Experiencing the Communion of Saints: The De Profundis

Below are prayers for the dead from the new St. Augustine’s Prayer Book (published by Forward Movement and available here or here). These prayers may be offered at the close of day (traditionally at around 9 PM), or said at other times such as on All Souls’ Day (11/2), after the Eucharist, and especially in times of mourning and before the Burial Liturgy. 

Prayer for those who died is part of the Church's affirmation of the communion of saints. It is also part of the Church's healing ministry, in that through commending the souls of the faithful to God, we are being given grace to understanding more deeply the power of Christ's passion, death, resurrection, and ascension to unite all creation to God the Father in love and peace. 

Our prayers do not "make" anything happen; they connect us directly to what God is already doing, has done, and will do in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who calls forth our prayer and gives us true communion with God, we participate in the promise of salvation and in its first fruits already made known in Christ.

These prayers take their name from the first two words in Latin of Psalm 130, a psalm long associated with the sick, those in peril and extreme need, or the dead.

130   De profundis

1       Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;

Lord, hear my voice; *

     let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

2       If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *

     O Lord, who could stand?

3       For there is forgiveness with you; *

     therefore you shall be feared.

4       I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *

     in his word is my hope.

5       My soul waits for the Lord,

more than watchmen for the morning, *

     more than watchmen for the morning.

6       O Israel, wait for the Lord, *

     for with the Lord there is mercy;

7       With him there is plenteous redemption, *

     and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

V. Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord.

R. And let light perpetual shine upon them.

Our Father &c.

V. And lead us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

V. From the gates of hell:

R. Deliver their souls, O Lord.

V. May they + rest in peace.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear our prayer.

R. And let our cry come unto thee.

Set free from every bond, O Lord, the soul(s) of thy servant(s) N.[N.], that in the glory of the resurrection, he may be raised up amid thy saints and elect unto newness of life. Amen.

Lord Jesus, whose loving heart was ever touched by the sorrows of others, have mercy upon the souls of the faithful departed, and grant them a place of refreshment, light, and peace whence pain and sorrow and sighing are driven away; and in thy goodness and mercy pardon every sin committed by them in thought, word, and deed; thou who art the resurrection and the life, and who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

- or -

Almighty and eternal God, to whom there is never any prayer made without hope of mercy, be merciful to the souls of thy servants being departed from this world in the confession of thy Name that they may be welcomed into the company of the saints, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

V. Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord.

R. And let light perpetual shine upon them.

V. From the gates of hell:

R. Deliver their souls, O Lord.

V. I trust to see the goodness of the Lord

R. In the land of the living.

V. O Lord, hear our prayer.

R. And let our cry come unto thee.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our shepherd and guide, grant us to walk through the valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil, lacking nothing, and accompanied by thee, who thyself hast passed that way and made it light and who now livest and reignest in glory everlasting. Amen.

An Advent Litany

The week prior to Christmas Day has a special seasonal tradition of prayer called the O Antiphons. These short addresses to the Messiah, drawn from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, are said or sung before and after the Magnificat (the Song of Mary from Luke 1:46-55) each night, beginning on December 17th. These antiphons are the source for the verses in the well-known Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

These antiphons have been skillfully adapted for use as an Advent litany by the editors of the new edition of the St. Augustine's Prayer Book. This litany encourages one to praise the Messiah, to contemplate the nature of His reign, to intensify our focus of preparation in the final stage of Advent, and to intercede for the world. The prayers that follow explore various Advent themes and might be used on a rotating basis.

Let the final days of Advent make for a deeper contemplation of Our Lord's two comings, so we approach the Feast of the Nativity with a heart made ready, like the manger, to receive the Infant King.

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O Wisdom, proceeding from the Most High, reaching from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: 

Come and teach us the way of understanding.

O Adonai and Leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave the Law: 

Come to deliver us with your strong arm.

O Root of Jesse, given as a sign for all peoples, in whose presence kings are silenced and before whom all nations will be judged: 

Come with the day of peace and do not delay.

O Key of David, who opens and none can shut, leading us to life everlasting: 

Come and lead out those bound in chains.

O Day Spring, the bright and morning star, the eternal light that enlightens all: 

Come and shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

O King of the Nations, chosen and precious cornerstone, binding in one all peoples: 

Come quiet the strife that afflicts your children.

O Emmanuel, the promise and the fulfillment of all promises: 

Come and bring among us the joy of your kingdom.

Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come. Amen.

Make us watchful and alert, O Lord our God, that when he comes, your Son Christ our Lord will not find us sleeping in sin or distracted with fears, but awake, strong in faith, active in service, and rejoicing in your praises, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

May Christ, whose second coming in power and great glory we await, X make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The year declines and our days draw to a close: let us, for it is time, amend our doings to the praise of Christ; let our lamps be burning, for the exalted Judge cometh to judge the nations. Amen.

