Propers
Liturgy for Holy Saturday (New Fire and Paschal Candle)
Prophecies
Blessing of the Font
Administration of Baptism
Litany
Mass
 
 
 

PROPERS

[If the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel from the Book of Common Prayer be used after the Litany in the Mass according to the ancient order, all that here follows is to be omitted as far as The Liturgy for Holy Saturday : but if the same be used without the Anaphora, they should be said according to the order which immediately follows.]

INTROIT

Repleta est (Psalm 88)

My soul is full of trouble:
And my life draweth nigh unto hell.   §

O Lord God of my salvation,
I have cried day and night before thee.

(Repeat to §.)

THE COLLECT

GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE

I Peter 3.17--22

IT is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

GRADUAL

(Psalm 18) The sorrows of death compassed me:
And the snares of death overtook me.
(Psalm 4)  I will lay me down in peace,
And take my rest.

THE GOSPEL

St. Matthew 27.57--66

WHEN the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

After which the Priest shall proceed to bless the new Fire and do that which follows.

Go to the top of the page
 

THE LITURGY FOR HOLY SATURDAY

At a suitable hour the Altars are covered with cloths, and the Office s said, but the candles on the Altar are not lighted until the beginning of Mass.  In the meantime fire is struck from a flint without the Church, and coals are kindled from the fire.

The Office being finished in Quire, the Priest, vestedx in Amice, Alb, Girdle, Stole, and violet Cope, or without Chasuble, accompanied by the Minsters with Cross, holy water, and incense, proceeds to the porch of the Church, if it be convenienttly done, or into the entrance of the Church itself, and BLESSES THE NEW FIRE, saying:

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

COLLECTS

Blessing of New Fire

O God, who through thy Son, who is the true corner-stone, hast bestowed upon thy faithful people the fire of thy brightness: we beseech thee that thou wouldest sanctify this new fire, now struck by us from the flint-stone, to be profitable to our service: and grant unto us that by this paschal feast we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires; that we may with pure hearts and minds attain unto the feast of thy eternal brightness.  Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray.

O Lord God, Father Almighty, who art light unfailing and the father of all lights: we beseech tee so to bless this light which hath here been sanctified and blessed in thy Name, who hast enlightened the whole world: that we may be enkindled by thy light and enlightened with the fire of thy brightness: and like as thou didst enlighten Moses going forth from the land of Egypt, so do thou at this time enloighten our hearts and understandings, that we may be found worthy to attain unto the light of everlasting life.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray.

O Lord holy, Father Almighty, everlasting God: we pray thee that thou wouldest vouchsafe to assist us who here do bless this fire in thy Name, and in the Name of thy only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, and of the Holy Ghost; and we beseech thee likewise to assist us against all the fiery darts of the enemy, and to enlighten us with thy heavenly grace.  Who livest and reignest with the same thy only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

Then shall he BLESS the five GRAINS OF INCENSE that shall be put in the candle, saying, without any preface, this prayer following.

Blessing of Five Grains of Incense

We beseech thee, Almighty God, to pour down on this incense the abundance of thy blessing: and as thou, thyself unseen, art the regenerator of all mankind, so now we pray theekindle a light to lighten our darkness; that both our sacrifice to be offered on this night may be made bright by the inward presence of thy holy light, and that all places wheresoever light shall be brought from this mystery here sanctified by us, may by the same be relieved from the crafts and assaults of the devil, and filled with the mighty power of thy heavenly majesty.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
 
§ And while he is blessing the grains of incense, an Acolyte takes some of  the blessed coals and places them in the censer: and the above Prayer ended,  the Priest sets incense in the censer, and blesses it in the customary manner.  Then he thrice sprinkles with holy water the aforementioned grains of incense and the fire, saying: Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, without intoning it, nor adding the Psalm, and he censes them thrice.

Meanwhile all the lights in the Church are extinguished, so that they may be presently lighted afresh from the New Fire.  Then the Deacon, vesting himslef in a white Dalmatic, takes the reed upon the top of which are set three candles in the shape of a triangle.  And the Thurifer goes first with an Acolyte, beariung in a basin the five grains of  incense: the Subdeacon follows with the Cross, afterward the Clergy in due order: next the Deacon woith the reed, and after him the Celebrant.  When the Deacon has come into the Church, he lowers the reed, and an Acolyte bringing a taper lighted from the New Fire lights one of the three candles on the reed: and the DEACON lifting up the reed, genuflects (all likewise genuflecting with him, save the SUBDEACON  who bears the Cross) and sings alone:

Deacon:  The Light of Christ.
   Thanks be to God.

And going to the middle of the Church, there another candle is lighted: and genuflecting as before, he sings at a higher pitch:

Deacon:  The Light of Christ.
   Thanks be to God.

The third time he goes up before the Altar, where the third cadle is lighted: and genuflecting again as before, he sings at a pitch still higher:

Deacon:  The Light of Christ.
   Thanks be to God.

Then the Celebrant goes up the Lord's Table, at the Epistle horn: and the deacon gives the reed to one of the Acolytes: and taking the book, asks a blessing from the Celebrant, as at the Gospel. the Priest saying:

The Lord be in thy heart and on they lipe, that worthily and rightly thou mayest proclaim his paschal praise: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Then all rising and standing, as if for the Gospel, the Deacon sings:

REJOICE now, all ye heavenly legions of Angles: and celebrate the divine mysteries with exultation: and for the King that cometh with victory, let the trumpet proclaim salvation.  Sing with joy, O erth, illumined with this celestial radiancy: and enlightened by the King eternal, thy Glory, believe and know that thou hast put away the darkness of all mankind.  So likewise let his holy Church, our Mother, welcome the bright beams of light shed upon her: and let his holy courts be filled with the praises of his people.  I pray and beseech you, therefore, dearly beloved, that all ye, who here are present seeking this heavenly brightness, make your supplication with me to God the Almighty, that he would shew forth his mercy toward me.  That he who in my unworthiness numbered me among his Ministers and alled me to do him service: so also may vouchsafe to lighten my darkness, making me meet to praise this gift of light with thankfulness.  Through his son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer: who liveth and reigneth with him in the unity of the Holy Ghost.

Deacon:  World without end.
  Amen.
Deacon: The Lord be with you:
  And with thy Spirit.
Deacon: Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Deacon: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right so to do.

It is very meet, right and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father Almighty, Everlasting God.  And that with the service of our lips we should glorify thee, and with heart and soul should praise thee, O God the Invisible and Almighty, and likewise thy only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  Who paid for us to thee, O Eternal Father, the debt of Adam's transgression: and with his dear Blood wiped away the reproach of our former offences.  Now therefore we sacrifice our Passover, wherein for us the very Lamb of God is slain, by whose Blood even the doors of his faithful people are made holy.  Now is come the night, wherein, when our fathers the children of Israel were led forth out of Egypt, thou dividest the sea and madest them to go on dry land in the midst of the waters.  Yea, now is come the night, that with the fiery pillar hath taken away the darkness of our condemnation.  Now is come the night, whereby all that believe in Christ upon the face of the earth, delivered from this naughty world, and out of the shadow of death, are unto grace renewed, and made partakers of eternal life. Now is come the night, wherein the bonds of death were loosed, and Christ harrowing hell rose again in triumph.  For wherefore should man be born into this world, save that being born he might be redeemed?  O how wonderful is thy loving kindness unto us thy children!  O how unspeakable is the love that thou hast bestowed on us:  who to redeem a servant, delivered up thine only Son!  O how great is thy providence in man's necessity, to make by the Blood of Christ from Adam's sin our salvation!  O blessed iniquity, for whose redemption such a price was paid by such a Saviour!  O night verily blessed, to thee alone that time and hour were made manifest, when our Saviour Christ rose again from death unto life!  Now is come the night whereof David said:  Behold, the night is as clear as the day: then shall my night be turned into day.  The holy mystery therefore of this night putteth to flight the deeds of darkness, purgeth away sin, restoreth innocence to the fallen, and gladness to them that mourn: casteth out hatred, bringeth peace to all mankind and boweth down mighty princes.

