Confession. Salutation. Lord have mercy, &c. Our Father, &c. Psalms 32, 139. Lessons.-Confession. Gospel 1 S. after Easter. 6 S. after Trinity. Comment. The Creed. Collect. LORD, we beseech Thee mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto Thee; that they whose consciences by sin are accused, by Thy merciful pardon may be absolved, through Christ our Lord. Prayer. O Lord God, Who lightened every man that cometh into the world, let the light of Thy grace shine into the heart of this Thy servant, that he may fully know his shortcomings and sins, and may confess them with that sorrow and contrition of heart through, &c. Here follows the sick man's confession. Questions. Do you abhor your sins from the bottom of your heart? Are you resolved to avoid all temptations and occasions of sin, as far as you possibly can ? Will you strive and pray with all your power? Will you try to bring forth fruits meet for repentance? Are you in perfect charity with all men? The Absolution. Prayer. May the confession which Thy servant has made, O Lord, be well pleasing and acceptable in Thy sight, and whatsoever is wanting now or hereafter in his contention and confession, do Thou mercifully supply from the riches of Thy mercies and Thy goodness, through, &c. We bless Thee, most loving Jesu, that Thou hast patiently waited for this Thy servant, and granted him pardon of his sins. Grant him the help of Thy grace that henceforth he may avoid sin, and serve Thee faithfully in the time that remains, for Thy merits to be, &c. Hymn 8. Commendation or Blessing. Preparation for Holy Communion. Salutation. Lord have mercy, &c. Our Father, &c. Psalms 23, 123, 131. Lesson.-See COMMUNION, Thursday before Easter, Epistle. I am not worthy, I am not fit, That Thou shouldest come under the roof of my soul, For it is all desolate and ruined, Nor hast Thou in me fitting place to lay Thy head. But as Thou didst vouchsafe To lie in the cavern and manger of brute cattle ; Woman like me, who was a sinner, Coming to Thee and touching Thee; So too me, the ruined, wretched, And excessive sinner, Deign to receive; deign to bestow on me The saving mysteries Of Thy all-holy Body And Thy precious Blood. I approach as sick to the Physician of life, as unclean to the fountain of mercy, as blind to the light of eternal brightness, as poor and nccdy to the Lord of Heaven and earth; I beseech Thee to heal my infirmity, to wash away my uncleanness, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my poverty, to clothe my nakedness; that I may receive the bread of angels, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, such resolution and intention as is good for my salvation, through, &c. Hymn 11. Blessing. The Communion of the Sick. Forasmuch as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases and sicknesses, and ever uncertain_what time they shall depart out of this life: therefore, to the intent they may be always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please Almighty God to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence, or other infectious sickness) exhort their Parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, when it shall be publicly administered in the Church; that so doing, they may, in case of sudden visitation, have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same. But if the sick person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Communion in his house; then he must give timely notice to the Curate, signifying also how many there are to communicate with him (which shall be three, or two at the least), and having a convenient place in the sick man's house, with all things necessary so prepared, that the Curate may reverently minister, he shall there celebrate the Holy Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, here following. Collect. Almighty, everliving God, Maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom Thou dost love, and chastise every one whom Thou dost receive; We beseech Thee to have mercy upon this Thy servant visited with Thine hand, and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health (if it be Thy gracious will;) and whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Epistle. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth; and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. Gospel. Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. |