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10.49am on Friday 16 October 2026

Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

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   Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Friday, 16 October 2026
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   Almighty and most merciful Father,
    we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
    We have followed too much the devices and desires
       of our own hearts.
    We have offended against thy holy laws.
    We have left undone those things
       which we ought to have done;
    and we have done those things
         which we ought not to have done;
    and there is no health in us.
    But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
    Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
    Restore thou them that are penitent;
    according to thy promises declared unto mankind
       in Christ Jesu our Lord.
    And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
    that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
    to the glory of thy holy name.
  Amen.
   
  A priest says
     
    Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who desireth not the death of a sinner,
    but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;
    and hath given power, and commandment, to his ministers
    to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
    the absolution and remission of their sins:
    he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent
       and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.
    Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance,
       and his Holy Spirit,
    that those things may please him which we do at this present;
    and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy;
    so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in 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.
  Morning Prayer
   
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
   
  These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
Venite, exultemus Domino  
     
1
   O come, let us sing unto the Lord :
    let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
     
2
   Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving :
    and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
     
3
   For the Lord is a great God :
    and a great King above all gods.
     
4
   In his hand are all the corners of the earth :
    and the strength of the hills is his also.
     
5
   The sea is his, and he made it :
    and his hands prepared the dry land.
     
6
   O come, let us worship, and fall down :
    and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
     
7
   For he is the Lord our God :
    and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
     
[8
   Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts :
    as in the provocation,
         and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness;
     
9
   When your fathers tempted me :
    proved me, and saw my works.
     
10
   Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said :
    It is a people that do err in their hearts,
       for they have not known my ways.
     
11
   Unto whom I sware in my wrath :
    that they should not enter into my rest.]
   
Psalm 95
     
    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.
     
Psalmody  
   

Psalm 79

  
 

  
1
 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance *
 thy holy temple have they defiled, and made Jerusalem an heap of stones.
  
 
  
2
 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the air *
 and the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the land.
  
 
  
3
 Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem *
 and there was no man to bury them.
  
 
  
4
 We are become an open shame to our enemies *
 a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us.
  
 
  
5
 Lord, how long wilt thou be angry *
 shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever?
  
 
  
6
 Pour out thine indignation upon the heathen that have not known thee *
 and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy Name.
  
 
  
7
 For they have devoured Jacob *
 and laid waste his dwelling-place.
  
 
  
8
 O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us, and that soon *
 for we are come to great misery.
  
 
  
9
 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name *
 O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins, for thy Name’s sake.
  
 
  
10
 Wherefore do the heathen say *
 Where is now their God?
  
 
  
11
 O let the vengeance of thy servants’ blood that is shed *
 be openly shewed upon the heathen in our sight.
  
 
  
12
 O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee *
 according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
  
 
  
13
 And for the blasphemy wherewith our neighbours have blasphemed thee *
 reward thou them, O Lord, seven-fold into their bosom.
  
 
  
14
 So we, that are thy people, and sheep of thy pasture, shall give thee thanks for ever *
 and will alway be shewing forth thy praise from generation to generation.
  
 

Psalm 80

  
 

  
1
 Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep *
 shew thyself also, thou that sittest upon the cherubims.
  
 
  
2
 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses *
 stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.
  
 
  
3
 Turn us again, O God *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
  
 
  
4
 O Lord God of hosts *
 how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?
  
 
  
5
 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears *
 and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.
  
 
  
6
 Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours *
 and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
  
 
  
7
 Turn us again, thou God of hosts *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
  
 
  
8
 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt *
 thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
  
 
  
9
 Thou madest room for it *
 and when it had taken root it filled the land.
  
 
  
10
 The hills were covered with the shadow of it *
 and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.
  
 
  
11
 She stretched out her branches unto the sea *
 and her boughs unto the river.
  
 
  
12
 Why hast thou then broken down her hedge *
 that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?
  
 
  
13
 The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up *
 and the wild beasts of the field devour it.
  
 
  
14
 Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven *
 behold, and visit this vine;
  
 
  
15
 And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted *
 and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.
  
 
  
16
 It is burnt with fire, and cut down *
 and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
  
 
  
17
 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand *
 and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.
  