Here the Deacon fixes the five grains of blessed incense into the Candle in the form of a Cross, in this wise:

THEREFORE, in this noight of grace, accept, O holy Father, this our sacrifice of incense: which thy holy Church by the hands of thy servants doth offer thee, wherein this Candle of wax which by thy creatures the bees did gather, is made a solemn oblation.  Ye hear, brethren, the meaning of this pillar we have set up, which in GOd's honour the bright flame of fire doth set alight.

Here the Deacon lights the Candle from one of the three tapers on the reed.

WHICH though it be never so much divided, yet knoweth not variableness, nor loseth ought of its splendour.  For wax that meltheth doth but feed the flame, for thereunto have God's creatures the bees brought it forth, that it should give light in darkness.

Here the laMps are lighted.

O NIGHT verily blessed, which did spoiil th epeople of Egypt and enrich the Hebrews!  O night, wherein heaven and earth are joined, and man is brought close to God.  We pray thee, therefore, O Lord most merciful: that this Candle, which we have lighted and consecrated before thee in thine own Name, may continue to shine forth without ceasing, and may vanquish all the shades of darkness.  That being accepted before thee as a sweet savour, it may be numbered with the lights that thou hast kindled.  May the Day Star find it burning when he dawneth into day: the Day Star that riseth and knoweth not his going down: but coming forth from the places of darkness gladly giveth forth light unto all creation.  We beseech thee, therefore, O Lord most merciful: that thou wouldest direct and guide us thy servants, and the hearts of all thy faithful family: and all those also that minister in thy service: especially N. our Chief Bishop, and thy servant N. our own Bishop, so helping us with continual grace, that we may pass our time in rest and quietness, in the glad solemnity of our Redemption.  Through the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer: who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

Go to the top of the page
 

THE PROPHECIES

[In the Sarum Use was said only the 1st, 4th, 8th, and 11th Prophecies, each with a Tract (except the 1st) and a Collect; after which was said the Tract with which the blessing of the Font begins.]

The blessing of the Candle ended, the PROPHECIES, without any announcement are read, and at the end is not said Thanks be to God.  At the end of each Prophecy is said the Prayer that follows.

Prophecy the First

Genesis 1.1 -- 2.2

Thereafter, the Priest says: Let us pray.  Deacon: Let us bow the knee, and Subdeacon: Arise.

O GOD, who in a wondrous manner didst create the race of man, and still more wondrously hast redeemed the same: grant us, we beseech thee; so steadfastly to withstand all the crafts and devices of sin; that we may be found worthy to attain everlasting felicity.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prophecy the Second

Genesis 5, 6, 7, and 8

O GOD, who art strength unchanging and eternal light: look down, we pray thee, in mercy on thy holy Church, which thou hast so marvellously ordained, that by the effectual operation of thy continual providence, the work of man's salvation may be accomplished in all tranquillity; and that, all mankind seeing the restoration of such things as are cast down, and the renewal of such things as are grown old, may understand aright, that like as through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord all things were created, so through him they do now return to their perfection.  Who liveth and reigneth with thee.

Prophecy the Third

Genesis 22.1 -- 19

O GOD, Almighty Father of them that put their trust in thee, who hast spread abroad throughout all the world the grace or adoption to the increasing of thy children of promise: who dost likewise, through this Paschal Sacrament, fulfil the oath which thou didst swear unto Abraham thy servant, to make him the father of all nations; grant, we pray thee, unto all thy peoples that they may rightly and worthily enter upon the grace of thy calling.  Through.

Prophecy the Fourth

Exodus 14.24 -- 31 and 15.1

TRACT (Exodus 15)

Minister: We will sing unto the Lord:
   For he hath triumphed gloriously:
Minister: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea:
   The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.
Minister: He is my God,
   And I will prepare him an habitation:
Minister: My father's God, and I will exalt him.
   The Lord is a man of war:the Lord is his name.

O GOD, whoi hast ordained that thy mighty works of old  should enlighten even this our present generation: who didst by the mighty defence of thy right hand deliver one people from persecution in the land of Egypt to be a figure of the salvation of all nations by the washing of regeneration: grant, we pray thee; that the fullness of all mankind, being delivered from its present bondage, may be made sons of Abraham and worthy members of thy true Israel.  Through.

Prophecy the Fifth

Isaiah 54.17 and 55.1 -- 11

Almighty and everlasting God, who didst swear unto the faith of our forefathers that they should by thy holy adoption be made the fathers of many: increase and multiply, we pray thee, to the honour of thy Name, the sons of promise; that, like as they of old doubted not thine oath, so thy Church in our time may see in due measure the fulfillment of the same.  Through.

Prophecy the Sixth

Baruch 3.9 -- 38

O GOD, who by the calling of the nations dost ever multiply thy holy Church: mercifully grant; that they whom thou dost cleanse by the waters of baptism may be defended by thy perpetual and ready help.  Through.

Prophecy the Seventh

Ezekiel 37.1 -- 14

O GOD, who both in thy former and in thy latter Covenant hast taught us to observe the Sacrament of thy passover: grant unto us, so to understand aright the designs of thy mercy; that we receiving these thy present gifts may be stablished in the stedfast expectation of those that are to come.  Through.

Prophecy the Eighth

Isaiah 4.1 -- 6

TRACT (Isaiah 5)

Minister: My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
   And he fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof:
Minister: And planted it with the choicest vine,
   And built a tower in the midst of it.
Minister: And also made a winepress therein:
   For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.

O GOD, who by the mouth of thy holy Prophets hast manifested thyself before all the children of the Church, to be in all places of thy dominion, to be the sower of good seed and the husbandmen of thine elect branches: grant unto thy peoples, that, the vineyard of thy planting and the harvest of thy sowing being purged of all thorns and briars, they may be made to bring forth worthy fruit in abundance.  Through.

Prophecy the Ninth

Exodus 12.1 -- 11

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art wondrous in the governance of all thy works: grant unto thy people a right understanding; that like as in the beginning thou didst of thy excellent wisdom create the world, so thou didst in the end yet more wondrously redeem the same by suffering Christ our Passover to be sacrificed for us.  Who liveth and reigneth with thee.

Prophecy the Tenth

Jonah 3.1 -- 10

O GOD, who hast united the diversity of nations in the confession of thy Name: grant unto us that we may both desire the things that thou commandest, and by thy merciful guidance perform the same; that all thy people whom thou hast called to everlasting life may agree in unity of faith and in righteousness of conversation.  Through.

Prophecy the Eleventh

Deuteronomy 31.22 -- 30

TRACT (Deuteronomy 32)

Minister: Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak:
  And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Minister: My doctrine shall drop as the rain:
  My speech shall distil as the dew.
Minister: As the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
  Because I will publish the Name of the Lord.
Minister: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God:
  He is the rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are judgement:
Minister: A God of truth and without iniquity:
  Just and right is he.

O GOD, who dost exalt them that are of low estate, and dost stablish them that stand upright: who didst likewise by thy holy servant Moses so vouchsafe to teach thy people to sing praises to thy honour, that thy law by them repeated might be profitable for our guidance: raise up, we pray thee, thy power among the fullness of the nations whom thou hast justified; that they, being delivered from the fear of thy wrath, may rejoice in the plenteous remission of all their sins, and being warned to flee from the judgement of thy vengeance may be delivered from the same unto everlasting salvation.  Through.

Prophecy the Twelfth

Daniel 3.1 -- 24

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, the only hope of all mankind, who by the preaching of thy holy Pprophets hast prefigured the mysteries of these our generations:mercifully grant; that, forasmuch as without thy inspiration thy faithful people cannot increase in godliness, they may obtain of thee the abundant fulfillment of all their desires.  Through.
 
Go to the top of the page
 

THE BLESSING OF THE FONT

And thee ended, if there be a Font for Baptism in the Church, the Priest comes to the Font with the Clergy and the Ministers, ready vested: meanwhile is sung the following:

TRACT (Psalm 42)

Minister: Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks:
  So longeth my soul after thee, O God.
Minister: My soul is athirst for God: yea, even for the living God:
  When shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
Minister: My tears have been my meat day and night,
  While they daily say unto me: Where is now thy God?

Then the Priest, before he goes in to bless the Font, sings this Prayer near by:

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

AlMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon the devout prayers of thy servants now seeking regeneration and desiring the fountain of thy waters, even as the hart desireth the water-brooks: and of thy goodness grant that they who thirst after thy faith may in this mystery of thy holy Baptism obtain sanctification both of body and soul.  Through.  Amen.

Which done, he goes to the Font.

[If Baptism be administered, The Ministration of Holy Baptism as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer is used in its entirety inplace of everything which here  follows as far as the Litany, except that the form for hallowing the Font is sung as noted below.]

Afterwards heh proceeds to bless the Font, singing:

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

Then shall the Minister say:

O MERCIFUL God, grant tnat like as Christ died and rose again, so all that are baptized (or this Child or this thy Servant) may die to sin and rise to newnes of life.  Amen.

Grant that all sinful affections may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him.  Amen.

Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh.  Amen.

Grant that whoseoever is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things:

Raising his voice to the tone of the Preface, he continues, with hands joined:

World without end.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right so to do.

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy, Father Almight, Everlasting God.  For that thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

O GOD, whose Spirit moved over the face of the waters, when the earth was without form and void at its creation: that even then the nature of water might conceive the virtue of purging all defilement:

O GOD, who didst cover the earth with water, and wash away its wickedness, and didst shew forth in the saving of eight souls byt the same water, a figure of our regeneration: that by the mystery of this one element of water thou mightest make an end of sin, and give birth unto righteousness:

BEHOLD with thy good pleasure the family of thy Church, and make the grace of thy regeneration to abound therein, for thou dost with the rivers of thy plenteous mercy make glad the city of thy redeemed: and openest unto us fountains of Baptism through the whole world for the healing of nations: that, at the word of thy majesty, the same may receive the grace of thine only Son, through the Holy Ghost.

Here the Priest divides with his open hand the water in the form of a Cross, and forthwith wiping his hand with a napkin, says:

MAY he by the secret operation of his power make this water fruitful unto the regeneration of man: that having received sanctification, an dbeing born again without spot of defilement, the same may be found a new creature, that springeth from this womb of living water: that young and old, both men and women, who henceforth shall be baptized herein, may all become the children of grace and heirs of thy heavenly promises.

SPEAK the word, O Lord, an ddrive away speedily unclean spirits and all things that may hurt us: banish from us by thy Name all the snares and assaults of the devil.  And may our ghostly enemy have no power at all to encompass us: to deceive our hearts by his subtility:to waylay us in secret, and spread abroad the leaven of malice.

He touches the water with his hand.

BE this an holy and undefiled creation, such that the son of wickedness may not approach it, nor the stain of iniquity come near to defile it.  Be it a fountain that doth regenerate, a stream that doth purify: may all they that by this means shall be dedicated before thee by the operation of the Holy Ghost, receive the grace of redemption and remission of their offences.
 
