The common prayer -- of those Apostolick days -- well, ... we have had it for almost 500 years now. We don't -- or shouldn't -- have to worry about "the literary, theological, and spiritual quality of the petitions". And true genius was to make this no part of the Liturgy of the Word, nor to embed it within the Consecration, but rather to make it part and parcel of the Offertory.
Still working on the English Rite. Here is my proposal for the "restored" Anglican Offertory -- no Romanisms, deeply scriptural, division of labour, "work" for all, etc.
The Offertory
¶ Then the Priest shall return to the Holy Table and begin the Offertory, saying one or more of these Sentences following, as he thinketh most convenient.
Offertory Sentences
Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Give alms of thy goods, and never turn thy face from any poor man; and then the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee.
¶ Then shall the Deacon say,
LET us present our offerings to the Lord with reverence and godly fear.
¶ The Church-wardens, or other fit persons appointed for that purpose, shall receive the Alms for the Poor, and other Offerings of the People, in a decent Basin to be provided by the Parish; and reverently bring it to the Deacon, who shall humbly present and place it upon the Holy Table.
¶ And when the Alms and Oblations are being received and presented, there shall be sung the Offertory chant. Following that, here may also be sung a motet, a hymn, or both, as required.
Offertory Chant
(e.g.)(Psalm 89. 12, 15) The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is: Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat.
¶ And the Priest shall then offer, and shall place upon the Holy Table, the Bread and the Wine.
Offertory Prayer
BLESSED be thou, Lord God of Israel, our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
¶ Then shall the Deacon say,
LET us pray for the whole state of Christ’s church.
Silence.
¶ Then shall the Priest say,
ALMIGHTY and everliving GOD, which by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant that all they that do confess thy holy name, may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love.
¶ Then shall the Deacon say,
Let us remember those who bear the burdens of authority, especially Christian Kings and Rulers.
Silence.
¶ Then shall the Priest say [and so forth],
We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian kings, princes, and governours: aid them with the armour of thy Spirit, that in all things they may seek thy honour and glory, and that under them thy people may joyfully serve thee in all quietness and godly fear.
D: Let us remember our Fathers in God, and the sacred ministers of the holy Church.
P: Give grace, O heavenly father, to all Bishops, Pastors, and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.
D: Let us remember one another, and our fellow members in Christ’s Body.
P: And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, that with meek heart and due reverence they may hear and receive thy holy word, truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
D: Let us remember those who travel, and those in any special affliction or distress.
P: And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, which in this transitory life be in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.
D: Let us remember those who have gone before us, especially the glorious saints of God.
P: And here we do give unto thee most high praise, and hearty thanks, for the wonderful grace and virtue, declared in all thy saints, from the beginning of the world: And chiefly in the glorious and most blessed virgin Mary, mother of thy son Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, and in the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs and Confessors, whose examples, O Lord, and steadfastness in thy faith, and keeping thy holy commandments, grant us to follow.
D: Let us remember the faithful departed.
P: We commend unto thy mercy, O Lord, all other thy servants, which are departed hence from us, with the sign of faith, and now do rest in the sleep of peace: Grant unto them, we beseech thee, thy mercy, and everlasting peace, and that, at the day of the general resurrection, we and all they which be of the mystical body of thy son, may altogether be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyful voice: Come unto me, O ye that be blessed of my father, and possess the kingdom, which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world:
Grant all this, O father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.
The Collect Post Nomina
O almighty and eternal God, who hast bestowed on us the paschal mysteries in the token of the covenant of man’s redemption, give us the will to show forth in our lives that which we profess with our lips; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment