THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
(Church of India, Pakistan, Burma, and
Ceylon,
1960)
The Lord's Supper
BLESSINGS FOR PUBLIC USE ON CERTAIN DAYS
THE FORM FOR
THE BLESSING OF CANDLES
on the Festival of
THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE
The Priest (who may be vested in a
cope) shall bless the candles, which may be placed on a table in the
sanctuary, as follows:
The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy
spirit.
Priest. Let us pray.
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, the Sourche and Giver of all
light: We humbly thank thee that thou didst send foth into the
world thine only begotten Son, the Prince of Glory, to be born of a
pure Virgin according to the word of thy holy prophets, and to
enlighten those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death.
Grant that we, who today shall bear these candles to the praise of thy
glory, may evermore rejoice in his unfailing and eternal light; through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O GOD, who as on this day didst fulfill the desire of thy holy servant
Simeon that he should not see death until he had seen thy Christ; and
dist permit him to hold in his arms the world's salvation: We
beseech thee to
+
bless these candles to our use, so that, as we behold their outward
light, our hearts may be enkindled with the fire of thy love.
Grant, we pray thee, that all we who have been separated from the
darkness of sin, may walk as children of light, and be found worthy to
be presented before thee in the temple of thy glory; through the same
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O LORD, Holy Father, Almighty and everlasting God, whose blessed Son
did mightily overthrow the powers of darkness, and has brought us into
his kingdom of light: Vouchsafe we beseech thee, to
+ bless these candles to thy
service. Mercifully hear the prayers of us thy servants, who
desire reverently to bear them in our hands to the honour of thy holy
name; and grant that we and all thy; faithful people, abiding in his
grace, may be fruitful in good works to the glory of thy name; through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Here may the candles be sprinkled and
censed. Then they shall be distributed to the congregation and
lighted, after which a procession shall be formed. During the
distribution, or during the procession, the following shall be sung:
Antiphon. A light to
lighten the Gentiles: and the glory of thy people Israel.
Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy
word.
Antiphon. A light,
&c.
For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation.
Antiphon. A light,
&c.
Which thou hast prepared * before the faceof all people.
Antiphon. A light,
&c.
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy
people Israel.
Antiphon. A light,
&c.
Glory be to the Father,
&c.
Antiphon. A light to
lighten the Gentiles: and the glory of thy people Israel.
This Service may be used before the
Lord's Supper on the Festival
of the Presentation, or after the second Lesson at Evensong.
During the Lord's Supper, the condles
may again be lit for the reading
of the Gospel.
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THE FORM FOR
THE BLESSING OF ASHES
ON ASH WEDNESDAY
Before the Lord's Supper ashes
prepared from the palms blessed the previous Palm Sunday, of other
suitable ashes, may be blessed as follows:
The ashes shall be placed in a vessel
near the holy Table and the Priest, standing at the Epistle side, shall
say,
The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy
spirit.
Priest. Let us pray.
O God, our faithful Creator, who wouldest not the death of a sinner,
but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: Look
with mercy upon the frailty of our mortal nature; and of thy goodness
vouchsafe to
+
bless these ashes which are now to be set upon our heads as a token of
humility and sorrow for our sins. We acknowledge that we are but
dust and ashes, and that, by reason of our offenses, unto dust we shall
return; yet we beseech thy mercy to grant the forgiveness of all our
sins and the pardon which thou hast promised to all who truly repent
and believe in thy Son; who with the and the Holy Spirit, liveth and
reigneth, one God, world without end.
Amen.
Here may the ashes be sprinkled and
censed.
Then shall the Priest put ashes on
his own forehead, or if there be another Priest present, he shall put
the ashes on the officiant's forehead; after which the people shall
kneel at the Communion rail and the Priest shall put the ashes on their
foreheads. During the imposition Psalm 25
may be said or sung, or
some suitable Lenten hymn may be sung.
The priest shall say to each person,
as the ashes are imposed,
Remember, O man, that dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.
Or,
Remember that thou art a sinner, and repent.
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THE FOM FOR
THE BLESSING OF PALMS
ON PALM SUNDAY
It is fitting that the Palms, made
into the form of crosses, be laid ready on a table in the sanctuary.
As the Ministers enter, the following
Introit may be said or sung,
Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in
heaven and glory in the highest.
The Priest, going to the table where
the Palms are placed, begins as follows:
+ BLESS, we beseech
thee, O Lord, these branches and crosses of palm; and grant that as thy
people do on this day outwardly venerate thee, they may inwardly love
thee with such devotion that their love may be shown forth in good
works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit
liveth and reigneth for ever. Amen.
The Palms may now be sprinkled and
censed; and the Priest shall say,
The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy
spirit.
Priest. Let us pray.
O GOD, whose Son for the salvation of makind came down from heaven to
earth, and when the hour of his passion drew near did enter Jerusalem
seated upon an ass, and received the praises of the multitude who
hailed him as their King, mercifully hear the prayers of those who call
upon thee. May thy blessing rest upon us; and do thou vouchsafe
to + bless these
branches and crosses of palm, that all who carry them may be filled
with
thy blessing. Grant that, as the children of the Hebrews went
forth to meet thy Son, our Lord, with branches of trees in their hands
and crying, Hosanna in the highest; so we going forth with good works
may meet Christ on his way, and at length attain to everlasting
felicity; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Palms are then distributed to the
clergy, other ministers, choir, and congregation, in order, at some
convenient place. During the distribution the following anthems,
or some suitable hymn, may be sung:
HAIL, Lord Jesus, to whom the people of the Hebrews did bear witness;
meeting thee with palms, and crying aloud the words of their salvation.
2. This is he that cometh from Edom, and with dyed robes from
Bozrah: he that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the
greatness of his strength.
3. The children of the Hebrews spread their garments in the way,
and cried aloud, daying, Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is
he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
4. Hail, Light of the world, King of kings, glory of the heaven,
with whom remaineth dominion, praise, and honour for ever and
ever. Hail, Lord Jesus.
Then may follow the procession, the
Priest first saying,
O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, whose blessed Son according to
the prophet's word did ride upon the foal of an ass, and was hailed by
the crowds who cried Hosanna and spread their garments in the
way: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so praise him here on
earth that finally with thy saints we may enter into that heavenly
city, where with thee and the Holy Spirit, he liveth and reigneth,
world without end. Amen.
Minister. Let us proceed
in peace.
Answer. In tne name of
the Lord. Amen.
During the Procession the Hymn, All
glory, laud and honour, may be
sung. And the Procession ended,
the Priest shall begin the Lord's Supper.
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