 He makes three Crosses over the Font, saying:

WHEREFORE I do hallow thee, O creature of water, by God + that liveth, by God + the faithful, by God, + the Holy: by God, who in the beginning by his Word divided the land from thee: and whose Spirit moved upon thy face.

Here he divides the water with his hand, and scatters it towards the four corners of the earth, saying:

WHO did ordain that thou shouldst issue out of Eden, and be parted fromthence into four heads, flowing therefrom into all the earth.  Likewise in the desert of Marah he did turn thy bitterness into sweetness, an dmade thee to come forth out of the rock for his people.

IN the Name of his only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ do I hal+low thee, O creature of water: for he did change thee into wine as a wondrous sign of his Omnipotence, when he was bidden to the wedding at Cana.

WHO walked upon thee with his feet to come to his disciples: and was baptized in thee in Jordan by John his minister.

WHO moreover did mingle thee with Blood from his side at his Passion: and commanded his disciples that such as believed should be in thee baptized.

Changing his voice, he continues in the tone of the Lesson (that is, on one note).

ALMIGHTY GOD, mercifully assist our prayers, who here observe what thou hast commanded: and of thy great goodness breathe thy Breath upon us.

He breathes thrice on to the water in the form of a Cross, saying (in the tone of the Lesson):

Hallow by the Word of thy mouth and of thy power the weakness of this water: that like as by nature it doeth service unto the purifying of the body, so by thy grace it may effectually cleanse our souls.

Here the Priest lowers the Candle into the water a little way: and going back to the tone of the Preface, says:

MAY the power of the Holy Ghost be poured out on this Font which we have filled.

Then taking the Candle out of the water, he dips it agsin more deeply, repeating at a somewhat higher pitch : May the power.  Afterward the Candle is again taken out of the water and the third time is dipped to the bottom of the Font, the Priest repeating at a still higher pitch: May the power, as above.  And then breathing thrice on the water in this form [Greek psi], he proceeds:

AND make the wholle substance of this water effectual unto the washing of regeneration.

The Candle is taken out of the water, and he continues:

MAY every stain of our iniquity here be cleansed: may our nature be restored to its perfect fashioning, and be conformed again to thine own image of righteousness;may it be redeemed from the old sins of its conversation: that every person, being born again by the Sacrament he hath here received, may be restored unto the innocence of thy children.

And the following he reads, or else sings as below:

THROUGH Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.  Who shall come to judge the quick and the dead, and the world by fire.  Amen.

The some of the blessed water is sprinkled over the People by the assisting Priests, and meanwhile other thereof is put in a receptacle to be used later to sprinkle homes and other places; and then the Celebrant pours the Oil of the Catechumens into the Font in the form of a Cross, saying distinctly:

May this Oil of salvation make this Font holy and fruitful, in such wise that those who find herein their new birth may come to everlasting life.  Amen.

In the form of a Cross, he pours in the Chrism, saying:

May this commingling of the Chrism of salvation and the Oil of unction and of the Water of Baptism likewisse be wrought in the Name of the Fa+ther, and of the S+on, and of the Holy + Ghost.  Amen.

Then he mingles  the Oil and water, and scatters it over the Font with his hand, which done, he continues as follows:

REGARD, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation: sanc+tify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child (This thy Servant), now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children:through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and evermore.  Amen.
 
Go to the top of the page
 

THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM

If Baptism is to be adminstered, it is done after the usual manner, from the form for the Ministration of Holy Baptism.

Then the Priest and other Ministers return to the Altar and the Litany is sung by two Cantors, and the Choir repeat it also together, as is directed below.

THE LITANY AND THE MASS

§ But where there is no baptismal Font, when the last Prophecy and Collect is ended the Celebrant lays aside his Chasuble, and with the Ministers lies prostrate before the Altar: and all kneeling, the LITANY IS CHANTED by two Cantors in the midst of the Choir, and both sides of th eChoir make the responses together.  But when hs been said the final repetition of Good Lord, deliver us, the Priest and Ministers arise, and go to the Sacristy to array themselves in white vestments for the Solemn Mass: and meanwhile the Altar candles are lighted.  At the end of the Litany Kyrie eleison is solemnly intoned, adn repeated as in the Mass on ordinary days.  And the Litany is said [as given in the Prayer-Book, or else] in the following form:

Cantor: Kyrie elison..
Christe eleison.
Cantor: Kyrie elison..

Or:

Cantor: Lord have mercy upon us.:
Christ have mercy upon us.
Cantor: Lord have mercy upon us.

Cantor: O Christ hear us.
O Christ, graciously hear us.
Cantor: O God the Father of heaven: Have mercy upon us. Cantor: O God the Son, Redeemer of the World:
Have mercy upon us.
Cantor: O God the Holy Ghost:
Have mercy upon us.
Cantor: O Holy Trinity, One God:
Have mercy upon us.
Cantor: Holy Mary:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Holy Mother of God:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Holy Virgin of Virgins:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Michael:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Gabriel:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Raphael:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Angels and Archangels:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint John Baptist:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Joseph:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Peter:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Paul:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Andrew:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint John:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Disciples of the Lord:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Stephen:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Lawrence:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Vincent:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Martyrs:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Sylvester:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Gregory:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Augustine:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Bishops and Confessors:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Doctors:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Anthony:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Benedict:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Dominic:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Francis:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Priests and Levites:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Monks and Hermits:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Mary Magdalene:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Agnes:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Cecilia:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Agatha:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: Saint Anastasia:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye holy Virgins and Widows:
  Pray for us.
Cantor: All ye Holy, Righteous, and Elect of God:
Intercede for us.
Cantor: Be thou merciful:
Spare us, good Lord.
Cantor: Be thou merciful:
Graciously hear us, good Lord.
Cantor: From all evil:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: From all deadly sin:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: From everlasting damnation:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: By thine Advent and Nativity:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: By thy Baptism and holy Fasting:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: By thy Cross and Passion:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: By thy precious Death and Burial:
Good Lord, deliver us.
Cantor: By thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension:
Good Lord &c.
Cantor: By the coming of the Holy Ghost the Comforter:
Good Lord &c.
Cantor: In the hour of death and in the day of judgement:
Good Lord &c.
Cantor: Even though we be sinners:
   We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Cantor: That it may please thee to spare us:
We beseech thee &c.
Cantor: That That it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church:
   We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Cantor: That it may please thee to preserve the household of thine Apostles, and all orders in the Church in thy true religion:
   We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Cantor: That it may please thee to overthrow the enemies of thy holy Church:
   We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Cantor: That it may please thee to bestow on all Christian kings and princes true peace and concord:
We beseech thee &c.
Cantor: That it may please thee to strengthen and preserve us in true worshipping of thee:
We beseech thee &c.
Cantor: That it may please thee to bestow on all or benefactors thine everlasting benefits:
We beseech thee &c.
Cantor: That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth:
We beseech thee &c.
Cantor: That it may please thee to bestow upon all thy faithful rest eternal:
   We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Cantor: That it may please thee graciously to hear our prayer:
   We beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
Cantor: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:
   Spare us, good Lord.
Cantor: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:
   Graciously hear us, good Lord.
Cantor: O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world:
   Have mercy upon us.
Cantor: O Christ hear us:
   O Christ, graciously hear us.

Go to the top of the page
 

THE MASS

And here the Cantors solemnly intone Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison,  and repeat each invocation thrice.  Meanwhile the Priest with his Ministers all in white vestments approach the Altar: and having said the Psalm Give sentence, with Glory be,  he makes the Confession as he is accustomed, in the appointed place: then going up, he kisses the Altar, censes it in the usual manner, and as soon as the Choir shall have finished the Kyrie eleison, he begins with solemnity Gloria in excelsis, and the bells are set ringing.

