The Ordinary: Opening Prayers
Printed pages 20–22 · the approach to the altar
At the saying of Mass, while the priest is putting on the sacred vestments, he shall say the Hymn following:
Hymn.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home:
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee, of both, to be but One.
That through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song;
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
V. Send forth thy Spirit, and they shall be made.
R. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Collect.
O 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 thee. Through, etc.
1 Warren notes that this translation, beautiful but not very close, is taken from the service for the Ordering of Priests in the Book of Common Prayer. 2 Psalm civ. 30.
Warren, Part I, printed p. 21 · open scanThen shall follow the Anthem: I will go unto the altar of God.
Psalm. Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause, etc.
The whole of the Psalm is said, together with Glory be to the Father, etc. Then is said the Anthem:
I will go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father, etc.
Hail, Mary, etc.
This done, and the Office of the Mass having been commenced, when at the conclusion of the Office, Glory be to the Father, etc., is begun, the priest with his ministers is to approach to the step of the altar, and himself to say the confession, the deacon assisting on his right hand and the subdeacon on his left hand, beginning thus:
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious.
R. Because his mercy endureth for ever.
Confession.
I confess to God, to blessed Mary, to all the saints, and to you, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, by my fault: I pray holy Mary, all the saints of God, and you, to pray for me.
1 Psalm xliii. 4. 2 Psalm xliii. 3 Here, as elsewhere, the Kyrie is represented by the transliterated Greek words, Kyrie eleyson, Christe eleyson, Kyrie eleyson. 4 Warren records the full form of the Hail Mary in the 1526 edition. 5 Psalm cxviii. 1.
Warren, Part I, printed p. 22 · open scanThe ministers shall reply.
May almighty God have mercy upon you, and forgive you all your sins; deliver you from all evil; preserve and strengthen you in goodness, and bring you to everlasting life.
Priest. Amen.
Afterwards the ministers shall say the Confession, and the priest shall say, May almighty God have mercy, etc., as above. Then shall the priest say:
The almighty and merciful God grant unto you absolution and remission of all your sins, time for true repentance, and amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Ghost.
The ministers shall reply, Amen.
And be it known, that whatever priest is the Officiant, if the bishop be present, the bishop shall always say, standing at the step of the altar, the Confession, May almighty God have mercy upon you, etc., and the Absolution.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
V. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
R. From this time forth, now, and for evermore.
Let us pray.
Then, having finished his prayers, the priest shall kiss the deacon, and afterwards the subdeacon, saying thus:
Receive the kiss of peace and love, that ye may be fit for the holy altar for the performance of divine offices.
This shall be observed always, throughout the whole year, except in masses for the dead, and on the three days next before Easter.
This done, the candlebearers shall set down their candlesticks with candles at the step of the altar; then the priest shall approach the altar, and say in the midst of the altar, silently, and with inclined body and joined hands: Let us pray.
1 Warren notes that this preliminary kiss of peace is not in R.