The Eucharist

Sacrament of the Mass (longer form) (LCC) (1920)

Liturgies of the Liberal Catholic Rite

The Holy Eucharist

Throughout this web page,

Words spoken by the priest look like this.
Words spoken by the congregation look like this.
Out of respect, please bow at the highlighted text.
Shaded text is optional.

The rubrics in this on-line version are abbreviated to make the liturgy more readable.

Purification

Asperges (long form)

The Priest, with his assistants, kneels before the altar; he intones the words, 'Thou shalt sprinkle me' and 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills' and the remainder of the Antiphon and Psalm is taken up by the choir and congregation, who stand. Meanwhile the Priest sprinkles with holy water the altar and himself, then the clergy and the people, who bow and cross themselves.

Psalm 121

Antiphon Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord,
and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh even from the Lord: who hath made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: and He that keepeth thee will not sleep.

Behold, He that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord Himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.

So that the sun shall not smite thee by day: neither the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even He that shall keep thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore.]

Glory be to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Antiphon Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

Priest O Lord, open Thou our lips:

All And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.

Priest Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?

All Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart.

The Collect

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Priest Let us pray.

Priest Guide us, O Almighty Father, in all our doings, and from Thy heavenly throne send down Thy holy Angel to be with Thy people who have met together to serve and to worship Thee; through Christ our Lord.

All R/. Amen.

Invocation

Priest In the name of the Father,   and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

All R/. Amen.

Asperges (short form)

Priest May the Lord purify me that I may worthily perform His service.
In the strength of the Lord do I repel all evil from this His holy altar and sanctuary,
and from this House, wherein we worship Him;
and I pray our heavenly Father that He will send His holy Angel to prepare this habitation for His Presence, for the meet celebration herein of His most holy mysteries, and for the pouring forth of His strength and blessing upon His people; through Christ our Lord.

All R/. Amen.

Canticle

Antiphon I will go unto the Altar of God: Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

I was glad when they said unto me: we will go into the house of the Lord.

I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: yea, my songs will I make of Thy Name, O Thou most Highest.

O send out Thy light and Thy truth, that they may lead me: and bring me to Thy holy hill, and to Thy dwelling.

And that I may go unto the Altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness: and upon the harp will I give thanks unto Thee, O God my God.

The Lord is in His holy temple: the Lord's seat is in heaven.

The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

O magnify the Lord our God, and worship Him upon His holy hill: for the Lord our God is holy.

The Lord shall give strength unto His people: the Lord shall give His people the blessing of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Antiphon I will go unto the Altar of God: Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

Versicles

Priest   Our help is in the Name of the Lord:

All Who hath made heaven and earth.

Priest Turn us again, O Lord, and quicken us:

All That Thy people may rejoice in Thee.

Priest Trust ye in the Lord for ever:

All For our Rock of Ages is the Lord.

Confiteor

All O Lord, Thou hast created us to be immortal and made us to be an image of Thine own eternity; yet often we forget the glory of our heritage and wander from the path which leads to righteousness. But Thou, O Lord, hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are ever restless till they find their rest in Thee. Look with the eyes of Thy love upon our manifold imperfections and pardon all our shortcomings, that we may be filled with the brightness of the everlasting light and become the unspotted mirror of Thy power and the image of Thy goodness; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Absolution

Priest God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve and sanctify you; the Lord in His lovingkindness look down upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord    absolve you from all your sins and grant you the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

All R/. Amen.

Connection to the Divine One

First censing

The censer is brought to the Priest who puts incense into it and blesses it saying silently:

Priest Mayest thou be blessed by Him in whose honour thou shalt be burned.

The Priest censes the altar, after which the people stand.

Introit

All   Blessed be the Holy Trinity the undivided Unity, eternal, immortal, invisible, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. O Lord our God, how excellent is Thy Name in all the world. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Blessed be the Holy Trinity, the undivided Unity, eternal, immortal, invisible, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Kyrie

All Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.

All Christe eleison. Christe eleison. Christe eleison.

All Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.

Gloria

Omit the "Gloria" during the Lent and Advent seasons.

All Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill. 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 Christ, the only-begotten Son {alone-born} of the Father; O Lord God, Indwelling Light, Son of the Father, whose wisdom mightily and sweetly ordereth all things, pour forth Thy love; Thou whose strength upholdeth and sustaineth all creation, receive our prayer; Thou whose beauty shineth through the whole universe, unveil Thy glory.

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.

Illuminating Our Gratitude

The Collects

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Priest Let us pray.

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.

All R/. Amen.

Here follow the Collect of the Day and other Collects, if any, and finally this Collect for peace.

Priest Teach us, O Lord, to see Thy life in all the peoples of Thine earth, and so guide the nations into an understanding of Thy laws that peace and goodwill may reign upon earth; through Christ our Lord.

All R/. Amen.

The Epistle

The people are seated. At High Celebration the Epistle is read by the Subdeacon (or a separate Epistoler may be appointed).

The Epistle being ended, all stand and say or sing:

All Thanks be to God.

Gradual

Priest He that loveth wisdom loveth life:

All and they that seek her early shall be filled with joy.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes:
and I shall keep it unto the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law:
yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
The path of the just is as the shining light:
shining more and more unto the perfect day.

Munda Cor Meum

At High Celebration the Gospel is read by the Deacon (or a separate Gospeller may be appointed). He kneels before the centre of the altar and intones the following prayer:

Gospeller Cleanse my heart and my lips, O God, who by the hand of Thy Seraph didst cleanse the lips of the prophet Isaiah with a burning coal from Thine altar, and in Thy loving-kindness so purify me that I may worthily proclaim Thy holy Gospel; through Christ our Lord.

All R/. Amen.

Priest The Celebrant blesses the Gospeller in the following words:

May the Lord be in {my|thy} heart and on {my|thy} lips, that through {my|thy} heart the love of God may shine forth, and through {my|thy} lips His power be made manifest.

All R/. Amen.

The Gospel

Gospeller The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

As soon as the Gospel is announced all say or sing the following, making the sign of the cross with the right thumb upon the forehead, lips and breast successively:

All Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

The Gospel ended, all say or sing:

All Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

The Sermon

Priest In the name of the Father,   and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

All R/. Amen.

If there be a sermon, it follows here.

Priest And now to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, Three Persons in one God, be ascribed, as is most justly due, all honour, might, majesty, power, dominion, and praise, now, henceforth and for evermore.

All R/. Amen.

Offering

Creed

Then is recited the Liberal Catholic Act of Faith. It is intoned by all, standing and facing the east.

All We believe that God is Love and power and Truth and Light; that perfect justice rules the world; that all His children will one day reach His feet, however far they stray. We hold the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of mankind; we know that we do serve Him best when best we serve our fellow man. So shall His blessing rest on us + and peace for ever more. Amen.

The Salutation of Peace

Priest O Lord Jesu Christ, who didst say to Thine apostles: 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you,' regard not our weakness, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy holy will and commandment.

All R/. Amen.

The Salutation of Peace, which follows, may first be given by the Celebrant to one of the clergy, in which case, it would be passed from one to another in the sanctuary and then to the people.

Priest The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All And with thy spirit.

At the conclusion of the Salutation of Peace, or instead of it, the Priest may intone:

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Offerings

A hymn is usually sung here, while the offering and tiths are collected.

The Oblations

Priest From the rising up of the sun even unto the going down of the same the Lord's Name shall be magnified; and in every place incense shall be offered unto His Name and a pure offering. There shall be heard in this place the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.

The Priest offers the host.

Priest We adore Thee, O God, who art the source of all life and goodness, and with true and thankful hearts we offer unto Thee this token of Thine own life-giving gifts bestowed upon us, Thou who art the giver of all.

He pours wine and a little water into the chalice.

Priest According to immemorial custom, we now mix water with this wine, praying Thee, O Lord, that we may evermore abide in Christ and He in us.

He offers the chalice.

Priest We offer unto Thee, O Lord, this chalice with joy and gladness; may the worship which we offer ascend before Thy Divine Majesty as a sacrifice, pure and acceptable in Thy sight; through Christ our Lord.

All R/. Amen.

The Second Censing

The Priest censes the oblations and the altar in the prescribed manner and says:

Priest As this incense rises before Thee, O Lord, so let our prayer be set forth in Thy sight. Let Thy holy Angels encompass Thy people and breathe forth upon them the spirit of Thy blessing.

As he returns the censer to the thurifer or Deacon, he says:

Priest May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of His love and the flame of everlasting charity.

The Priests, clerics, choir and people are censed. The people stand as the thurifer approaches them and bow before and after being censed. During the censing of the choir and people the Priest recites the Lavabo in low tone, raising his voice for the Gloria.

Lavabo

Priest I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord: and so will I go to Thine altar.
That I may show the voice of thanksgiving: and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house: and the place where Thine honour dwelleth.
My foot standeth right: I will praise the Lord in the congregations.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end.

All R/. Amen.

Orate Fratres

Priest Brethren {Brothers and Sisters}, pray that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.

All May the Lord receive the sacrifice at thy hands and sanctify our lives in His service.

Priest We lay before Thee, O Lord, these Thy creatures of bread and wine, in token of our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; for here we offer and present unto Thee ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a holy and continual sacrifice unto Thee, that we, who are very members incorporate in the mystical body of Thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people, may 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,' through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God throughout all ages of ages.

All R/. Amen.

Preface

Sursum Corda

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Priest Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

All It is meet and right so to do.

Preface

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 follows the proper Preface, if any.) Therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, with Cherubim and Seraphim, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Thy glorious Name, evermore praising Thee and saying:

Sanctus

The people kneel and sing the following.

All Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of Thy Glory;
glory be to Thee, O Lord most high.

Benedictus Qui Venit

All Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
  Hosanna in the highest.

God's Response

The Consecration or Transubstantiation

Priest Wherefore, O most loving Father, we Thy servants do pray Thee, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, to receive, to purify and to hallow this oblation which we make unto Thee. We desire to offer this holy Sacrifice first for Thy holy catholic Church; that it may please Thee to grant her peace, to watch over her, to bring her to unity and to guide her throughout the world; likewise that it may please Thee to bless and keep all Thy people, to give them increase of grace to bring forth the fruits of the spirit, to guide all nations into unity, peace and concord, and to endue their rulers with wisdom and understanding. Especially do we pray for N* and all that are put in authority under him, N. our Presiding Bishop, N. our Bishop, for all our bishops, clergy and faithful, and for all here present, whose faith and devotion are known unto Thee. We do also call to mind all who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity (especially .). Likewise do we offer it for all those Thy children whom it hath pleased Thee to deliver from the burden of the flesh (especially for .), that, freed from earthly toil and care, they may enjoy the felicity of Thy Presence, evermore praising Thee in word and deed, O God everlasting, living, and true.

In this joyful Sacrifice, we are uniting with Thy holy Church throughout the ages. We lift our hearts in adoration to Thee, O God the Son, who art consubstantial and coeternal with the Father. In the mystery of Thy boundless love, Thou didst send forth Thine own divine life into the universe, yet Thou art unchangeable and ever abiding within Thyself.
Through Thine eternal Sacrifice, Thou dost continually uphold all creation, dying in very truth that we may live. Thus didst Thou offer Thyself as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Thou, who art omnipotent and all pervading, resting not by night or day, art ever pouring Thy strength and Thy blessing through Thy Holy Ones, who live but to do Thy will as perfect servants of Thy wondrous power, to whom we ever offer heartfelt love and reverence.
Thou, O Holy Lord, in Thine ineffable wisdom, ordained for us this Blessed Sacrament of Thy love, that through it we may not only commemorate in symbol Thine eternal Oblation, but verily take part in it; that within the limitations of time and space, we may perpetuate Thine enduring Sacrifice by which the world is nourished and sustained.

With his hands spread over the offerings, he continues:

Priest Wherefore, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, we pray Thee to look down on and accept these offerings, which we Thy servants and Thy whole household do make unto Thee, in obedience to the command of Thy most blessed Son, our Lord Jesus Christ;
Which offerings do Thou, O Father, deign with Thy Holy Spirit and Word to bless, approve and ratify, that they may become for us His most precious Body and Blood.
Who the day before He suffered took bread into His holy and venerable hands, and with His eyes lifted up to heaven unto Thee, God, His Almighty Father, giving thanks to Thee, He blessed, brake and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and eat ye all of this, for
THIS IS MY BODY.
In like manner, after He had supped, taking also this noble chalice into His holy and venerable hands, again giving thanks to Thee, He blessed it and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and drink ye all of this, for
THIS IS MY BLOOD.
As oft as ye shall do these things, ye shall do them in remembrance of Me.

After some moments of silent adoration, the following verse shall be sung very softly, all devoutly kneeling:

All Thee we adore, O hidden Splendour, Thee,
Who in Thy Sacrament dost deign to be;
We worship Thee beneath this earthly veil,
And here Thy Presence we devoutly hail.

Transformation of Us All

Adeste Fideles

All O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, Monarch of the Angels;

Refrain O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

God of God, Light of Light,
Yet under earthly forms His Light He veils,
Very God, alone-born of the Father;
O come, let us adore Him; etc.

Refrain

Sing, choirs of Angels, sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest;

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, thronèd on Thine altar;
Ever to Thee be highest glory given.
Word of the Father, Splendour everlasting;

Refrain

Amen.

Prayers of Intent

The people again kneel.

Priest Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, we Thy humble servants, bearing in mind the ineffable sacrifice of Thy Son, the mystery of His wondrous incarnation, [His blessed passion,] His mighty resurrection, and His triumphant ascension, do here make before Thy Divine Majesty the memorial which our Lord hath willed us to make, and we do offer unto Thee this, the most precious gift which Thou hast bestowed upon us: this pure Host, this holy Host, this glorious Host, the holy Bread of life everlasting, and the Chalice of eternal salvation.
This do we present before Thee in token of our love and of the perfect devotion and sacrifice of our minds and hearts to Thee; and we pray that Thou wouldst command Thy holy Angel to bear our oblation to Thine altar on high, there to be offered by Him who, as the eternal High Priest, for ever offers Himself as the eternal Sacrifice.
And as He hath ordained that the heavenly Sacrifice shall be mirrored here on earth through the ministry of mortal men, to the end that Thy holy people may be knit more closely into fellowship with Thee, we do pray for Thy servant who ministers at this altar, that, meetly celebrating the mysteries of the most holy Body and Blood of Thy Son, he may be filled with Thy mighty power and blessing.
Likewise we pray Thee to sanctify Thy people here present with these Thy heavenly gifts, and through these mysteries do Thou hallow, quicken and bless them, that both in their hearts and in their lives they may show forth Thy praise and glorify Thy holy Name.

Second Elevation

Priest All these things do we ask, O Father, in the Name and through the mediation of Thy most blessed Son, for we acknowledge and confess with our hearts and lips that by Him were all things made, yea, all things both in heaven and earth; with Him as the indwelling Life do all things exist, and in Him as the transcendent Glory all things live and move and have their being:
To whom with Thee, O mighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, be ascribed all honour and glory, throughout the ages of ages.

All R/. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Priest
Let us pray.

Instructed by the words of sacred Scripture and following the tradition of holy Church from of old, we now say:

All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on 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.

Bread of the Broken World

Communion of Saints

Priest Here do we give unto Thee, O Lord, most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in the holy Lady Mary and in all Thy glorious Saints from the beginning of the world, who have been the choice vessels of Thy grace and a shining light unto many generations.
And we join with them in worship before Thy great white throne, whence flow all love and light and blessing through all the worlds which Thou hast made.
O Son of God, who showest Thyself this day upon a thousand altars and yet art one and indivisible, in token of Thy great Sacrifice we break This Thy Body, ...

Here he breaks the Host in half over the Chalice, and with a small Particle thereof makes the sign of the cross thrice over the Chalice, and finally at the words 'one in Thee' drops the Particle into the Chalice.

Priest ...praying that by this action, ordained from of old, Thy strength, Thy peace and Thy blessing, which Thou dost give us in this holy Sacrament, may be spread abroad upon Thy world; and as Thou, O Lord Christ, wast made known to Thy disciples in the breaking of bread, so may Thy many children know themselves to be one in Thee, even as Thou art one with the Father.

All R/. Amen.

Salutation of Peace

If the Salutation of Peace was said earlier:

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Otherwise:

Priest O Lord Jesu Christ, who didst say to Thine apostles: 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you,' regard not our weakness, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy holy will and commandment.

All R/. Amen.

The Salutation of Peace, which follows, is given to all assembled by the Celebrant who with outstretched hands faces the congregation, or it is first given by the Celebrant to one of the clergy. It is then passed from one to another in the sanctuary. The last recipient turns towards the people and, with outstretched hands, sings the words:

Priest The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Transformation of the Individual

Holy Communion

Priest O Thou who in this adorable Sacrament hast left us a living memorial and pledge of Thy marvelous love for mankind, and dost therein graciously draw us into wondrous and mystic communion with Thee, grant us so to receive the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood that our souls may be lifted into the immensity of Thy love, and that, being filled with a high endeavour, we may ever be mindful of Thine indwelling Presence and breathe forth the fragrance of a holy life.

All R/. Amen.

The Priest communicates in both kinds, then administers to the clergy and servers.
The people meanwhile may say privately the following prayer:

All Unto Thee, O Perfect One, the Lord and Lover of mankind, do we commend our life and hope. For Thou art the Heavenly Bread, the Life of the whole world; Thou art in all places and endurest all things, the Treasury of endless good and the Well of infinite compassion.

After the Priest and those in the sanctuary have received Holy Communion, the Priest, with a Particle, blesses the people, as he says:

Priest Ye that desire to partake of the Body [and Blood] of the Lord, draw nigh and receive this most holy Sacrament.

The people should come forward to the Communion rail and kneel.

As he administers the Holy Communion to each, the priest will dip the Host in the chalice and place it in your mouth. ONLY the priest should touch the Chalice or the Host. The Priest says:

Priest The Body [and Blood] of our Lord Christ keep thee unto life eternal.

Transformation of the Universe

Post communion prayer

The Communion being ended, the Priest says:

Priest Under the veil of earthly things now have we communion with our Lord Jesus Christ; soon with open face shall we behold Him, and, rejoicing in His glory, be made like unto Him. Then shall His true disciples be brought by Him with exceeding joy before the presence of His Father's glory.

Communio

All stand and sing:

All Amen. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Post-communio

Priest Let us pray.

The people kneel.

Priest We who have been refreshed with Thy heavenly gifts do pray Thee, O Lord, that Thy grace may be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that it may continually be made manifest in our lives; through Christ our Lord.

All R/. Amen.

Priest The Lord be with you.

All And with thy spirit.

Priest Ite, missa est.

All Deo gratias.

Benediction

Priest The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His Son, 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.

All R/. Amen.