 
  
18
 And so will not we go back from thee *
 O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.
  
 
  
19
 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts *
 shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
  
 

Psalm 81

  
 

  
1
 Sing we merrily unto God our strength *
 make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
  
 
  
2
 Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret *
 the merry harp with the lute.
  
 
  
3
 Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon *
 even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
  
 
  
4
 For this was made a statute for Israel *
 and a law of the God of Jacob.
  
 
  
5
 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony *
 when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.
  
 
  
6
 I eased his shoulder from the burden *
 and his hands were delivered from making the pots.
  
 
  
7
 Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee *
 and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
  
 
  
8
 I proved thee also *
 at the waters of strife.
  
 
  
9
 Hear, O my people, and I will assure thee, O Israel *
 if thou wilt hearken unto me,
  
 
  
10
 There shall no strange god be in thee *
 neither shalt thou worship any other god.
  
 
  
11
 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt *
 open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.
  
 
  
12
 But my people would not hear my voice *
 and Israel would not obey me.
  
 
  
13
 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lusts *
 and let them follow their own imaginations.
  
 
  
14
 O that my people would have hearkened unto me *
 for if Israel had walked in my ways,
  
 
  
15
 I should soon have put down their enemies *
 and turned my hand against their adversaries.
  
 
  
16
 The haters of the Lord should have been found liars *
 but their time should have endured for ever.
  
 
  
17
 He should have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour *
 and with honey out of the stony rock should I have satisfied thee.
  
 
   
  At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
   
  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.
   
  Old Testament Reading  
   

First Reading: 2 Kings 19.20-36

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
 This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
 By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
 I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
 Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
 But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
 Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
 And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.
 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.
 Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord.
 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

   
  Te Deum Laudamus  
   
  Either the Te Deum Laudamus (as follows) or Benedicite, omnia opera is said or sung.
   
  We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
  All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
  To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein.
  To thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry,
  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
  Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
  The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
  The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
  The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
  The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee:
  the Father of an infinite majesty;
  thine honourable, true and only Son;
  also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.
   
  Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
  Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
  When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
       thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
  When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
       thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
  Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
  We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
  We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
       whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
  Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.
   
  O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage.
  Govern them and lift them up for ever.
  Day by day we magnify thee;
  and we worship thy name, ever world without end.
  Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
  O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
  O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee.
  O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.
   
  New Testament Reading  
   

Second Reading: Philippians 3.1 - 4.1

 

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

   
  Benedictus  
   
  Either The Benedictus (as follows) or Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) is said or sung.
   
 
1
   Blessed be the Lord God of Israel :
  for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;
   
 
2
   And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us :
  in the house of his servant David;
   
 
3
   As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets :
  which have been since the world began;
   
 
4
   That we should be saved from our enemies :
  and from the hands of all that hate us;
   
 
5
   To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers :
      and to remember his holy covenant;
       
 
6
   To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham :
      that he would give us,
       
 
7
   That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies :
      might serve him without fear,
       
 
8
   In holiness and righteousness before him :
      all the days of our life.
       
 
9
   And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest :
      for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
       
 
10
   To give knowledge of salvation unto his people :
      for the remission of their sins;
       
 
11
   Through the tender mercy of our God :
      whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;
       
 
12
   To give light to them that sit in darkness,
         and in the shadow of death :
      and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
     
Luke 1.68-79
   
  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.
   
  The Apostles' Creed  
   
All
   I believe in God the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth:
  and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell;
    the third day he rose again from the dead;
    he ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in 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. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the King.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
  but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
  Three Collects are said.
     
The Collect of the Day  
     
    O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant, that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
     
The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord,
    in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life,
    whose service is perfect freedom;
    defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies;
    that we, surely trusting in thy defence,
    may not fear the power of any adversaries;
    through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
The Collect for Grace  
     
    O Lord, our heavenly Father,
    almighty and everlasting God,
    who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day;
    defend us in the same with thy mighty power;
    and grant that this day we fall into no sin,
    neither run into any kind of danger,
    but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance,
    to do always that is righteous in thy sight;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
  The order for the end of the service may include:
     
  hymns or anthems
    a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
  This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
   
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