The Holy Communion
From the 1549
Book of Common Prayer
Adapted for American use

¶ A Psalm, Hymn, or Anthem may be sung when the Minister enters
or, after a sentence of Scripture, the Minister may say,

Minister: The Lord be with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.

¶ Then shall be said the COLLECT FOR PURITY following.
ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Then, all standing, shall be said or sung together the GLORIA IN EXCELSIS,

GLORY be to God on high,
and on earth peace, good will towards 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
sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away
the sins 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.
Minister: The Lord be with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.

Then shall the Priest say the Collect of the Day, followed by the collect for the state.

ALMIGHTY God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power
infinite; Have mercy upon this whole land; and so
rule the hearts of thy servants, [N ], the President of the
United States, [N ], the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth),
and all others in authority, that they, knowing
whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thine
honour and glory; and that we and all the people, duly
considering whose authority they bear, may faithfully and
obediently honour them, according to thy blessed Word
and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God,
world without end.
Amen.

¶ Then shall be read the EPISTLE Lesson, the Reader first saying,
The Reading (Lesson) from the Epistle_____ , chapter _____ , beginning at
the _____ verse. The Epistle being ended, the Reader may say, Here
endeth the Epistle, or,

Reader. This is the Word of the Lord.
People. Thanks be to God.

¶ Here may be sung a Hymn or an Anthem.
¶ Then, all the people standing, the Minister appointed shall read the
GOSPEL, first saying, The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according
to St. _____ , chapter _____ , beginning at the _____ verse. In response
to the announcement of the Gospel shall be said,

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

¶ And after the Gospel, the Minister shall say, The Gospel of the Lord,
the people then responding,

Praise be to thee, O Christ.

¶ Then shall be said the CREED commonly called the Nicene, or else
the Apostles’ Creed; but the Creed may be omitted, if it has been said
immediately before in Morning Prayer; provided, That the Nicene
Creed shall be said on Christmas Day, Easter Day, Ascension Day,
Whitsunday, and Trinity Sunday.


The Nicene Creed
I BELIEVE in one God 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, And was made man, 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 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.

¶ Then shall be declared unto the people what Services are in the week
following to be observed. And here also (if occasion be) shall notice
be given of the Communion. And nothing shall be proclaimed or
published in the church during the time of Divine Service, but by
the Minister.

¶ Here may be sung a Hymn or an Anthem.
¶ Then shall follow the SERMON or Homily.
¶The Offertory may be placed here.

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Answer: And with thy spirit.

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

Answer: It is meet and right so to do.
The Priest:
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.

¶ Here shall follow the PROPER PREFACE, according to the time, if
there be any specially appointed; or else immediately shall be said
or sung by the Priest,
THEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

¶ Priest and people.

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Glory be to thee, O Lord in the highest. Amen.

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who 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 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 those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love. We beseech thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and
vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.
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.
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.
And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all those, who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And especially we commend unto thy merciful goodness this congregation, which is here assembled in thy Name, to celebrate the commemoration of the most glorious Death of thy Son.
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 blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thy son Jesus Christ our Lord and God, and in the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs, whose examples (o Lord) and steadfastness in thy faith, and keeping thy holy commandments, grant us to follow. 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 this, O father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only mediator and advocate.

O God, heavenly Father, which 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) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation,
and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue,a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice,
until his coming again; Hear us, O merciful Father, we beseech thee; and with thy Holy Spirit and Word vouchsafe to bless (+) and sanctify (+) these thy creatures of bread and wine, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood: who, in the same night in which he was betrayed, took Bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my Body which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me. Likewise after supper he took the Cup; and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this eis my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

W HEREFORE, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, we, thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here before thy Divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son
hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same.

AND we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. And although we be unworthy (through our manifold sins) to offer unto thee any Sacrifice: Yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, and command these our prayers and supplications, by the Ministry of thy holy Angels, to be brought up into thy holy Tabernacle before the sight of thy divine majesty; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the holy Ghost: all honour and glory be unto thee, O father almighty, world without end.

Amen.

Let us pray.
AS our savior Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say.
Our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Then shall the priest say.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

The Priest. Christ our Paschal lamb is offered up for us, once for all, when he bare our sins on his body upon the cross, for he is the very lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world: wherefore let us keep a joyful and holy feast with the Lord.

Here the priest shall turn him toward those that come to the holy Communion, and shall say.
YOU that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins to almighty God, and be in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways: draw near and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort, make your humble confession to Almighty God, and to his holy church here gathered in his name, meekly kneeling upon your knees.

Then shall this general Confession be made, in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion, either by one of them, or else by one of the ministers, or by the priest himself, all kneeling humbly upon their knees.

ALMIGHTY GOD father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men, we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, against thy divine majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us, we do earnestly repent and be heartily sorry for these our misdoings, the remembrance of them is grievous unto us, the burden of them is intolerable: have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful father, for thy son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may ever hereafter, serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest standing up, and turning himself to the people, say thus,
ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them, with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto him: have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest also say,
HEAR what comfortable words our saviour Christ saith, to all that truly turn to him.

Come unto me all that travail, and be heavy laden, and I shall refresh you.

So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, to the end that all that believe in him, should not perish, but have life everlasting

Hear also what Saint Paul saith.
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners.

Hear also what Saint John saith.
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins.

Then shall the Priest turning him to Gods board kneel down and say in the name of all them, that they receive the Communion, this prayer following.

WE do not presume to come to this thy table (0 merciful Lord) trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies: we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table: but thou art the same lord whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood in these holy Mysteries, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood. Amen.

Then shall the Priest first receive the Communion in both kinds himself, and next deliver it to other Ministers, if any be there preset, (that they may be ready to help the chief Minister,) and after to the people.

And when he delivereth the Sacrament of the body of Christ, he shall say to every one these words.

THE body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

And the Minister delivering the Sacrament of the blood, and giving every one to drink once and no more, shall say,

THE blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.

Then the Priest shall give thanks to God, in the name of all them that have communicated, turning him first to the people, and saying.

The Lord be with you.

The Answer. And with thy spirit.

The Priest. Let us pray.
ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou hast vouchsafed to feed us in these holy Mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and hast assured us (duly receiving the same) of thy favour and goodness towards us, and that we be very members incorporate in thy Mystical body, which is the blessed company of all faithful people, and heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear son. We therefore most humbly beseech thee, 0 heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works, as thou hast prepared for us to walk in: through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the holy ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Then the Priest turning him to the people, shall let them depart with this blessing.
THE peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of GOD, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

Then the people shall answer.

Amen.