The Book of Common Prayer: E-text Edition (American, 1979) Version 1.0 13 December 1993 FILE 10 of 11 (BCPPRAYR.TXT) BCPINFO TXT -- the "Readme" with duplicate Table of Contents BCPOFFCE TXT -- the Daily Office and front matter BCPCOLCT TXT -- the Collects BCPSPECL TXT -- Special services and Baptism BCPEUCHR TXT -- The Eucharist BCPASTRL TXT -- Pastoral Offices (Marriage, Burial) BCPEPSCL TXT -- Episcopal Offices (Confirmation, Ordination) BCPSALT1 TXT -- The Psalter, part 1 BCPSALT2 TXT -- The Psalter, part 2 BCPPRAYR TXT -- Prayers and Thanks., Catechism, Historical Docs., Tables BCPLECTN TXT -- Lectionary You may retrieve this file by sending the command: GET BCPPRAYR TXT in the *body* of a message to "listserv@american.edu" (and similarly for the other files). This file is also available at FTP archives as a single file BCP10.TXT. FTP archives include: mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu wiretap.spies.com world.std.com If you are viewing this file with a word processor, we recommend you reformat it with a non-proportional, 10 point font, such as Courier 10. You should try to stop your program from automatically re-paragraphing the text, since line breaks are significant. This file, which should be called BCP10.TXT or bcp10.txt, is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN. You may make copies, distribute them, produce derivative works, reformat, and make extracts from it. If you do so, please do not distribute this header along with your altered E-text. In particular, if you remove this header, you may use this file in proprietary retrieval systems or embed the text in software that you sell. We wish to encourage the production of hypertext systems, both public domain and proprietary, containing the text of the _Book of Common Prayer_, and also of commentaries in electronic format. This version of the 1979 American version of the _Book of Common Prayer_ was edited by John E. Goodwin (jegoodwin@delphi.com). The text was contributed by members of the Electronic Mailing list ANGLICAN, which is sponsored by American Methodist University, Washington, DC. (The university has no connection with the E-text project). To subscribe to ANGLICAN, send the command "subscribe anglican" in the *body* of a message to "listserv@american.edu". You may then send messages to "anglican@american.edu". Notice that the addresses for sign-on and posting are different. Further details and acknowledgements are in file BCPINFO.TXT. -------------------(end of header)------------------ =Prayers for the World= 1. For Joy in God's Creation 2. For all Sorts and Conditions of Men 3. For the Human Family 4. For Peace 5. For Peace among the Nations 6. For our Enemies =Prayers for the Church= 7. For the Church 8. For the Mission of the Church 9. For Clergy and People 10. For the Diocese 11. For the Parish 12. For a Church Convention of Meeting 13. For the Election of a Bishop or other Minister 14. For the Unity of the Church 15. For those about to be Baptized or to renew their Baptismal Covenant 16. For Monastic Orders and Vocations 17. For Church Musicians and Artists *Prayers for the Ordained Ministry are on pages 205 and 256.* =Prayers for National Life= 18. For our Country 19. For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority 20. For Congress or a State Legislature 21. For Courts of Justice 22. For Sound Government 23. For Local Government 24. For an Election 25. For those in the Armed Forces of our Country 26. For those who Suffer for the sake of Conscience =Prayers for the Social Order= 27. For Social Justice 28. In Times of Conflict 29. For Agriculture 30. For the Unemployed 31. For Schools and Colleges 32. For the Good Use of Leisure 33. For Cities 34. For Towns and Rural Areas 35. For the Poor and Neglected 36. For the Oppressed 37. For Prisons and Correctional Institutions 38. For the Right Use of God's Gifts 39. For those who Influence Public Opinion *Prayers for Industry and Labor are on pages 208, 210, 259, and 261.* =Prayers for the Natural Order= 40. For Knowledge of God's Creation 41. For the Conservation of Natural Resources 42. For the Harvest of Lands and Waters 43. For Rain 44. For the Future of the Human Race =Prayers for Family and Personal Life= 45. For Families 46. For the Care of Children 47. For Young Persons 48. For Those Who Live Alone 49. For the Aged 50. For a Birthday 51. For a Birthday 52. For the Absent 53. For Travelers 54. For those we Love 55. For a Person in Trouble or Bereavement 56. For the Victims of Addiction 57. For Guidance 58. For Guidance 59. For Quiet Confidence 60. For Protection 61. A Prayer of Self-Dedication 62. A Prayer attributed to St. Frances *Prayers for the sick are on pages 548-461.* *Prayers for the dying are on pages 462-465.* *Prayers for the dead are on pages 202,253,487, and 503.* =Other Prayers= 63. In the Evening 64. Before Worship 65. For the Answering of Prayer 66. Before Receiving Communion 67. After Receiving Communion 68. After Worship 69. After Sunday 70. Grace at Meals *Prayers for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and for morning and evening are on pages 56, 69, 98, and 123.* =General Thanksgivings 1. A General Thanksgiving 2. A Litany of Thanksgiving *The General Thanksgivings is on pages 58 and 101.* =Thanksgivings for the Church= 3. For the Mission of the Church 4. For the Saints and Faithful Departed =Thanksgivings for National Life= 5. For the Nation 6. For Heroic Service =Thanksgivings for the Social Order= 7. For the Diversity of Races and Cultures =Thanksgivings for the Natural Order= 8. For the Beauty of the Earth 9. For the Harvest =Thanksgivings for Family and Personal Life= 10. For the Gift of a Child 11. For the Restoration of Health *Thanksgivings for the departed are on pages 487-489 and 503-504.* *The term "Various Occasions" in the following pages refers to the numbered Collects beginning on pages 199 and 251.* *For use after the Collects of Morning or Evening Prayer or separately.* *Prayers originally composed in traditional idiom have not been modernized; but, except in certain classical prayers which do not lend themselves to modernization, pronouns and verbs have been put in italics to assist in rendering them into contemporary speech.* =1. For Joy in God's Creation= O heavenly Father, =who hast= filled the world with beauty: Open 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 through whom all things were made, =thy= Son Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =2. For All Sorts and Conditions of Men= O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make they ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [especially those for whom our prayers are desired]; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. =Amen.= =3. For the Human Family= O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =4. For Peace= *See also Various Occasions no. 18.* Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. =Amen.= =5. For Peace Among the Nations= Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide 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 Savior Jesus Christ. =Amen.= =6. For our Enemies= O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =7. For the Church= Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with 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, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. =Amen.= =8. For the Mission of the Church= *See also the prayers for the Mission of the church on pages 58, 100, and 101, and Various Occasions no. 16.* Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. =Amen.= =9. Clergy and People= 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 honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. =Amen.= =10. For the Diocese= O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishops(s) &N. [and &N.], and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =11. For the Parish= Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =12. For a Church Convention or Meeting= *See also Various Occasions no. 13.* Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel [in &mdash.] for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =13. For the Election of a Bishop or other Minister= Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this Diocese (=or=, rector for this parish), that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =14. For the Unity of the Church= *See also Various Occasions no. 14, and Collect no. 6 (page 395).* O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, 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 whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, 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.= =15. for those about to be Baptized or to renew their Baptismal Covenant= O God, you prepared your disciples for the coming of the Spirit through the teaching of your Son Jesus Christ: Make the hearts and minds of your servants ready to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, that they may be filled with the strength of his presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *For those to be ordained, see Various Occasions no. 15.* =16. For Monastic Orders and Vocations= O Lord Jesus Christ, you became poor for our sake, that we might be made rich through your poverty: Guide and sanctify, we pray, those whom you call to follow you under the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, that by their prayer and service they may enrich your Church, and by their life and worship may glorify your Name; for you reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. =Amen.= =17. For Church Musicians and Artists= O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =18. For our Country= *See also Various Occasions no. 17.* 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 favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, 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.= =19. For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority= 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, the Governor of this State (=or= Commonwealth), 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 Spirit, one God, world without end. =Amen.= =20. For Congress or a State Legislature= O God, the fountain of wisdom, whose will is good and gracious, and whose law is truth: We beseech =thee= so to guide and bless our Senators and Representatives in Congress assembled (=or= in the Legislature of this State, =or= Common- wealth), that they may enact such laws as shall please =thee=, to the glory of =thy= Name and the welfare of this people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =21. For 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 Savior Jesus Christ. =Amen.= =22. For Sound Government= *The responses in italics may be omitted.* O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. =Lord, keep this nation under your care.= To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties. =Give grace to your servants, O Lord.= To Senators and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations. =Give grace to your servants, O Lord.= To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served. =Give grace to your servants, O Lord.= And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name. =For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen.= =23. For Local Government= Almighty God our heavenly Father, send down upon those who hold office in this State (Commonwealth, City, County, Town, &mdash.) the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =24. For an Election= Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States (*or* of this community) in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =25. For those in the Armed Forces of our Country= Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =26. For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience= O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. =Amen.= =27. For Social Justice= *See also Various Occasions no. 21.* Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =28. In Times of Conflict= O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =29. For Agriculture= *See also Various Occasions no. 19.* Almighty God, we thank you for making the earth fruitful, so that it might produce what is needed for life: Bless those who work in the fields; give us seasonable weather; and grant that we may all share the fruits for the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *For prayers for Industry and Labor, see Various Occasions no. 19, no. 24, and no. 25.* =30. For the Unemployed= Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =31. For Schools and Colleges= O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities [and especially &mdash.], that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *For Education, see Various Occasions no. 23.* =32. For the Good Use of Leisure= O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =33. For Cities= Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =34. For Towns and Rural Areas= Lord Christ, when you came among us, you proclaimed the kingdom of God in villages, towns, and lonely places: Grant that your presence and power may be known throughout this land. Have mercy upon all of us who live and work in rural areas [especially &mdash.]; and grant that all the people of our nation may give thanks to you for food and drink and all other bodily necessities of life, respect those who labor to produce them, and honor the land and the water from which these good things come. All this we ask in your holy Name. =Amen.= =35. For the Poor and the Neglected= Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =36. For the Oppresed= Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =37. For Prisons and Correctional Institutions= Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment. Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentance and amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice. Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison, O Lord, we do for you, constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy's sake. =Amen.= =38. For the Right Use of God's Gifts= Almighty God, whose loving hand =hath= given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor =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.= =39. For those who Influence Public Opinion= Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *For Social Service, see Various Occasions no. 22* =40. For Knowledge of God's Creation= Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =41. For the Conservation of Natural Resources= *See also Various Occasions no. 19.* Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =42. For the Harvest of Lands and Waters= O gracious Father, =who openest thine= hand and =fillest= all things living with plenteousness: Bless the lands and waters, and multiply the harvests of the world; let =thy= Spirit go forth, that it may renew the face of the earth; show =thy= loving-kindness, that our land may give her increase; and save us from selfish use of what =thou givest=, that men and women everywhere may give =thee= thanks; through Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =43. For Rain= O God, heavenly Father, who by =thy= Son Jesus Christ =hast= promised to all those who seek =thy= kingdom and its righteousness all things necessary to sustain their life: Send us, we entreat =thee=, in this time of need, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and to =thy= honor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =44. For the Future of the Human Race= O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =45. For Families= 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 hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *A prayer for parents is on page 444.* =46. For the Care of Children= Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. =Amen.= =47. For Young Persons= God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =48. For Those Who Live Alone= Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head: Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =49. For the Aged= Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and, as their strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance of your love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =50. For a Birthday= O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on you servant &N. as =he= begins another year. Grant that =he= may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen =his= trust in your goodness all the days of =his= life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =51. For a Birthday= Watch over thy child, O Lord, as =his= days increase; bless and guide =him= wherever =he= may be. 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.= =52. For the Absent= O God, whose fatherly care =reacheth= to the uttermost parts of the earth: We humbly beseech =thee= graciously to behold and bless 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.= =53. For Travelers= O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel [in particular &mdash.]; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =54. For those we Love= 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.= =55. For a Person in Trouble or Bereavement= O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servant for whom our prayers are offered. Remember =him=, O Lord, in mercy, nourish =his= soul with patience, comfort =him= with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon =him=, and give =him= peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *Prayers for the sick are on pages 458-461. See also Various Occasions no. 20* =56. For the Victims of Addiction= O blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. =Amen.= =57. For Guidance= Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with =thy= most gracious favor, 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.= =58. For 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.= =59. For Quiet Confidence= O God of peace, =who hast= taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and 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.= =60. For Protection= 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= gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =61. A Prayer of Self-Dedication= Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to =thee=, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly =thine=, utterly dedicated =unto thee=; and then use us, we pray =thee=, as =thou wilt=, and always to =thy= glory and the welfare of =thy= people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. =Amen.= =62. A Prayer attributed to St. Francis= Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. =Amen.= *Prayers for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and for morning and evening, are on pages 56, 69, 98, and 123.* =63. In the Evening= 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.= =64. Before Worship= O Almighty God, =who pourest= out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to =thee=, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship =thee= in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =65. For the Answering of Prayer= 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 ear 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.= =66. Before Receiving Communion= *See also the prayer of Humble Access on page 337.* Be present, be present, O Jesus, our great High Priest, as you were present with your disciples, and be know to us in the breaking of bread; who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. =Amen.= =67. After Receiving Communion= 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 and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. =Amen.= =68. After Worship= 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 honor and praise of =thy= Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =69. On Sunday= O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =70. Grace at Meals= Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for all =thy= mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *or this* Bless, O Lord, =thy= gifts to our use and us to =thy= service; for Christ's sake. =Amen.= *or this* Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe, for you give us food to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *or this* For these and all his mercies, God's holy Name be blessed and praised; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =1. A General Thanksgiving= Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. =Amen.= =2. A Litany of Thanksgiving= *For optional use on Thanksgiving Day, in place of the Prayers of the People at the Eucharist, or at any time after the Collects at Morning or Evening Prayer, or separately.* Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea. =We thank you, Lord.= For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ, =We thank you, Lord.= For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends, =We thank you, Lord.= For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve, =We thank you, Lord.= For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play, =We thank you, Lord.= For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity, =We thank you, Lord.= For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice, =We thank you, Lord.= For the communion of saints, in all times and places, =We thank you, Lord.= Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord; =To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.= *See also The General Thanksgiving on pages 58 and 101.* =3. For the Mission of the Church= Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile the world to yourself: We praise and bless you for those whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit to preach the Gospel to all nations. We thank you that in all parts of the earth a community of love has been gathered together by their prayers and labors, and that in every place your servants call upon your Name; for the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours for ever. =Amen.= =4. For the Saints and Faithful Departed= *See also the prayer "O God, the King of Saints," page 489 and 504.* We give thanks to you, O Lord our God, for all your servants and witnesses of time past: for Abraham, the father of believers, and Sarah his wife; for Moses, the lawgiver, and Aaron, the priest; for Miriam and Joshua, Deborah and Gideon, and Samuel with Hannah his mother; for Isaiah and all the prophets; for Mary, the mother of our Lord; for Peter and Paul and all the apostles; for Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene; for Stephen, the first martyr, and all the martyrs and saints in every age and in every land. In your mercy, O Lord our God, give us, as you gave to them, the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the first-born of many from the dead. =Amen.= =5. For the Nation= Almighty God, giver of all good things: We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them. =Heal us.= We thank you for the great resources of this nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them. =Forgive us.= We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them. =Inspire us.= We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light. =Enlighten us.= We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again. =Renew us.= Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name. =Amen.= =6. For Heroic Service= O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =7. For the Diversity of Races and Cultures= O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =8. For the Beauty of the Earth= We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. =Amen.= =9. For the Harvest= Most gracious God, by whose knowledge the depths are broken up and the clouds drop down the dew: We yield thee hearty thanks and praise for the return of seed time and harvest, for the increase of the ground and the gathering in of its fruits, and for all 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 a 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 honor, world without end. =Amen.= =10. For the Gift of a Child= *See also the Thanksgiving for a Child on page 439.* Heavenly Father, you sent; your own Son into this world. We thank you for the life of this child, &N., entrusted to our care. Help us to remember that we are all your children, and so to love and nurture =him=, that =he= may attain to that full stature intended for =him= in your eternal kingdom; for the sake of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= =11. For the Restoration of Health= Almighty God and heavenly Father, we give =thee= humble thanks because =thou hast= been graciously pleased to deliver from =his= sickness =thy= servant &N., in whose behalf we bless and praise =thy= Name. Grant, O gracious Father, that =he=, through =thy= help, may live in this world according to =thy= will, and also be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. =Amen.= *Thanksgivings for the departed are on pages 487-489 and 503-504.* *This catechism is primarily intended for use by parish priests, deacons, and lay catechists, to give an outline for instruction. It is a commentary on the creeds, but is not meant to be a complete statement of belief and practices; rather, it is a point of departure for the teacher, and it is cast in the traditional question and answer form for ease of reference.* *The second use of this catechism is to provide a brief summary of the Church's teaching for an inquiring stranger who picks up a Prayer Book.* *It may also be used to form a simple service; since the matter is arranged under headings, it is suitable for selective use, and the leader may introduce prayers and hymns as needed.* &Q. What are we by nature? &A. We are part of God's creation, made in the image of God. &Q. What does it mean to be created in the image of God? &A. It means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God. &Q. Why then do we live apart from God and out of harmony with creation? &A. From the beginning, human beings have misused their freedom and made wrong choices. &Q. Why do we not use our freedom as we should? &A. Because we rebel against God, and we put ourselves in the place of God. &Q. What help is there for us? &A. Our help is in God. &Q. How did God first help us? &A. God first helped us by revealing himself and his will, through nature and history, through many seers and saints, and especially the prophets of Israel. &Q. What do we learn about God as creator from the revelation to Israel? &A. We learn that there is one God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. &Q. What does this mean? &A. This means that the universe is good, that it is the work of a single loving God who creates, sustains, and directs it. &Q. What does this mean about our place in the universe? &A. It means that the world belongs to its creator; and that we are called to enjoy it and to care for it in accordance with God's purposes. &Q. What does this mean about human life? &A. It means that all people are worthy of respect and honor, because all are created in the image of God, and all can respond to the love of God. &Q. How was this revelation handed down to us? &A. This revelation was handed down to us through a community created by a covenant with God. &Q. What is meant by a covenant with God? &A. A covenant is a relationship initiated by God, to which a body of people responds in faith. &Q. What is the Old Covenant? &A. The Old Covenant is the one given by God to the Hebrew people. &Q. What did God promise them? &A. God promised that they would be his people to bring all the nations of the world to him. &Q. What response did God require from the chosen people? &A. God required the chosen people to be faithful; to love justice, to do mercy, and to walk humbly with their God. &Q. Where is this Old Covenant to be found? &A. The covenant with the Hebrew people is to be found in the books which we call the Old Testament. &Q. Where in the Old Testament is God's will for us shown most clearly? &A. God's will for us is shown most clearly in the Ten Commandments. *See pages 317 and 350.* &Q. What are the Ten Commandments? &A. The Ten Commandments are the laws give to Moses and the people of Israel. &Q. What do we learn from these commandments? &A. We learn two things: our duty to God, and our duty to our neighbors. &Q. What is our duty to God? &A. Our duty is to believe and trust in God; I To love and obey God and to bring others to know him; II To put nothing in the place of God; III To show God respect in thought, word, and deed; IV And to set aside regular times for worship, prayer, and the study of God's ways. &Q. What is our duty to our neighbors? &A. Our duty to our neighbors is to love them as ourselves, and to do to other people as we wish them to do to us; V To love, honor, and help our parents and family; to honor those in authority, and to meet their just demands; VI To show respect for the life God has given us; to work and pray for peace; to bear no malice, prejudice, or hatred in our hearts; and to be kind to all the creatures of God; VII To use our bodily desires as God intended; VIII To be honest and fair in our dealings; to seek justice, freedom, and the necessities of life for all people; and to use our talents and possessions as ones who must answer for them to God; IX To speak the truth, and not to mislead others by our silence; X To resist temptations to envy, greed, and jealousy; to rejoice in other people's gifts and graces; and to do our duty for the love of God, who has called us into fellowship with him. &Q. What is the purpose of the Ten Commandments? &A. The Ten Commandments were given to define our relationship with God and our neighbors. &Q. Since we do not fully obey them, are they useful at all? &A. Since we do not filly obey them, we see more clearly our sin and our need for redemption. &Q. What is sin? &A. Sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation. &Q. How does sin have power over us? &A. Sin has power over us because we lose our liberty when our relationship with God is distorted. &Q. What is redemption? &A. Redemption is the act of God which sets us free from the power of evil, sin, and death. &Q. How did God prepare us for redemption? &A. God sent the prophets to call us back to himself, to show us our need for redemption, and to announce the coming of the Messiah. &Q. What is meant by the Messiah? &A. The Messiah is one sent by God to free us from the power of sin, so that with the help of God we may live in harmony with God, within ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation. &Q. Who do we believe is the Messiah? &A. The Messiah, or Christ, is Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of God. &Q. What do we mean when we say that Jesus is the only Son of God? &A. We mean that Jesus is the only perfect image of the Father, and shows us the nature of God. &Q. What is the nature of God revealed in Jesus? &A. God is love. &Q. What do we mean when we say that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and became incarnate from the Virgin Mary? &A. We mean that by God's own act, his divine Son received our human nature from the Virgin Mary, his mother. &Q. Why did he take our human nature? &A. The divine Son became human, so that in him human beings might be adopted as children of God, and be made heirs of God's kingdom. &Q. What is the great importance of Jesus' suffering and death? &A. By his obedience, even to suffering and death, Jesus made the offering which we could not make; in him we are freed from the power of sin and reconciled to God. &Q. What is the significance of Jesus' resurrection? &A. By his resurrection, Jesus overcame death and opened for us the way of eternal life. &Q. What do we mean when we say that he descended to the dead? &A. We mean that he went to the departed and offered them also the benefits of redemption. &Q. What do we mean when we say that he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father? &A. We mean that Jesus took our human nature into heaven where he now reigns with the Father and intercedes for us. &Q. How can we share in his victory over sin, suffering, and death? &A. We share in his victory when we are baptized into the New Covenant and become living members of Christ. &Q. What is the New Covenant? &A. The New Covenant is the new relationship with God given by Jesus Christ, the Messiah, to the apostles; and, through them, to all who believe in him. &Q. What did the Messiah promise in the New Covenant? &A. Christ promised to bring us into the kingdom of God and give life in all its fullness. &Q. What response did Christ require? &A. Christ commanded us to believe in him and to keep his commandments. &Q. What are the commandments taught by Christ? &A. Christ taught us the Summary of the Law and gave us the New Commandment. &Q. What is the Summary of the Law? &A. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. &Q. What is the New Commandment? &A. The New Commandment is that we love one another as Christ loved us. &Q. Where may we find what Christians believe about Christ? &A. What Christians believe about Christ is found in the Scriptures and summed up in the creeds. *See pages 53, 96, 326, 327, and 864 &Q. What are the creeds? &A. The creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God. &Q. How many creeds does this Church use in its worship? &A. This Church uses two creeds: The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. &Q. What is the Apostles' Creed? &A. The Apostles' Creed is the ancient creed of Baptism; it is used in the Church's daily worship to recall our Baptismal Covenant. &Q. What is the Nicene Creed? &A. The Nicene Creed is the creed of the universal Church and is used at the Eucharist. &Q. What, then, is the Athanasian Creed? &A. The Athanasian Creed is an ancient document proclaiming the nature of the Incarnation and of God as Trinity. &Q. What is the Trinity? &A. The Trinity is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. &Q. What is the Holy Spirit? &A. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, God at work in the world and in the Church even now. &Q. How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the Old Covenant? &A. The Holy Spirit is revealed in the Old Covenant as the giver of life, the One who spoke through the prophets. &Q. How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the New Covenant? &A. The Holy Spirit is revealed as the Lord who leads us into all truth and enables us to grow in the likeness of Christ. &Q. How do we recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives? &A. We recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are brought into love and harmony with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation. &Q. How do we recognize the truths taught by the Holy Spirit? &A. We recognize truths to be taught by the Holy Spirit when they are in accord with the Scriptures. &Q. What are the Holy Scriptures? &A. The Holy Scriptures, commonly called the Bible, are the books of the Old and New Testaments; other books, called the Apocrypha, are often included in the Bible. &Q. What is the Old Testament? &A. The Old Testament consists of books written by the people of the Old Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history. &Q. What is the New Testament? &A. The New Testament consists of books written by the people of the New Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom for all people. &Q. What is the Apocrypha? &A. The Apocrypha is a collection of additional books written by people of the Old Covenant, and used in the Christian Church. &Q. Why do we call the Holy Scriptures the Word of God? &A. We call them the Word of God because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible. &Q. How do we understand the meaning of the Bible? &A. We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of [ Page 854> the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures. &Q. What is the Church? &A. The Church is the community of the New Covenant. &Q. How is the Church described in the Bible? &A. The Church is described as the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members. It is called the People of God, the New Israel, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and the pillar and ground of truth. &Q. How is the Church described in the creeds? &A. The Church is described as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. &Q. Why is the Church described as one? &A. The Church is one, because it is one Body, under one Head, our Lord Jesus Christ. &Q. Why is the Church described as holy? &A. The Church is holy, because the Holy Spirit dwells in it, consecrates its members, and guides them to do God's work. &Q. Why is the Church described as catholic? &A. The Church is catholic, because it proclaims the whole Faith to all people, to the end of time. &Q. Why is the Church described as apostolic? &A. The Church is apostolic, because it continues in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles and is sent to carry out Christ's mission to all people. &Q. What is the mission of the Church? &A. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. &Q. How does the Church pursue its mission? &A. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love. &Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission? &A. The church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members. &Q. Who are the ministers of the Church? &A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. &Q. What is the ministry of the laity? &A. The ministry of lay persons is the represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church. &Q. What is the ministry of a bishop? &A. The minsitry of a bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ's name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ's ministry. &Q. What is the ministry of a priest or presbyter? &A. The ministry of a priest is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to share with the bishop in the overseeing of the Church; to proclaim the Gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God. &Q. What is the ministry of a deacon? &A. The ministry of a deacon is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments. &Q. What is the duty of all Christians? &A. The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God. &Q. What is prayer? &A. Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words. &Q. What is Christian Prayer? &A. Christian prayer is response of God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. &Q. What prayer did Christ teach us? &A. Our Lord gave us the example of prayer knows as the Lord's Prayer. *See page 364* &Q. What are the principle kinds of prayer? &A. The principle kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition. &Q. What is adoration? &A. Adoration is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God, asking nothing but to enjoy God's presence. &Q. Why do we praise God? &A. We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because God's Being draws praise from us. &Q. For what do we offer thanksgiving? &A. Thanksgiving is offered to God for all the blessings of this life, for our redemption, and for whatever draws us closer to God. &Q. What is penitence? &A. In penitence, we confess our sins and make restitution where possible, with the intention to amend our lives. &Q. What is prayer of oblation? &A. Oblation is an offering of ourselves, our lives and labors, in union with Christ, for the purposes of God. &Q. What are intercession and petition? &A. Intercession brings before god the needs of others; in petition, we present our own needs, that God's will may be done. &Q. What is corporate worship? &A. In corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer, and to celebrate the sacraments. &Q. What are the sacraments? &A. The sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace. &Q. What is grace? &A. Grace is God's favor toward us, unearned and undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills. &Q. What are the two great sacraments of the Gospel? &A. The two great sacraments given by Christ to his Church are Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. &Q. What is Holy Baptism? &A. Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God. &Q. What is the outward and visible sign in Baptism? &A. The outward and visible sign in Baptism is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. &Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace in Baptism? &A. The inward and spiritual grace in Baptism is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God's family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit. &Q. What is required of us at Baptism? &A. It is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. &Q. Why then are infants baptized? &A. Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God. &Q. How are the promises for infants made and carried out? &A. Promises are made for them by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him. &Q. What is the Holy Eucharist? &A. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. &Q. Why is the Eucharist called a sacrifice? &A. Because the Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself. &Q. By what other names is this service known? &A. The Holy Eucharist is called the Lord's Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering. &Q. What is the outward and visible sign in the Eucharist? &A. The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, give and received according to Christ's command. &Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace given in the Eucharist? &A. The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ give to his people, and received by faith. &Q. What are the benefits which we receive in the Lord's Supper? &A. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, [ Page 860> the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life. &Q. What is required of us when we come to the Eucharist? &A. It is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people. &Q. What other sacramental rites evolved in the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit? &A. Other sacramental rites which evolved in the Church include confirmation, ordination, holy matrimony, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction. &Q. How do they differ from the two sacraments of the Gospel? &A. Although they are means of grace, they are not necessary for all persons in the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are. &Q. What is Confirmation? &A. Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop. &Q. What is required of those to be confirmed? &A. It is required of those to be confirmed that they have been baptized, are sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith, are penitent for their sins, and are ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. &Q. What is Ordination? &A. Ordination is the rite in which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit to those being made bishops, priests, and deacons, through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops. &Q. What is Holy Matrimony? &A. Holy Matrimony is Christian marriage, in which the woman and man enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows. &Q. What is Reconciliation of a Penitent? &A. Reconciliation of a Penitent, or Penance, is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution. &Q. What is Unction of the Sick? &A. Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body. &Q. Is God's activity limited to these rites? &A. God does not limit himself to these rites; they are patterns of countless ways by which God uses material things to reach out to us. &Q. How are the sacraments related to our Christian hope? &A. Sacraments sustain our present hope and anticipate its future fulfillment. &Q. What is the Christian hope? &A. The Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world. &Q. What do we mean by the coming of Christ in glory? &A. By the coming of Christ in glory, we mean that Christ will come, not in weakness but in power, and will make all things new. &Q. What do we mean by heaven and hell? &A. By heaven, we mean eternal life in our enjoyment of God; by hell, we mean eternal death in our rejection of God. &Q. Why do we pray for the dead? &A. We pray for them, because we still hold them in our love, and because we trust that in God's presence those who have chosen to serve him will grow in his love, until they see him as he is. &Q. What do we mean by the last judgment? &A. We believe that Christ will come in glory and judge the living and the dead. &Q. What do we mean by the resurrection of the body? &A. We mean that God will raise us from death in the fullness of our being, that we may live with Christ in the communion of the saints. &Q. What is the communion of saints? &A. The communion of saints is the whole family of God, the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt, bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise. &Q. What do we mean by everlasting life? &A. By everlasting life, we mean a new existence, in which we are united with all the people of God, in the joy of fully knowing and loving God and each other. &Q. What, then, is our assurance as Christians? &A. Our assurance as Christians is that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. =Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D., Act V= Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance (homoousios) with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer (Theotokos); one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has handed down to us. =commonly called= Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion, to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved. There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted: as, among other things, it may plainly appear by the common prayers in the Church, commonly called Divine Service: the first original and ground whereof, if a man would search out by the ancient fathers, he shall find, that the same was not ordained, but of a good purpose, and for a great advancement of godliness: For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest part thereof) should be read over once in the year, intending thereby, that the Clergy, and especially such as were Ministers of the congregation, should (by often reading, and meditation of God's word) be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth. And further, that the people (by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) should continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion. But these many years passed, this godly and decent order of the ancient fathers hath been so altered, broken, and neglected, by planting in uncertain stories, Legends, Responds, Verses, vain repetitions, Commemorations, and Synodals, that commonly when any book of the Bible was begun, before three or four Chapters were read out, all the rest were unread. And in this sort the book of Isaiah was begun in Advent, and the book of Genesis in Septuagesima; but they were only begun, and never read through. After a like sort were other books of holy Scripture used. And moreover, whereas St. Paul would have such language spoken to the people in the Church, as they might understand, and have profit by hearing the same, the Service in the Church of England (these many years) hath been read in Latin to the people, which they understood not; so that they have heard with their ears only; and their hearts, spirit, and mind, have not been edified thereby. And furthermore, notwithstanding that the ancient fathers had divided the Psalms into seven portions, whereof every one was called a nocturn, now of late time a few of them have been daily said (and oft repeated), and the rest utterly omitted. Moreover, the number and hardness of the Rules called the Pie, and the manifold changings of the service, was the cause, that to turn the Book only, was so hard and intricate a matter, that many times, there was more business to find out what should be read, than to read it when it was found out. These inconveniences therefore