The Celebrant bows over the Altar, kissing it in the midst. He then goes to the Missal, which is at the Epistle horn, and intones the Antiphon of the Introit. The choir and congregation continue the singing of the Introit Psalm, the Gloria Patri, and the repeated Antiphon.
At a solemn Liturgy, after he has intoned the Antiphon, the Celebrant may cense the Altar while the Introit is being sung. The Deacon presents the thurible, and the Celebrant places incense it and blesses the incense, saying:
Be ye blessed by Him in whose honor thou art to burn. Amen
The Celebrant then censes the Altar in the usual manner, saying nothing. He returns the thurible to the Deacon and is, himself, censed.
Standing at the Epistle horn, the Celebrant intones the Kyrie, which he sings alternately with the choir and congregation. The Kyrie may be either three-fold or nine-fold.
Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie,eleison.
Moving to the midst of the Altar, the Celebrant extends and elevates his hands as he intones the Gloria in excelsis. He continues the chant together with the ministers, choir, and congregation. A slight bow is made at the words we worship thee, we give thanks unto thee, Jesus Christ, and receive our prayer. At the words with the Holy Ghost, he signs himself with the sign of the Holy Cross.
Glory be to God on high!
And on earth peace, good will toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we
worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly King. God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only- begotten
Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away
the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the
world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the
Father, have mercy upon us.
For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord. Thou only, O Christ, with the
Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
After the singing of the Gloria in excelsis, or if it has been omitted according to the rubric, the Celebrant kisses the Altar in the midst, turns toward the congregation, and says:
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Let us pray.
Returning to the Epistle horn, the Celebrant chants the Collect of the Day. If any Commemorations are to be made, they are added following the Collect of the Day. No more than three collects are permitted, and only the first and last are said with the full conclusion.
Remaining at the Epistle horn, the Celebrant chants the first of the Scripture readings appointed for the day. Following the reading, the ministers and congregation respond:
R. Thanks be to God.
Following this reading, the Gradual, together with the Alleluia Verse or Tract, are chanted. If a Sequence is appointed, it is sung following the chanting of the Gradual.
At the Gospel horn, the Celebrant bows toward the Midst and says the following prayer in preparation for the reading of the Holy Gospel:
Cleanse my heart and my lips, Almighty God, as Thou didst cleanse the lips of the Prophet Isaiah with a burning coal: and vouchsafe in Thy mercy so to purify me that I might worthily proclaim Thy Holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, grant Thy blessing.
The Lord be in my heart and on my lips, that I might worthily and fittingly proclaim His Holy Gospel. Amen.
Standing at the Gospel horn, the Celebrant announces the Gospel for the Day.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ according to N.
As the Celebrant says this, he makes the sigh of the
Cross with the thumb of his right hand at the first word of the Gospel.
Similarly, he makes the same sign upon his forehead, lips, and breast. The
congregation responds, saying:
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
The Gospel being ended, the ministers and
congregation respond, saying:
R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
The Celebrant kisses the Holy Gospel, saying:
By the words of the Gospel may our sins be taken away.
A sermon or homily usually based upon the Holy Gospel may be delivered here.
The Creed is sung with the same ceremony as the Gloria in excelsis. Standing in the midst of the Altar, the Celebrant intones the first phrase of the Creed: I believe in one God:
He continues singing, together with the ministers,
choir, and congregation.
The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and
invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His
Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God,
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things
were made; who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, (Genuflect) and was made man (Rise); and was crucified also for us under Pontius
Pilate. He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according
to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of
the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the
dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth
from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is
worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I believe in One Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of
sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead; and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
The prayers, supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings of the congregation are here offered unto Almighty God.
When the offerings of the people are brought forward, the Offertory Verse is sung by the choir and congregation, or is read by the Celebrant. The Celebrant then prepares the Altar for the Holy Communion.
Taking the paten with the Host, the Celebrant raises
it slightly above the corporal, praying:
Grant, O Lord, that as this bread was once wheat and was scattered in many
fields, and is here gathered into bread: so to gather Thy Church from every
nation, and city, and village, and house; and make one living, holy Church.
Raising the Chalice slightly above the corporal, he
prays:
Grant, O Lord, that as this wine was gathered from the fruit of the vine; so
may we be gathered into the True Vine, Jesus Christ; and abiding in Him, bring
forth fruit unto everlasting life.
At a solemn Liturgy the Celebrant may take incense,
as at the Introit, and cense the Altar and the Eucharistic gifts. He blesses
the incense, saying:
May the Lord vouchsafe to bless this incense, and to accept it as a
sweet-smelling savor; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Celebrant then censes the Altar and the
Eucharistic gifts as instructed by the rubrics. As he censes the gifts, he
says:
Let this incense, blest by Thee, O Lord, ascend before Thee, and let Thy mercy
descend upon us.
As he censes the Altar, he says:
Let my prayer, O Lord, be set before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my
hands, as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; and keep
the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, nor to practice
wicked works with men that work iniquity.
As he returns the thurible to the Deacon, he
says:
May the Lord enkindle in us the fire of His love, and the flame of His
everlasting charity. Amen.
The Deacon than censes the Celebrant. Thereafter, he censes the clergy and all present, in their order.
Assisted by the acolyte, the Celebrant washes his
hands, saying:
I will wash my hands in innocency: so will I compass Thine altar, O Lord. That
I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous
works.
Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor
dwelleth.
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: in whose hands is
mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto
me.
My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregation will I bless 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.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up unto the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
R. It is meet and right so to do.
It is truly meet, right, and salutary, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God,
Then shall be added one of the Proper Prefaces, as given below.
through Jesus Christ, our Lord: through Whom Angels acclaim Thy Majesty, Dominations adore, Powers worship in awe; Whom the Heavens and the Virtues of Heaven, together with the blessed Seraphim do joyfully magnify. Together with them, let us unite our humble voices to praise Thee as we sing:
through Jesus Christ, our Lord; whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the Messiah, the very Lamb of God, and calling sinners to repentance, that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He cometh again in glory. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
for in the mystery of the Word made flesh, Thou hast given us a new revelation of Thy glory; that, seeing Thee in the person of Thy Son, we may be drawn to the love of those things which are not seen. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
and now do we praise Thee that Thou didst send unto us Thine only-begotten Son, and that in Him, being found in fashion as a man, Thou didst manifest the fullness of Thy glory. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
for that Thou dost bid Thy faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; curb our sinfulness, lift our minds from earthly things, and renew our strength, that we may come to the fulness of grace which Thou hast prepared for those who love Thee. Therefore, with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
who on the tree of the cross didst give salvation unto mankind; that, whence death arose, thence life also might rise again; and that he who be a tree once overcame might, likewise, by a tree be overcome, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; through whom with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, the great and eternal high priest; who, having offered Himself as a pure and eternal sacrifice, hast given His most holy Body and precious Blood for our salvation. When we partake of this most sacred Banquet, we perpetuate the memory of His Passion, receive pardon and peace, and are given the pledge of future glory. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
but chiefly are we bound to praise Thee for the glorious resurrection of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; for He is the very Paschal Lamb which was offered for us and hath taken away the sin of the world; who, by His death, hath destroyed death, and by His rising again, hath restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
through Jesus Christ, our Lord: who, after His resurrection, appeared openly to all His disciples and, in their sight, was taken up into heaven that He might make us partakers of His divine nature. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
through Jesus Christ, our Lord: who ascending above the heavens and, sitting on thy right hand, poured out on this day the Holy Spirit, as He had promised, upon the chosen disciples: whereat the whole earth rejoices with exceeding joy. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
who with Thine only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit art one God, one Lord. And in the confession of the only true God we worship the Trinity in Person and the Unity in Substance, of Majesty co-equal. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glori ous name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
and especially do we praise thee as we honor the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary: for by the power of the Holy Spirit she conceived and bore Thine only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is the Light of the world. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
because Thou didst mightily govern and protect Thy holy Church, which the blessed Apostles and Evangelists instructed in Thy divine and saving truth. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
unto whom the gathering of the Saints gives glory: in whom Thou hast given us a great cloud of witnesses that, fighting the good fight, we might gain the promise, and win with all thy Saints the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord: through whom with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whom we have the hope of a blessed resurrection: and although we are saddened at the certainty of death, we are comforted by the promise of everlasting life. For those who have been faithful, life is not ended; but only changed: and our earthly home gives place to an eternal home in heaven. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
The Preface concludes with the following:
At this point, bells may be rung to announce the Sanctus and the Consecration.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of Thy
glory; Hosannah in the highest.
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosannah in the highest.
It is the custom in the Augustana Rite that the Lord's Prayer is said by the Celebrant up to "but deliver us from evil." The congregation then concludes with the doxology.
Let us pray: And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to
say:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread;
and when He had given thanks, He + blessed it, brake it, and gave it to His
disciples, saying: Take, eat;
THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU. This do in remembrance of Me.
The Celebrant rests his hands, still holding the Host,
upon the corporal and genuflects. Rising, he elevates the Host for all to see.
Placing the Host upon the corporal, he genuflects again before
continuing:
After the same manner also, He took the cup when He had supped, and when He had
given thanks, He blessed + it and gave it to them, saying: Drink ye all of
this;
THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU FOR THE
REMISSION OF SINS. This do as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of Me.
Again the Celebrant genuflects before elevating the
Chalice, and after returning it to the corporal, and continues:
The Celebrant holds the Sacred Host and Chalice before the congregation, saying:
Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him who takes away the sin of the world.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
At the Consecration a small rent was made in the Host. The Celebrant now divides the Host in half and and returns it to the corporal.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have
mercy upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy
upon us.
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy
peace.
Amen.
By way of private preparation, the Celebrant may say the following prayers:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidest unto Thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; regard not my sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which is according to Thy will, who livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who according to the will of the Father, and by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, hast by Thy death given life to the world: deliver me by this Thy most holy Body and Blood from all mine iniquities and from every evil, and make me ever to cleave unto Thy commandments, and suffer me never to be separated from Thee, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
Let the partaking of Thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, do presume to receive, according to Thy loving kindness be profitable to me for the receiving of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.
I will receive the bread of heaven and call upon the name of the Lord:
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my soul shall be healed.
Anciently, this prayer Domine
non sum dignus was said three times, the Celebrant striking his breast
each time with the extremities of the last three fingers of his right hand.
Then, taking the Host in his right hand, one half upon the other, he signs
himself therewith in the figure of a cross, and receives the Communion of the
Body of Christ, saying before doing so:
The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for me, preserve my body and
soul unto everlasting life. Amen.
Bending forward moderately, receive the Host. Standing
erect, remain for a brief space in meditation on the Holy Eucharist. The
Celebrant then takes the paten and gathers up any particles of the Host that
may remain upon the corporal, and places them into the Chalice while praying
the following:
What return shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will
take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will call upon
the Lord who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from all mine
enemies.
Taking the Chalice into his hand, he signs himself
therewith in the figure of a cross, and receives the Communion of the Blood of
Christ, saying before doing so:
The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for me, preserve my body and
soul unto everlasting life. Amen.
Receive the Precious Blood, and replace the Chalice on
the corporal. Remain for a brief space in meditation on the Gift which has been
received.
The Holy Communion is then distributed to all present
who desire to receive It.
As the Host is administered, say: Take, eat: this is the Body of Christ given for
thee.
As the Chalice is administered, say:
Take, drink: this is the Blood of Christ shed for
thee.
After the Holy Communion has been distributed to as
many as would receive It, the Celebrant returns to the Altar to cleanse the
sacred vessels and his hands. As the acolyte pours a small amount of wine into
the Chalice, the Celebrant prays:
Grant, O Lord, that what we have received with out mouth we may keep with a
pure heart; and that which has been bestowed upon us in time might become the
healing of our souls for eternity.
The Celebrant then consumes the wine which is in the
chalice. Again, a small amount of wine, together with water, is poured over his
fingers to cleanse them of any particle of the sacred Host. As he consumes this
from the Chalice, he prays:
May Thy Body, O Lord, which we have eaten, and Thy Blood, which we have drunk,
cleave to our inmost souls; and do Thou grant that no stain of sin remain in
us, whom Thou hast comforted with Thy pure and holy Sacrament; who livest and
reignest world without end. Amen.
The Celebrant then veils the Chalice and Paten as they
were before the Offertory.
Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word:
for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face
of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people
Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the
beginning, is not, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen.
V. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
R. And His mercy endureth forever.
C. Let us pray:
Remaining at the Epistle horn, the Celebrant chants the proper Post-Communion collect.
The Celebrant goes to the Midst, facing the congregation, and prepares to give his blessing:
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Bless we the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son +, and the Holy Ghost, be
with you all.
R. Amen.
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