Lord, you have set before us the great hope that your kingdom shall come on earth, and have taught us to pray for its coming; give us grace to discern the signs of its dawning, and to work for the perfect day when your will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From The St. Augustine’s Prayer Book,

Revised Edition

Prayers at Rising: A Simple Form to Begin the Day

Every Christian is called to pray. There are many ways to do this. One is to mark the central moments of our day with particular prayers. It is an ancient and very laudable custom to begin the day with prayer immediately upon arising. One way to do this is to have a set group of prayers nearby that focus on greeting the new day and yet allow some flexibility in remembering particular persons or concerns. This group of prayers seeks to address this need.

The form begins with the "customary prayers" (the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed) often said before any Office. It then proceeds with a short litany for daybreak from Bp. Andrewes before a series of prayers (you may use one, a few, or all) focusing on the opportunity this new day affords for starting our life anew, intercessions for our loved-ones, awareness of our frailty and dependence on God, and then committing our day into God's hands by recalling the truth that each moment is an opportunity to share the Gospel, and each encounter is sent by God--including the challenging people and situations that may come our way. The form ends with a final commendation before we go on with the more physical and outward parts of beginning our day.

It is well to remember that each new day is a merciful gift from God in which we may indeed start again. Making a daily re-commitment to this fact is one of the central ways our prayer opens us to the Holy Spirit's work in us and is a valuable part of a Rule of Life.

If you are not going to offer a further Office (such as Morning Prayer) later on, please read a psalm and a chapter of sacred scripture after these prayers. It is essential that Christians enter into regular study and listening to God in the holy words of the Bible as a compliment to their prayers.

Prayers at Rising

In the X Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Our Father, &c.]    [Hail, Mary, &c.]    [I believe, &c.]

Glory to you Lord, O Lord, glory to you, glory to you who have given me sleep for the refreshing of my weakness, and to restore the labors of this fretful body.

To this day and all days, a perfect, peaceful, healthy, and sinless course:

Grant this, Lord.

An angel of peace, a faithful guide, guardian of soul and body, to pitch a tent around me, and always to prompt what brings salvation:

Grant this, Lord.

Pardon X and remission of all sins and offences:

Grant this, Lord.

To our souls, what is good and becoming, and peace to the world:

Grant this, Lord.

Repentance and discipline for the rest of our life, and health and peace to the end:

Grant this, Lord.

Whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever pure, whatever lovely, whatever of good report, if there be any virtue, and praise, such thoughts, such deeds:

Grant this, Lord.

A Christian close, without sin, without blame, and if it please you without pain, and a good answer at the awesome and testing judgment-seat of Jesus Christ our Lord:

Grant this, Lord.

O God, you are my God, and you have made me for yourself. O Lord, Heavenly Father, to you I devote my heart, and my entire life. Grant me your grace that this day I may live in your presence, and walk in the path of your commandments, following the example of my Savior Christ, and being made like unto him. Give to me your Holy Spirit that, trusting only in him, I may overcome those sins which beset me. Grant, O gracious God, to me and to [names] such blessings as we need. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day:  Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let this my prayer, O Lord, come before you in the morning. You took upon yourself our feeble and suffering nature; grant me to pass this day in gladness and peace, without stumbling and without stain; that reaching the eventide without any temptation, I may praise you the eternal King: through your mercy, O our God, who is blessed, living and governing all things, world without end. Amen.

Lord, give me the strength to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely on your holy will. Reveal your will to me every hour of the day. Bless my dealings with all people. Teach me to treat all people who come to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unexpected events, let me not forget that all are sent by you. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me the physical strength to bear the labors of this day. Direct my will, teach me to pray, and you yourself, pray in me. Amen.

At the prayers of St. Mary, (N.N.), and all the saints, may the Almighty and Merciful Lord X Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and preserve me, and bring me to life everlasting. Amen.

Embertide: A Litany of the Holy Spirit

This litany is one of the main tools I use each Embertide. While it was written for clergy (or those about to be ordained), much of it is easily adaptable to lay members of the Church.

In spite of its being written in older style English (or, perhaps, because of it being so), I think this litany works as a sort of prolonged meditation on the ways in which we know, honor, and receive guidance from the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians. I encourage you to pray it slowly, taking time between petitions. You might wish to take some time in silence afterwards, either simply to stand before God, or to journal your own response to what is revealed through this prayer.

One of the effects of this prayer on me is a deeper sense of reverence and gratitude for the ministry I have been given. Each one of us, no matter where we serve or in what order, must continually seek nourishment from the author of our ministry so that we will neither become overwhelmed or arrogant in our work. I pray that you will find this a worthy prayer, adapt it as needed, and use it with profit.