considered, here is set forth such an order, whereby the same shall be redressed. And for a readiness in this matter, here is drawn out a Kalendar for that purpose, which is plain and easy to be understood, wherein (so much as may be) the reading of holy Scripture is so set forth, that all things shall be done in order, without breaking one piece thereof from another. For this cause be cut off Anthems, Responds, Invitatories, and such like things, as did break the continual course of the reading of the Scripture. Yet because there is no remedy, but that of necessity there must be some rules: therefore certain rules are here set forth, which, as they be few in number; so they be plain and easy to be understood. So that here you have an order for prayer (as touching the reading of the holy Scripture), much agreeable to the mind and purpose of the old fathers, and a great deal more profitable and commodious, than that which of late was used. It is more profitable, because here are left out many things, whereof some be untrue, some uncertain, same vain and superstitious: and is ordained nothing to be read, but the very pure word of God, the holy Scriptures, or that which is evidently grounded upon the same; and that in such a language and order as is most easy and plain for the understanding, both of the readers and hearers. It is also more commodious, both for the shortness thereof, and for the plainness of the order, and for that the rules be few and easy. Furthermore, by this order the curates shall need none other books for their public service, but this book and the Bible: by the means whereof, the people shall not be at so great charge for books, as in time past they have been. And where heretofore, there hath been great diversity in saying and singing in churches within this realm: some following Salisbury use, some Hereford use, some the use of Bangor, some of York, and some of Lincoln: now from henceforth, all the whole realm shall have but one use. And if any would judge this way more painful, because that all things must be read upon the book, whereas before, by reason of so often repetition, they could say many things by heart: if those men will weigh their labor with the profit in knowledge, which daily they shall obtain by reading upon the book, they will not refuse the pain, in consideration of the great profit that shall ensue thereof. And forasmuch as nothing else, almost, be so plainly set forth, but doubts may arise in the use and practicing of the same: to appease all such diversity (if any arise), and for the resolution of all doubts, concerning the manner how to understand, do, and execute, the things contained in this book: the parties that so doubt, or diversely take any thing, shall always resort to the Bishop of the Diocese, who by his discretion shall take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same; so that the same order be not contrary to any thing contained in this book. Though it be appointed in the afore written preface, that all things shall be read and sung in the church in the English tongue, to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified: yet it is not meant, but when men say Matins and Evensong privately, they may say the same in any language that they themselves do understand. Neither that any man shall be bound to the saying of them, but such as from time to time, in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, parish Churches, and Chapels to the same annexed, shall serve the congregation. As established by the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, on the twelfth day of September, in the Year of our Lord, 1801. There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in the unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father, took Man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect Natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very Man; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men. As Christ died for us, and was buried; so also it is to be believed, that he went down into Hell. Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of Man's nature; wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all Men at the last day. The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The First Book of Esdras, The Second Book of Esdras, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Preacher, Cantica, or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the greater, Twelve Prophets the less. And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following: The Third Book of Esdras, The Fourth Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias, The Book of Judith, The rest of the Book of Esther, The Book of Wisdom, Jesus the Son of Sirach, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of the Three Children, The Story of Susanna, Of Bel and the Dragon, The Prayer of Manasses, The First Book of Maccabees, The Second Book of Maccabees. All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them Canonical. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral. The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture. The original Article given Royal assent in 1571 and reaffirmed in 1662, was entitled, "Of the Three Creeds; and began as follows, "The Three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius's Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed..." Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk;) but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek, *fro/nhma sarko/s*, (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire, of the flesh), is not subject to the Law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized; yet the Apostle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin. The condition of Man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God. Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will. We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely expressed in the Homily of Justification. Albeit that Good Works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith; insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit. Works done before the grace of Christ, and the Inspiration of the Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ; neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the School-authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea rather, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin. Voluntary Works besides, over and above, God's Commandments, which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety: for by them men do declare, that they not only render unto God as much as they are bound to, but that they do more for his sake, than of bounden duty is required: whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, say, We are unprofitable servants. Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world; and sin (as Saint John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest, although baptized, and born again in Christ, yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Not every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God we may arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say, they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only- begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity. As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wrethchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture: and, in our doings, that Will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the word of God. They also are to be had accursed that presume to say, That every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, and the light of Nature. For Holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved. The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith. The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith: and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain anything that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation. [The Twenty-first of the former Articles is omitted; because it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining parts of it, in other Articles.] =The original 1571, 1662 text of this Article, omitted in the version of 1801, reads as follows: "General Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes. And when they be gathered together, (forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God,) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture."= The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God. It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard. It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church, to have public Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments, in a tongue not understanded of the people. Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him. There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God. The Sacraments are not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation:but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul saith. Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his commission and authority, we may use their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith, and rightly, do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men. Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church, that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences; and finally, being found guilty, by just judgment be deposed. Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ. The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another; but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions. The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. The Wicked, and such as be void of a lively faith, although they docarnally and visibly press with their teeth (as Saint Augustine saith) the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ: but rather, to their condemnation, do eat and drink the sign or Sacrament of so great a thing. The Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike. The Offering of Christ once made in that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, are not commanded by God's Law, either to vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage: therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness. That person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church, and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until he be openly reconciled by penance, and received into the Church by a Judge that hath the authority thereunto. It is not necessary that the Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely, doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, (that others may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren. Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish, Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to edifying. The Second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine, and necessary for these times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the people. 1 Of the right Use of the Church. 2 Against Peril of Idolatry. 3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches. 4 Of good Works: first of Fasting. 5 Against Gluttony and Drunkenness. 6 Against Excess of Apparel. 7 Of Prayer. 8 Of the Place and Time of Prayer. 9 That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue. 10 Of the reverend Estimation of God's Word. 11 Of Alms-doing. 12 Of the Nativity of Christ. 13 Of the Passion of Christ. 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ. 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. 16 Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost. 17 For the Rogation-days 18 Of the State of Matrimony. 19 Of Repentance. 20 Against Idleness. 21 Against Rebellion. [This Article is received in this Church, so far as it declares the Book of Homilies to be an explication of Christian doctrine, and instructive in piety and morals. But all references to the constitution and laws of England are considered as inapplicable to the circumstances of this Church; which also suspends the order for the reading of said Homilies in churches, until a revision of them may be conveniently made, for the clearing of them, as well from obsolete words and phrases, as from the local references.] The Book of Consecration of Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, as set forth by the General Convention of this Church in 1792, doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and Ordering; neither hath it any thing that, of itself, is superstitious and ungodly. And, therefore, whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to said Form, we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered. =The original 1571, 1662 text of this Article reads as follows: "The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and Ordering; neither hath it any thing, that of itself is superstitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that Book, since the second year of the forenamed King Edwand unto this time, or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites; we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered."= The Power of the Civil Magistrate extendeth to all men, as well Clergy as Laity, in all things temporal; but hath no authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay respectful obedience to the Civil Authority, regularly and legitimately constituted. =The original 1571, 1662 text of this Article reads as follows: "The King's Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England, and other his Dominions, unto whom the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil, in all causes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any foreign Jurisdiction. Where we attribute to the King's Majesty the chief government, by which Titles we understand the minds of some slanderous folks to be offended; we give not our Princes the ministering either of God's Word, or of the Sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testify; but that only prerogative, which we see to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal, and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil-doers.= =The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England.= =The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death, for heinous and grievous offenses.= =It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, and serve in the wars."= The Riches and Goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same; as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. As we confess that vain and rash Swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his Apostle, so we judge, that Christian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the Prophet's teaching in justice, judgment, and truth. =Adopted by the House of Bishops Chicago, 1886= We, Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Council assembled as Bishops in the Church of God, do hereby solemnly declare to all whom it may concern, and especially to our fellow-Christians of the different Communions in this land, who, in their several spheres, have contended for the religion of Christ: 1. Our earnest desire that the Savior's prayer, "That we all may be one," may, in its deepest and truest sense, be speedily fulfilled; 2. That we believe that all who have been duly baptized with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, are members of the Holy Catholic Church. 3. That in all things of human ordering or human choice, relating to modes of worship and discipline, or to traditional customs, this Church is ready in the spirit of love and humility to forego all preferences of her own; 4. That this Church does not seek to absorb other Communions, but rather, co-operating with them on the basis of a common Faith and Order, to discountenance schism, to heal the wounds of the Body of Christ, and to promote the charity which is the chief of Christian graces and the visibile manifestation of Christ to the world. But furthermore, we do hereby affirm that the Christian unity...can be restored only by the return of all Christian communions to the principles of unity exemplified by the undivided Catholic Church during the first ages of its existence; which principles we believe to be the substantial deposit of Christian Faith and Order committed by Christ and his Apostles to the Church unto the end of the world, and therefore incapable of compromise or surrender by those who have been ordained to be its stewards and trustees for the common and equal benefit of all men. As inherent parts of this sacred deposit, and therefore as essential to the restoration of unity among the divided branches of Christendom, we account the following, to wit: 1. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the revealed Word of God. 2. The Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian Faith. 3. The two Sacraments,--Baptism and the Supper of the Lord,--ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of institution and of the elements ordained by Him. 4. The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the unity of His Church. =Furthermore,= Deeply grieved by the sad divisions which affect the Christian Church in oun own land, we hereby declare our desire and readiness, so soon as there shall be any authorized response to this Declaration, to enter into brotherly conference with all or any Christian Bodies seeking the restoration of the organic unity of the Church, with a view to the earnest study of the conditions under which so priceless a blessing might happily be brought to pass. =Note: While the above form of the Quadrilateral was adopted by the House of Bishops, it was not enacted by the House of Deputies, but rather incorporated in a general plan referred for study and action to a newly created Joint Commission on Christian Reunion.= =Lambeth Conferent of 1888 Resolution 11= That, in the opinion of this Conference, the following Articles supply a basis on which approach may be by God's blessing made towards Home Reunion: (a) The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as "containing all things necessary to salvation," and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith. (b) The Apostles' Creed, as the Baptismal Symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith. (c) The two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself--Baptism and the Supper of the Lord--ministered with unfailing use of Christ's words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by Him. 4. The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church. Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the sping equinox on March 21, a date which is fixed in accordance with an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and which does not always correspond to the astronomical equinox. This full moon may happen on any date between March 21 and April 18 inclusive. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday following. But Easter Day cannot be earlier than March 22 or later than April 25. To find the date of Easter Day in any particular year, it is necessary to have two points of reference--the Golden Number and the Sunday Letter for that year. 1. The Golden Number indicates the date of the full moon on or after the spring equinox of March 21, according to a nineteen-year cycle. These Numbers are prefixed in the Calendar to the days of the month from March 22 to April 19 inclusive. In the present Calendar they are applicable from A.D. 1900 to A.D. 2099, after which they will change. 2. The Sunday Letter identifies the days of the year when Sundays occur. After every date in the Calendar a letter appears--from [A] to [g]. Thus, if January 1 is a Sunday, the Sunday Letter for the Year is [A], and every date in the Calendar marked by [A] is a Sunday. If January 2 is a Sunday, then every date marked with [b] is a Sunday, and so on through the seven letters. In Leap Years, however, the Sunday Letter changes on the first day of March. In such years, when [A] is the Sunday Letter, this applies only to Sundays in January and February, and [g] is the Sunday Letter for the rest of the year. Or if [d] is the Sunday Letter, then [c] is the Sunday Letter on and after March 1. The Golden Number of any year is calculated as follows: Take the number of the year, add 1, and then divide the sum by 19. The remainder, if any, is the Golden Number. If nothing remains, then 19 is the Golden Number. The following Table provides ready reference to the Sunday Letter of any year between A.D. 1900 and A.D. 2099. It will be found on the line of the hundredth year above the column that contains the remaining digits of the year. But in Leap Years the Letter above the number marked with an asterisk is the Sunday Letter for January and February, and the Letter over the number not so marked is the Sunday Letter for the rest of the year. Hundred Years: 1900: , , g, , f, , e, , d, , c, , b, , A 2000: b, , A, , g, , f, , e, , d, , c, , b Years in excess of Hundreds: 00,*,00, ,01, ,02, ,03, ,04,*,04, ,05, ,06, ,07, ,08,*,08, ,09, ,10, ,11, ,12,*,12, ,13, ,14, ,15, ,16,*,16, ,17, ,18, ,19, ,20,*,20, ,21, ,22, ,23, ,24,*,24, ,25, ,26, ,27, ,28,* ,28, ,29, ,30, ,31, ,32,*,32, ,33, ,34, ,35, ,36,*,36, ,37, ,38, ,39, ,40,*,40, ,41, ,42, ,43, ,44,*,44, ,45, ,46, ,47, ,48,*,48, ,49, ,50, ,51, ,52,*,52, ,53, ,54, ,55, ,56,* ,56, ,57, ,58, ,59, ,60,*,60, ,61, ,62, ,63, ,64,*,64, ,65, ,66, ,67, ,68,*,68, ,69, ,70, ,71, ,72,*,72, ,73, ,74, ,75, ,76,*,76, ,77, ,78, ,79, ,80,*,80, ,81, ,82, ,83, ,84,* ,84, ,85, ,86, ,87, ,88,*,88, ,89, ,90, ,91, ,92,*,92, ,93, ,94, ,95, ,96,*,96, ,97, ,98, ,99, , , , , When one has both tho Golden Number and the Sunday Letter for any particular year, then the date of Easter Day may be found in the Calendar, pages 21 and 22, as follows: 1. The Golden Number prefixed to a day in the month of March or April in the Calendar marks the date of the full moon in that year. 2. Easter Day will be the next date bearing the Sunday Letter of that year. But when the Golden Number of a given year and the Sunday Letter of that year occur on the same date, then Easter day is one week later. (For example, if the Golden Number is 19--which appears in the Calendar prefixed to March 27--and the Sunday Letter is [d], then Easter Day in that year will fall on March 29. If the Golden Number is 10 and the Sunday Letter is [A], then Easter Day will fall on April 9. But if the Golden Number is 19 and the Sunday Letter is [b], then Easter Day will be one week later, namely April 3.) Golden Number, Year, Easter Day 1, 1900, , April 15 2, 1901, , April 7 3, 1902, , March 30 4, 1903, , April 12 5, 1904,*, April 3 6, 1905, , April 23 7, 1906, , April 15 8, 1907, , March 31 9, 1908,*, April 19 10, 1909, , April 11 11, 1910, , March 27 12, 1911, , April 16 13, 1912,*, April 7 14, 1913, , March 23 15, 1914, , April 12 16, 1915, , April 4 17, 1916,*, April 23 18, 1917, , April 8 19, 1918, , March 31 1, 1919, , April 20 2, 1920,*, April 4 3, 1921, , March 27 4, 1922, , April 16 5, 1923, , April 1 6, 1924,*, April 20 7, 1925, , April 12 8, 1926, , April 4 9, 1927, , April 17 10, 1928,*, April 8 11, 1929, , March 31 12, 1930, , April 20 13, 1931, , April 5 14, 1932,*, March 27 15, 1933, , April 16 16, 1934, , April 1 17, 1935, , April 21 18, 1936,*, April 12 19, 1937, , March 28 1, 1938, , April 17 2, 1939, , April 9 3, 1940,*, March 24 4, 1941, , April 13 5, 1942, , April 5 6, 1943, , April 25 7, 1944,*, April 9 8, 1945, , April 1 9, 1946, , April 21 10, 1947, , April 6 11, 1948,*, March 28 12, 1949, , April 17 13, 1950, , April 9 14, 1951, , March 25 15, 1952,*, April 13 16, 1953, , April 5 17, 1954, , April 18 18, 1955, , April 10 19, 1956,*, April 1 1, 1957, , April 21 2, 1958, , April 6 3, 1959, , March 29 4, 1960,*, April 17 5, 1961, , April 2 6, 1962, , April 22 7, 1963, , April 14 8, 1964,*, March 29 9, 1965, , April 18 10, 1966, , April 10 11, 1967, , March 26 12, 1968,*, April 14 13, 1969, , April 6 14, 1970, , March 29 15, 1971, , April 11 16, 1972,*, April 2 17, 1973, , April 22 18, 1974, , April 14 19, 1975, , March 30 1, 1976,*, April 18 2, 1977, , April 10 3, 1978, , March 26 4, 1979, , April 15 5, 1980,*, April 6 6, 1981, , April 19 7, 1982, , April 11 8, 1983, , April 3 9, 1984,*, April 22 10, 1985, , April 7 11, 1986, , March 30 12, 1987, , April 19 13, 1988,*, April 3 14, 1989, , March 26 15, 1990, , April 15 16, 1991, , March 31 17, 1992,*, April 19 18, 1993, , April 11 19, 1994, , April 3 1, 1995, , April 16 2, 1996,*, April 7 3, 1997, , March 30 4, 1998, , April 12 5, 1999, , April 4 6, 2000,*, April 23 7, 2001, , April 15 8, 2002, , March 31 9, 2003, , April 20 10, 2004,*, April 11 11, 2005, , March 27 12, 2006, , April 16 13, 2007, , April 8 14, 2008,*, March 23 15, 2009, , April 12 16, 2010, , April 4 17, 2011, , April 24 18, 2012,*, April 8 19, 2013, , March 31 1, 2014, , April 20 2, 2015, , April 5 3, 2016,*, March 27 4, 2017, , April 16 5, 2018, , April 1 6, 2019, , April 21 7, 2020,*, April 12 8, 2021, , April 4 9, 2022, , April 17 10, 2023, , April 9 11, 2024,*, March 31 12, 2025, , April 20 13, 2026, , April 5 14, 2027, , March 28 15, 2028,*, April 16 16, 2029, , April 1 17, 2030, , April 21 18, 2031, , April 13 19, 2032,*, March 28 1, 2033, , April 17 2, 2034, , April 9 3, 2035, , March 25 4, 2036,*, April 13 5, 2037, , April 5 6, 2038, , April 25 7, 2039, , April 10 8, 2040,*, April 1 9, 2041, , April 21 10, 2042, , April 6 11, 2043, , March 29 12, 2044,*, April 17 13, 2045, , April 9 14, 2046, , March 25 15, 2047, , April 14 16, 2048,*, April 5 17, 2049, , April 18 18, 2050, , April 10 19, 2051, , April 2 1, 2052,*, April 21 2, 2053, , April 6 3, 2054, , March 29 4, 2055, , April 18 5, 2056,*, April 2 6, 2057, , April 22 7, 2058, , April 14 8, 2059, , March 30 9, 2060,*, April 18 10, 2061, , April 10 11, 2062, , March 26 12, 2063, , April 15 13, 2064,*, April 6 14, 2065, , March 29 15, 2066, , April 11 16, 2067, , April 3 17, 2068,*, April 22 18, 2069, , April 14 19, 2070, , March 30 1, 2071, , April 19 2, 2072,*, April 10 3, 2073, , March 26 4, 2074, , April 15 5, 2075, , April 7 6, 2076,*, April 19 7, 2077, , April 11 8, 2078, , April 3 9, 2079, , April 23 10, 2080,*, April 7 11, 2081, , March 30 12, 2082, , April 19 13, 2083, , April 4 14, 2084,*, March 26 15, 2085, , April 15 16, 2086, , March 31 17, 2087, , April 20 18, 2088,*, April 11 19, 2089, , April 3 ** The years marked with an asterisk are Leap Years. Easter Day, Sundays after Epiphany[*], Ash Wednesday[+], Ascension Day, Pentecost, Numbered Proper of 2 Pentecost[++], Advent Sunday [*] In Leap Years, the number of Sundays after Epiphany will be the same as if Easter Day were one day later than in the above Table. [+] In Leap Years, the date of Ash Wednesday will be one day later in the month of February than in the above Table. [++] Indicates the numbered Proper to be used on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Subsequently, the Propers are used consecutively. March 22: 4, Feb. 4 , April 30, May 10 , 3, November 29 March 23: 4, Feb. 5 , May 1 , May 11 , 3, November 30 March 24: 5, Feb. 6 , May 2 , May 12 , 3, December 1 March 25: 5, Feb. 7 , May 3 , May 13 , 3, December 2 March 26: 5, Feb. 8 , May 4 , May 14 , 3, December 3 March 27: 5, Feb. 9 , May 5 , May 15 , 4, November 27 March 28: 5, Feb. 10 , May 6 , May 16 , 4, November 28 March 29: 5, Feb. 11 , May 7 , May 17 , 4, November 29 March 30: 5, Feb. 12 , May 8 , May 18 , 4, November 30 March 31: 5, Feb. 13 , May 9 , May 19 , 4, December 1 April 1 : 6, Feb. 14 , May 10 , May 20 , 4, December 2 April 2 : 6, Feb. 15 , May 11 , May 21 , 5, December 3 April 3 : 6, Feb. 16 , May 12 , May 22 , 5, November 27 April 4 : 6, Feb. 17 , May 13 , May 23 , 5, November 28 April 5 : 6, Feb. 18 , May 14 , May 24 , 5, November 29 April 6 : 6, Feb. 19 , May 15 , May 25 , 5, November 30 April 7 : 6, Feb. 20 , May 16 , May 26 , 5, December 1 April 8 : 7, Feb. 21 , May 17 , May 27 , 5, December 2 April 9 : 7, Feb. 22 , May 18 , May 28 , 5, December 3 April 10: 7, Feb. 23 , May 19 , May 29 , 6, November 27 April 11: 7, Feb. 24 , May 20 , May 30 , 6, November 28 April 12: 7, Feb. 25 , May 21 , May 31 , 6, November 29 April 13: 7, Feb. 26 , May 22 , June 1 , 6, November 30 April 14: 7, Feb. 27 , May 23 , June 2 , 6, December 1 April 15: 8, Feb. 28 , May 24 , June 3 , 6, December 2 April 16: 8, March 1 , May 25 , June 4 , 6, December 3 April 17: 8, March 2 , May 26 , June 5 , 7, November 27 April 18: 8, March 3 , May 27 , June 6 , 7, November 28 April 19: 8, March 4 , May 28 , June 7 , 7, November 29 April 20: 8, March 5 , May 29 , June 8 , 7, November 30 April 21: 8, March 6 , May 30 , June 9 , 7, December 1 April 22: 9, March 7 , May 31 , June 10, 7, December 2 April 23: 9, March 8 , June 1 , June 11, 7, December 3 April 24: 9, March 9 , June 2 , June 12, 8, November 27 April 25: 9, March 10, June 3 , June 13, 8, November 28 -------------------(end of BCPPRAYR.TXT)--------------------