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1.00am on Saturday 10 October 2026

Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

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   Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Saturday, 10 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 50

  
 

  
1
 The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken *
 and called the world, from the rising up of the sun, unto the going down thereof.
  
 
  
2
 Out of Sion hath God appeared *
 in perfect beauty.
  
 
  
3
 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence *
 there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.
  
 
  
4
 He shall call the heaven from above *
 and the earth, that he may judge his people.
  
 
  
5
 Gather my saints together unto me *
 those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.
  
 
  
6
 And the heaven shall declare his righteousness *
 for God is Judge himself.
  
 
  
7
 Hear, O my people, and I will speak *
 I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.
  
 
  
8
 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices, or for thy burnt-offerings *
 because they were not alway before me.
  
 
  
9
 I will take no bullock out of thine house *
 nor he-goat out of thy folds.
  
 
  
10
 For all the beasts of the forest are mine *
 and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.
  
 
  
11
 I know all the fowls upon the mountains *
 and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.
  
 
  
12
 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee *
 for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.
  
 
  
13
 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh *
 and drink the blood of goats?
  
 
  
14
 Offer unto God thanksgiving *
 and pay thy vows unto the most Highest.
  
 
  
15
 And call upon me in the time of trouble *
 so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.
  
 
  
16
 But unto the ungodly said God *
 Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;
  
 
  
17
 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed *
 and hast cast my words behind thee?
  
 
  
18
 When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him *
 and hast been partaker with the adulterers.
  
 
  
19
 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness *
 and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.
  
 
  
20
 Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother *
 yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.
  
 
  
21
 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself *
 but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.
  
 
  
22
 O consider this, ye that forget God *
 lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.
  
 
  
23
 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me *
 and to him that ordereth his conversation right will I shew the salvation of God.
  
 

Psalm 51

  
 

  
1
 Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness *
 according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
  
 
  
2
 Wash me throughly from my wickedness *
 and cleanse me from my sin.
  
 
  
3
 For I acknowledge my faults *
 and my sin is ever before me.
  
 
  
4
 Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight *
 that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
  
 
  
5
 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness *
 and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
  
 
  
6
 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts *
 and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
  
 
  
7
 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean *
 thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
  
 
  
8
 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness *
 that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
  
 
  
9
 Turn thy face from my sins *
 and put out all my misdeeds.
  
 
  
10
 Make me a clean heart, O God *
 and renew a right spirit within me.
  
 
  
11
 Cast me not away from thy presence *
 and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
  
 
  
12
 O give me the comfort of thy help again *
 and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
  
 
  
13
 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked *
 and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
  
 
  
14
 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health *
 and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
  
 
  
15
 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord *
 and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
  
 
  
16
 For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee *
 but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
  
 
  
17
 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit *
 a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
  
 
  
18
 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion *
 build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
  
 
  
19
 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations *
 then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
  
 

Psalm 52

  
 

  
1
 Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant *
 that thou canst do mischief;
  
 
  
2
 Whereas the goodness of God *
 endureth yet daily?
  
 
  
3
 Thy tongue imagineth wickedness *
 and with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor.
  
 
  
4
 Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness *
 and to talk of lies more than righteousness.
  
 
  
5
 Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt *
 O thou false tongue.
  
 
  
6
 Therefore shall God destroy thee for ever *
 he shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling, and root thee out of the land of the living.
  
 
  
7
 The righteous also shall see this, and fear *
 and shall laugh him to scorn;
  
 
  
8
 Lo, this is the man that took not God for his strength *
 but trusted unto the multitude of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
  
 
  
9
 As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God *
 my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.
  
 
  
10
 I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done *
 and I will hope in thy Name, for thy saints like it well.
  
 
   
  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 17.1-23

 

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:
 For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
 Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them.
 And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
 And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin.
 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
 Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

   
  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: Acts 28.17-end

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

   
  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  
     
    Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; 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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