A Litany of the Holy Spirit

(Especially for use at the Embertides)

Lord, have mercy upon us.

            Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

O God the Father, of heaven;

            Have mercy upon us.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world;

            Have mercy upon us.

O God the Holy Spirit, the Comforter;

            Have mercy upon us.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who at the beginning didst move upon the face of the waters;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whose inspiration holy men of old spake as they were moved;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, power of the highest, that didst overshadow Mary;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, through whom the holy Child Jesus waxed strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who didst descent like a dove, and lighten upon Christ our Lord, at his baptism;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, of whom Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, eternal Spirit, through whom Christ our Priest and Victim offered himself without spot to God;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who on the day of Pentecost didst descend upon the Apostles in the likeness of fiery tongues;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom we were new-born in Baptism;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who didst strengthen us with they sevenfold gift at Confirmation;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who makest intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered;

            Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts;

            Have mercy upon us.

By thy eternal procession from the Father and the Son;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By thy glorious work in the mystery of the Incarnation;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By thy lighting as a dove upon Jesus at his baptism;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By thy descent in likeness of fire on the day of Pentecost;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By thy life-giving power and might;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By thine all-powerful intercession;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By thy continual abiding in the Church;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From all sin;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From presumption and despair;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From impenitence and hardness of heart;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From impurity, whether of mind or body, and from all that has ever defiled thy temple within us;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From the spirit of thoughtlessness and levity;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From the spirit of covetousness and self-seeking;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From the lust of honor and pride of life;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From deafness to they call and warnings;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From neglect of thy graces and inspirations;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

From that sin against thee which has no forgiveness;

            Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

 [In our preparation for the work of the ministry;

            Help us, O Holy Spirit.

In the solemn hour of Ordination;

            Help us, O Holy Spirit.]

In our dealings with souls committed to our charge;

            Help us, O Holy Spirit.

In success and in failure;

            Help us, O Holy Spirit.

In the solemn account that we must one day give;

            Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Holy Spirit, that it may please thee to guide thy holy Church universal into all truth, and to fill it with thy love;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may give diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That, as we live in the Spirit, we may also walk in the Spirit;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may mortify the deeds of the body;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That with sincerity of purpose we may aim in all things at God’s greater glory;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That, in all our thoughts, words, and words, we may be confirmed more and more to the life and passion of the Lord Jesus;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may be gentle, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may ever reverently handle and devoutly receive the blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may be enabled to shew forth thy light in the world, and be holy examples to the flock of Christ;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may be filled with thy sevenfold gift; the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and the spirit of thy most holy fear;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That in our ministry we may not care to please, nor fear to displease, any but him who has called us to his service;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may count not our lives dear unto us, so that we may finish our course with joy, and the ministry received of the Lord Jesus;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may ever be mindful of that solemn account, which, for ourselves and others, we must one day give at the judgment-seat of Christ;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

That we may have grace to persevere unto the end;

            Hear us, O Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit;

            We beseech thee to hear us.

Lord, and Giver of life;

            We beseech thee to hear us.

Thou who didst descend at Pentecost;

            Have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

            Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, &c.

V. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost;

R. He shall teach you all things.

Let us pray.

God, who didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savor, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be 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.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before thee for all members of thy holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen

[And these prayers may be added or used as alternatives.

Let us pray for those who are to be ordered Priests.

O God, great in power, unsearchable in understanding, wondrous in counsels toward the children of men; Fill, we beseech thee, with the gift of thy Holy Spirit those who at this time humbly desire thy holy office of the Priesthood; that thy may be worthy to stand before thy holy altar unblameably, to announce the word of thy truth, to offer gifts and spiritual sacrifices unto thee, and to renew thy people in the laver of regeneration; that at the second coming of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, thin only-begotten Son, thy may go forth to meet him, and by thy multitude of thy mercies receive their reward: through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for those who are to be ordered Deacons.

O Lord, our God, who by thin own presence dost shed the abundance of thy Holy Spirit on those who are set apart by thine inscrutable power, to become ministers and to serve thy spotless Mysteries; Keep thy servants who humbly desire the holy office of Deacon, that they may hold the mystery of the faith in pure conscience, with all virtue; enable them to discharge according to thy good pleasure the office assign to them by thy mercy; and fill them with thy holy and life-giving Spirit, with all faith and love, all power and sanctification. For thou art our God, and to thee we render glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

We pray and beseech thee, O Lord, in thy love and goodness: Send out from the height of thy holy dwelling-place, on all these thy servants for whom we have now made supplication unto thee, the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, the Holy, the Lord, the Giver of life, who spake in law and prophets and apostles, who is everywhere present and filleth all things, and worketh by his sovereign choice in whom he will, sanctifying them after thy good pleasure; that thy great and holy name may be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.]

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.