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8.03pm on Monday 8 December 2025

Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

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   Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Monday, 8 December 2025
The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  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 38

  
 

  
1
 Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger *
 neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.
  
 
  
2
 For thine arrows stick fast in me *
 and thy hand presseth me sore.
  
 
  
3
 There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure *
 neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.
  
 
  
4
 For my wickednesses are gone over my head *
 and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.
  
 
  
5
 My wounds stink, and are corrupt *
 through my foolishness.
  
 
  
6
 I am brought into so great trouble and misery *
 that I go mourning all the day long.
  
 
  
7
 For my loins are filled with a sore disease *
 and there is no whole part in my body.
  
 
  
8
 I am feeble, and sore smitten *
 I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.
  
 
  
9
 Lord, thou knowest all my desire *
 and my groaning is not hid from thee.
  
 
  
10
 My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me *
 and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.
  
 
  
11
 My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble *
 and my kinsmen stood afar off.
  
 
  
12
 They also that sought after my life laid snares for me *
 and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long.
  
 
  
13
 As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not *
 and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.
  
 
  
14
 I became even as a man that heareth not *
 and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
  
 
  
15
 For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust *
 thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.
  
 
  
16
 I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me *
 for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.
  
 
  
17
 And I, truly, am set in the plague *
 and my heaviness is ever in my sight.
  
 
  
18
 For I will confess my wickedness *
 and be sorry for my sin.
  
 
  
19
 But mine enemies live, and are mighty *
 and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.
  
 
  
20
 They also that reward evil for good are against me *
 because I follow the thing that good is.
  
 
  
21
 Forsake me not, O Lord my God *
 be not thou far from me.
  
 
  
22
 Haste thee to help me *
 O Lord God of my salvation.
  
 

Psalm 39

  
 

  
1
 I said, I will take heed to my ways *
 that I offend not in my tongue.
  
 
  
2
 I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle *
 while the ungodly is in my sight.
  
 
  
3
 I held my tongue, and spake nothing *
 I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.
  
 
  
4
 My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus musing the fire kindled *
 and at the last I spake with my tongue;
  
 
  
5
 Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days *
 that I may be certified how long I have to live.
  
 
  
6
 Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long *
 and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.
  
 
  
7
 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain *
 he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.
  
 
  
8
 And now, Lord, what is my hope *
 truly my hope is even in thee.
  
 
  
9
 Deliver me from all mine offences *
 and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.
  
 
  
10
 I became dumb, and opened not my mouth *
 for it was thy doing.
  
 
  
11
 Take thy plague away from me *
 I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand.
  
 
  
12
 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment *
 every man therefore is but vanity.
  
 
  
13
 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling *
 hold not thy peace at my tears.
  
 
  
14
 For I am a stranger with thee *
 and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
  
 
  
15
 O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength *
 before I go hence, and be no more seen.
  
 

Psalm 40

  
 

  
1
 I waited patiently for the Lord *
 and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.
  
 
  
2
 He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay *
 and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.
  
 
  
3
 And he hath put a new song in my mouth *
 even a thanksgiving unto our God.
  
 
  
4
 Many shall see it, and fear *
 and shall put their trust in the Lord.
  
 
  
5
 Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord *
 and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.
  
 
  
6
 O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward *
 and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.
  
 
  
7
 If I should declare them, and speak of them *
 they should be more than I am able to express.
  
 
  
8
 Sacrifice, and meat-offering, thou wouldest not *
 but mine ears hast thou opened.
  
 
  
9
 Burnt-offerings, and sacrifice for sin, hast thou not required *
 then said I, Lo, I come,
  
 
  
10
 In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God *
 I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.
  
 
  
11
 I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation *
 lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.
  
 
  
12
 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart *
 my talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation.
  
 
  
13
 I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth *
 from the great congregation.
  
 
  
14
 Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord *
 let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.
  
 
  
15
 For innumerable troubles are come about me; my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to look up *
 yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
  
 
  
16
 O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me *
 make haste, O Lord, to help me.
  
 
  
17
 Let them be ashamed, and confounded together, that seek after my soul to destroy it *
 let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.
  
 
  
18
 Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame *
 that say unto me, Fie upon thee, fie upon thee.
  
 
  
19
 Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee *
 and let such as love thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.
  
 
  
20
 As for me, I am poor and needy *
 but the Lord careth for me.
  
 
  
21
 Thou art my helper and redeemer *
 make no long tarrying, O my God.
  
 
   
  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: Isaiah 30.1-18

 

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:
 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

   
  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: Matthew 14.1-12

 

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

   
  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  
     
    Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.
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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