The 1549 Prayer Book Holy Communion Service (spelling adapted to render it more intelligible)

I cite here the exhortation:

Dear friends, and you especially on whose souls I have cure and charge, on — – next I do intend, by God’s grace, to offer all such as shall be godly disposed the most comfortable sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, to be taken of them in remembrance of his most fruitful and glorious passion: by the which passion we have obtained remission of our sins, and be made partakers of the kingdom of heaven; whereof we be assured and ascertained, if we come to the said sacrament with hearty repentance for our offences, stedfast faith in God’s mercy, and earnest mind to obey God’s will, and to offend no more. Wherefore our duty is to come to these holy mysteries with most hearty thanks to be given to Almighty God for his infinite mercy and benefits given and bestowed upon his unworthy servants, for whom he hath not only given his Body to death, and shed his Blood, but also doth vouchsafe, in a sacrament and mystery, to give us his said Body and Blood to feed upon spiritually. The which sacrament being so divine and holy a thing, and so comfortable to them which receive it worthily, and so dangerous to them that will presume to take the same unworthily: my duty is to exhort you, in the mean season, to consider the greatness of the thing, and to search and examine your own consciences, and that not lightly, nor after the manner of dissimulers with God, but as they which should come to a most godly and heavenly banquet; not to come but in the marriage garment required of God in the Scripture; that you may (so much as lieth in you) be found worthy to come to such a table. The ways and means thereto is, first, that you be truly repentant of your former evil life; and that you confess with an unfeigned heart to Almighty God, your sins and unkindness towards his Majesty committed, either by will, word, or deed, infirmity or ignorance; and that with inward sorrow and tears you bewail your offences, and require of Almighty God mercy and pardon, promising to him (from the bottom of your hearts) the amendment of your former life. And amongst all others, I am commanded of God especially to move and exhort you to reconcile yourselves to your neighbours, whom you have offended, or who hath offended you, putting out of your hearts all hatred and malice against them, and to be in love and charity with all the world, and to forgive others as you would that God should forgive you. And if any man hath done wrong to any other, let him make satisfaction and due restitution of all lands and goods wrongfully taken away or witholden, before he come to God’s board; or at the least be in full mind and purpose so to do, as soon as he is able; or else let him not come to this holy table, thinking to deceive God, who seeth all men’s hearts. For neither the absolution of the priest can any thing avail them, nor the receiving of this holy sacrament doth any thing but increase their damnation. And if there be any of you whose conscience is troubled and grieved in any thing, let him come to me, or to some other discreet and learned priest, taught in the law of God, and confess and open his sin and grief secretly, that he may receive such ghostly counsel, advice, and comfort, that his conscience may be relieved, and that of us (as the ministers of God and of the Church) he may receive comfort and absolution, to the satisfaction of his mind, and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness; requiring such as shall be satisfied with a general confession not to be offended with them that do use, to their further satisfying, the auricular and secret confession to the priest; nor those also which think needful or convenient, for the quietness of their own consciences, particularly to open their sins to the priest, to be offended with them that are satisfied with their humble confession to God, and the general confession to the Church: but in all things to follow and keep the rule of charity; and every man to be satisfied with his own conscience, not judging other men’s minds or consciences; whereas he hath no warrant of God’s Word to the same.

Do please consider looking at it all (Another link may be found there).

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Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * Christian Life / Church Life, Anglican Provinces, Church History, Church of England (CoE), Eucharist, Liturgy, Music, Worship, Sacramental Theology, Theology

6 comments on “The 1549 Prayer Book Holy Communion Service (spelling adapted to render it more intelligible)

  1. TLDillon says:

    I pray that this language is restored to its rightful place and that the masses would read it for its beauty and the severity of that which we seem to have allowed to become so lightly taken in the partaking of the most precious body and blood of our Lord and Savior. Lover of our souls and Savior of our lives.

    We should never mess with things that are already so well done and not broken.

  2. TomRightmyer says:

    I have a copy of the 1870 Rivington version of the 1549 Prayer Book and the 1548 Order of Communion; I’m paring down to go to the Deerfield retirement home and will be happy to send it to someone interested. trightmy@juno.com

  3. Anastasios says:

    As one who must weather the periodic storms of the odd parishioner insisting that anything short of “open communion” is Unwelcoming (the current heresy of choice), I admire the seriousness, even in the midst of Protestant Reformation, with which our forebears once insisted on the preparation for the Sacrament.

  4. TLDillon says:

    It should be put back IMHO! To me, I view taking the body and blood incorrectly much like breaking the 3rd commandment….

  5. Larry Morse says:

    Where shall we meet such language again, such power and clarity conjoined with balance and beauty? Larry

  6. dwstroudmd+ says:

    Beats 1979 by 430 years and equally in style and grace and Grace!

    Have we given up Shakespeare for unintelligibility?

    (Oi, vey, august and elevated are too hard; let’s settle for current chic and pedestrian.)