Afterward the Priest says:

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

COLLECT  From the Prayer-Book

GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ: so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection.  For his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Chrost our Lord.  [Who.]

And one Collect only is said.

COLLECT  From the Latin Rite

O GOD, who as on this most holy night hast sent forth the glorious light of the Resurrection of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: preserve, we pray thee, in these persons, now made incorporate in thy family, the spirit of adoption which thou hast given them; that they being regenerate both in body and soul may in all sincerity obey thy holy will.  Through the same.

EPISTLE  From the Prayer-Book

The Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Peter the Apostle.

I Peter 3.17 -- 22

Dearly beloved:  It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

EPISTLE  From the Latin Rite

The Lesson fromthe Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Colossians.

Colossians 3.1 -- 4

Brethren:  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God: set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life, shall appear: then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

The Epistle ended, the Celebrant begins:

ALLELUIA.  And he sings the chant through thrice, in a pitch a little higher each time: and the Choir after each time repeats it in the same manner. Afterward the Choir proceeds:

Celebrant:  Alleluia.
     Alleluia.
Celebrant:  Alleluia.
     Alleluia.
Celebrant:  Alleluia.
     Alleluia.

     (Psalm 118)  O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Then is said the TRACT.

TRACT

Minister: (Psalm 117)  O praise the Lord, all ye heathen:
  Praise him all ye nations.
Minister: For his mercy is ever more and more towards us:
  And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

At the Gospel, lights are not carried, but incense only: a blessing is asked, and the rest is done as usual.

GOSPEL  From the Prayer-Book

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

St. Matthew 27.57--66

WHEN the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. [And to commemorate the Resurrection, as well as the Burial of our Lord, the Gospel below should be added to the foregoing, but without any announcement.]

GOSPEL  From the Latin Rite

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

St.Matthew 28.1 -- 7

IN the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And behold there was a great earthquake.  For the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven: and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it; his countenance was like lightning: and his raiment white as snow.  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  And the Angel answered and said unto the women:  Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified; he is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and behold he goeth before you into Galilee;there shall ye see him.  Lo, I have told you.

PREFACE and CANON of Easter

Anciently the Anaphora was slightly varied on this day (to celebrate therin the greatness of the gift of Baptism) by the insertion of the bracketed words given below.

ALL glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption: who made there by his one oblation, of himself once offered, [on behalf also of those whom thou hast been pleased to regenerate by water and the Holy Ghost, granting unto them remission of all their sins,] a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, etc.  And the rest as in the Canon.

The Peaceof the Lord be alway with you is said, but the Kiss of Peace is not given.  O Lam of God is not said, nor the Ppostcommunion: but the customary Prayers before Communion are said.

After the reception of the Sacrament, in place of Evensong in Quire is chanted this Psalm and this Antiphon:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

And Psalm 117

O PRAISE the Lord, all ye heathen: * praise him, all ye nations.

For his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us; * and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.  Praise the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: * world without end.  Amen.

Antiphon:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson, Hymn and Versicle are not said, but at once the Celebrant starts to intone the Antiphon to the Magnificat.

IN the end of the Sabbath.  And the Choir continues:  As it began to dawn toward the frist day of the week: came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, alleluia.

Then is sung the Magnificat with Glory be at the end, and the censing is done as at other times at Evensong.

Afterward the Antiphon is repeated, [the Lesson and Nunc Dimittis read,] and at the end the Celebrant says:

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

COLLECT

WE beseech thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the love of thy Holy Spirit: that as thou hast now fulfilled us with this Paschal Sacrament, so thou wouldest make us to continue in all godly concord.  Through ... in the unity of the same.

Then he says:  The Lord be with you.

And the Deacon turning himself to the People, sings:

Deacon:  Depart in peace, alleluia, alleluia.
  Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

And the Priest, having said Let this my bounden duty and service, gives the Blessing in the accustomed manner.
 

Return to Missal Propers index

return to