Below are reprinted (in their Jacobean English form) the ancient prayers for use on Fridays throughout the year. They form an important prayer resource for the Friday Devotion enjoined by the Book of Common Prayer (page 17).
These prayers take us through all the stages of the Passion Story: from the early morning sentence of death through his being led to the Cross, the Crucifixion, the hour of Christ’s death, and his burial. In so doing, they invite us to enter into both a deeper awareness of Christ’s total identification with us in his self-offering, and our own loving response to that offering.
At Daybreak
O |
EVERLASTING Jesus, who in the early morning didst give thyself to be reviled and scoffed at by thine enemies; Visit us, we pray thee, at this hour with thy grace and mercy; that so throughout the day we may find peace and joy in all that ministers to thy praise and glory; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
O |
LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who at the first hour of the day wast brought before Pilate, and thyself the Judge of all didst yet endure the severest doom; We beseech thee by that judgement to be merciful to us sinners when at the last day we stand before thee; who livest and reignest God, for ever and ever. Amen.
At Mid-morning (9 AM, traditionally)
Antiphon: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is mute, so he openeth not his mouth.
V. It was the third hour.
R. And they crucified him.
Let us pray.
O |
LORD Jesu Christ, Son of the living God, who at the third hour of the day wast led forth to the pain of the cross, for the salvation of the world; We humbly beseeth thee, that, by the virtue of thy most sacred passion, thou wouldest blot out all our sins, and mercifully bring us to the glory of thy blessedness, who livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.
At Noon
Antiphon: I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.
V. Lord, remember me;
R. When thou comest into thy kingdom.
Let us pray.
O |
MOST gracious Jesus, our Lord and our God, who, as at this hour, didst bear our sins in thine own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, might live unto righteousness; Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee, both now and at the hour of our death; and grant unto us, thy humble servants, with all other Christian people, that have this thy blessed passion in devout remembrance, a godly and peaceful life in this present world, and, through thy grace, eternal glory in the life to come; where, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, thou livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
-or-
O |
LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, who at the sixth hour of the day didst with great tumult ascend on Golgotha the cross of pain, whereon, thirsting for our salvation, thou didst permit gall and vinegar to be given thee to drink; We, thy suppliants, beseech thee, that thou wouldest kindle and inflame our hearts with the love of thy passion, and make us continually to find our delight in thee alone, our crucified Lord; who livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.
At Mid-afternoon (3 PM, traditionally)
Antiphon: When he suffered he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
V. Even there shall thy hand lead me;
R. And thy right hand shall hold me.
Let us pray.
H |
EAR us, O merciful Lord Jesus Christ, and remember now the hour in which thou didst commend thy blessed spirit into the hands of thy heavenly Father; and so assist us by this thy most precious death, that, being dead unto the world, we may live only unto thee; and that at the hour of our departing from this mortal life, we may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, there to reign with thee, world without end. Amen.
O |
LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray thee to set thy passion, cross, and death between thy judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Vouchsafe to the living mercy and grace, rest to the faithful dead, to thy holy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners everlasting life and glory, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.
O |
GRACIOUS Lord Jesus, who didst vouchsafe to die upon the cross for us; Remember, we beseech thee, all sick and dying persons, and grant that they may omit nothing which is necessary to make their peace with thee before they die. Deliver them, O Lord, from the malice of the devil, and from all sin and evil, and grant them a happy end, for they loving mercy’s sake. Amen.
At the Close of Day
O |
LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who at the hour of Compline didst rest in the sepulchre, and didst thereby sanctify the grave to be a bed of hope to thy people; Make us so to abound in sorrow for our sins, which were the cause of thy passion, that when our bodies lie in the dust, our souls my live with thee; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment