throughout the world, and gather all men into the true fold. Bless all who are near and dear to me, and those who oppose me. Bless the poor and needy, the sick and afflicted, and all who are at the point of death. Have mercy upon the souls of the faithful departed, and grant them rest and peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COMMEND YOURSELF TO THE LORD JESUS O MY CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR, O blessed Jesus, my only hope and refuge, bathe me with thy Blood, clothe me with thy merit, bless me with thy grace.
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PRAYING WITH THE BIBLE If you read the story in St Luke 24. 13-32, you will see that two of the disciples got to know Jesus by talking with him and listening to him and letting him explain the Bible to them. This made them so happy that they said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Every Christian can have a like experience, so every day take your Bible, and having got into a quiet place, which may be in church, and either kneeling or sitting in a reverent way, try to do these five things. 1. Prepare by thinking about God quietly and reading a short passage from the Bible. Here is an example of what you could do. If you read St Mark. 9. 14-29, you can picture in your mind the boy and his father and the crowd and Jesus. You think it over and you say, "Well, the boy was ill. I may not be ill physically, but I may easily get excited and lose my temper or get frightened and so I come to Jesus and I say the words of the father, ‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief’, and then I promise God that I will trust him when I get into panic or that I will not get excited and lose my temper at home or at work." This is a simple illustration of how to meditate. When you have done this each day, you could finish with a simple prayer like this: MAY the will of Jesus always guide us; |
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THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION Sin makes your soul dirty. When your soul is dirty, you need it washed with Jesus’ blood. God will forgive us if we repent, that is—be sorry, confess, do better. PREPARE CAREFULLY BY PRAYER
O HOLY Spirit, help me to see myself as God sees me. Thou art our guide to lead us into all truth. Show me the truth about myself. Make me to know how often and to what extent I have offended thee. Help me to remember and confess all my sins and give me grace to be truly sorry for them. For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. Go through the following list of sins; it may help you in your self-examination. I have been ashamed of my religion. When the priest is ready to hear your confession, say: I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to all the Saints, and to you, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, by my own fault, especially I have sinned since my last confession, which was ... ago. Listen to what the Priest has to say to you. Do carefully the penance he gives you and make your thanksgiving. |
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PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION To be said the night before receiving Holy Communion. Our Father ... PSALM 23. THE Lord is my Shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. Lord have mercy upon us. Our Father ... V. I said, Lord be merciful unto me. Let us pray. MOST gracious God, incline thy merciful ears to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts with the grace of the Holy Ghost, that we may worthily approach thy holy mysteries, and love thee with an everlasting love. O MY GOD, help me to make a good communion. Come into my poor soul, and give me thy flesh to eat, and thy blood to drink. Lord, I am not worthy to come under thy roof, much less to receive thee into myself; but since thou didst not disdain to be laid in a manger, so vouchsafe to enter into my soul, unclean though it be through my many sins. |
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THE ASPERGES Used before the principal Mass on Sundays not in Eastertide. Antiphon. Thou shalt purge me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let us pray. O HOLY LORD, Father Almighty, everlasting God, we beseech thee to hear us; and vouchsafe to send thy holy angel from heaven, to guard and cherish, protect and visit, and evermore defend all that dwell in this house, through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. On Sundays in Eastertide, that is, from Easter Sunday to Whitsunday, inclusive, the following is used instead of Antiphon and Psalm 51 above: Antiphon. I beheld water issuing from the right side of the temple, Alleluia, and all to whom that water came were saved, and they shall say, Alleluia, Alleluia. |
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THE ORDER OF THE MASS THE PREPARATION
PSALM 43 V. Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people: O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man. THE PRIEST’S CONFESSION V. I confess to Almighty God .. .
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THE INTRODUCTION COLLECT FOR PURITY Let us pray. 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. THE INTROIT THE NINE-FOLD KYRIE V. Kyrie eleison. [Kyrie eleison means Lord, have mercy. Christe eleison means Christ, have mercy.] THE GLORIA This is said or sung on all Feast Days throughout the year, and on Sundays except those in Advent and from Septuagesima to Easter. The Priest says: GLORY be to God on high, (and the people join in) and in 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. Let us pray. THE COLLECT R. Amen. THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD THE EPISTLE During the Epistle the people may sit. THE GRADUAL During the Gospel the people must stand. V. The Lord be with you. R. Glory When the Priest kisses the Book say, |
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THE NICENE CREED I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible. Here may follow a sermon. THE OFFERTORY V. The Lord be with you. Let us pray. Then shall the Priest say the proper Offertory of the day. V. Brethren, pray that this my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty. THE SECRET THE INTERCESSION Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s 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. |
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THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER V. The Lord be with you. Then shall the Priest continue: 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. Here shall follow the Proper Preface if one be appointed. Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee and saying: Priest and people (the bell rings three times): HOLY, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.
Then shall the Priest proceed saying: ALL glory, praise, and thanksgiving be unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, for that thou hast created the world and all mankind, and of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death, upon the cross, for our redemption; who made there, by his own 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. He extends his hands over the Oblations. (The bell rings once.) Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee: and vouchsafe to accept, bless, and sanctify these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine, that they may be unto us the Body and Blood of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ: Who in the same night in which he was betrayed, took Bread; Here the Priest is to take the Bread into his hands. (The bell will ring three times.) 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. Here he is to take the Cup into his hands. (The bell will ring three times.) 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 COVENANT 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, O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy servants with all thy holy people, having in remembrance the blessed passion, mighty resurrection, and glorious ascension of thy beloved Son, do offer here unto thy Divine Majesty this holy Bread of eternal life and this Cup of everlasting salvation, rendering thanks unto thee for the wonderful redemption which thou hast wrought for us in him. And we beseech thee, O Father, to accept upon thy heavenly altar this our Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; and 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. Let us pray. As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say: Then shall the Priest and the People sing or say together: OUR FATHER, who 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, But deliver us from evil. The Priest says silently the prayer Deliver us ... THE FRACTION Here the Priest is to break the Sacrament of Christ’s Body. V. The peace of the Lord be always with you. |
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AGNUS DEI Here shall be said or sung this anthem: O LAMB of God, that takest away the sins of the world; have mercy upon us. At Requiem Masses instead of, have mercy upon us, is said, grant them rest, and instead of grant us thy peace, grant them rest eternal. DEVOTIONS BEFORE COMMUNION The following prayers before Communion may be omitted when the people have said the Preparation with the Priest. THE INVITATION The Deacon shall say: Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours and intend to lead a new life: Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God. THE GENERAL CONFESSION All who intend to receive the Holy Communion shall say: ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, judge of all men; We acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings. 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 the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE ABSOLUTION The Priest (or the Bishop, if he be present) shall say: 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; THE PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS Then may be said: 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 with bodies and souls made clean from every stain of sin, we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. R. Amen. THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION The Deacon shall say: Draw near and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which were given for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Then the Priest, holding the Host, turns to the people and says: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him that taketh away the sins of the world. When the Priest delivers the Sacrament of Christ’s Body he shall say: The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. The Deacon in administering the Cup shall say: The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. |
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THE THANKSGIVING And other collects, when they are so appointed. V. The Lord be with you. ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost graciously feed us in these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, assuring us thereby that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son and are also heirs, through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom. And we most humbly beseech thee 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 the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. R. Amen. THE DISMISSAL V. The Lord be with you. At a Requiem Mass: V. May they rest in peace. When the Bishop is present the following versicles and responses are said before the Blessing is given, but not at other times. V. The Lord be with you. THE BLESSING The Priest (or the Bishop if he be present) shall let the People depart with this Blessing. 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
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Then may be said: THE LAST GOSPEL The people stand: V. The Lord be with you. After the Gospel: PRIVATE DEVOTIONS Hail Mary ... (Said three times.) SALVE REGINA HAIL, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. Let us pray. O GOD, our refuge and strength, look down in mercy on thy people who cry to thee; and at the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of St Joseph, her Spouse, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all thy Saints, in mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners and for the liberty and exaltation of our Holy Mother the Church. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HOLY Michael Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust down to hell Satan and all wicked spirits, who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen. V. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. (Said three times.) I THANK thee, loving Jesus, for having this day allowed me to take part in this Holy Mystery (and to receive the Sacrament of thy Body and Blood). Forgive me any inattention or wandering thoughts, and help me to lead a good life in this world, so that I may at last see thee face to face with thy Saints in heaven. Amen. 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 calling through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ANIMA CHRISTI SOUL of Christ, sanctify me. |
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BENEDICTION AND EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT When the priest exposes the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance, the following hymn is usually sung: O SAVING Victim! opening wide All praise and thanks to thee ascend, Then may follow a hymn, litany or other prayers. Therefore we before him bending, Glory let us give and blessing V. Thou gavest them Bread from Heaven. (Alleluia.) Let us pray. O GOD, 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, world without end. R. Amen. The priest, holding the Monstrance through the ends of the humeral veil, turns to the people and makes the sign of the cross over them. (Make the sign of the cross and bow your head in adoration.) THE DIVINE PRAISES Blessed be God. Antiphon. Let us worship Jesus in this great Sacrament. PSALM 117 O praise the Lord, all ye heathen: praise him, all ye nations. Antiphon. Let us worship Jesus in this great Sacrament. |
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and the life everlasting. Amen.