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5.19am on Friday 30 January 2026

Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

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   Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Friday, 30 January 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 144

  
 

  
1
 Blessed be the Lord my strength *
 who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight;
  
 
  
2
 My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust *
 who subdueth my people that is under me.
  
 
  
3
 Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him *
 or the son of man, that thou so regardest him?
  
 
  
4
 Man is like a thing of nought *
 his time passeth away like a shadow.
  
 
  
5
 Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down *
 touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
  
 
  
6
 Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them *
 shoot out thine arrows, and consume them.
  
 
  
7
 Send down thine hand from above *
 deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children;
  
 
  
8
 Whose mouth talketh of vanity *
 and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness.
  
 
  
9
 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God *
 and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute.
  
 
  
10
 Thou hast given victory unto kings *
 and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.
  
 
  
11
 Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children *
 whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.
  
 
  
12
 That our sons may grow up as the young plants *
 and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple.
  
 
  
13
 That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store *
 that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets.
  
 
  
14
 That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no decay *
 no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.
  
 
  
15
 Happy are the people that are in such a case *
 yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.
  
 

Psalm 145

  
 

  
1
 I will magnify thee, O God, my King *
 and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.
  
 
  
2
 Every day will I give thanks unto thee *
 and praise thy Name for ever and ever.
  
 
  
3
 Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised *
 there is no end of his greatness.
  
 
  
4
 One generation shall praise thy works unto another *
 and declare thy power.
  
 
  
5
 As for me, I will be talking of thy worship *
 thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works;
  
 
  
6
 So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts *
 and I will also tell of thy greatness.
  
 
  
7
 The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed *
 and men shall sing of thy righteousness.
  
 
  
8
 The Lord is gracious, and merciful *
 long-suffering, and of great goodness.
  
 
  
9
 The Lord is loving unto every man *
 and his mercy is over all his works.
  
 
  
10
 All thy works praise thee, O Lord *
 and thy saints give thanks unto thee.
  
 
  
11
 They shew the glory of thy kingdom *
 and talk of thy power;
  
 
  
12
 That thy power, thy glory, and mightiness of thy kingdom *
 might be known unto men.
  
 
  
13
 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom *
 and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
  
 
  
14
 The Lord upholdeth all such as fall *
 and lifteth up all those that are down.
  
 
  
15
 The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord *
 and thou givest them their meat in due season.
  
 
  
16
 Thou openest thine hand *
 and fillest all things living with plenteousness.
  
 
  
17
 The Lord is righteous in all his ways *
 and holy in all his works.
  
 
  
18
 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him *
 yea, all such as call upon him faithfully.
  
 
  
19
 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him *
 he also will hear their cry, and will help them.
  
 
  
20
 The Lord preserveth all them that love him *
 but scattereth abroad all the ungodly.
  
 
  
21
 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord *
 and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever.
  
 

Psalm 146

  
 

  
1
 Praise the Lord, O my soul; while I live will I praise the Lord *
 yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God.
  
 
  
2
 O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man *
 for there is no help in them.
  
 
  
3
 For when the breath of man goeth forth he shall turn again to his earth *
 and then all his thoughts perish.
  
 
  
4
 Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help *
 and whose hope is in the Lord his God;
  
 
  
5
 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is *
 who keepeth his promise for ever.
  
 
  
6
 Who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong *
 who feedeth the hungry.
  
 
  
7
 The Lord looseth men out of prison *
 the Lord giveth sight to the blind.
  
 
  
8
 The Lord helpeth them that are fallen *
 the Lord careth for the righteous.
  
 
  
9
 The Lord careth for the strangers; he defendeth the fatherless and widow *
 as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down.
  
 
  
10
 The Lord thy God, O Sion, shall be King for evermore *
 and throughout all generations.
  
 
   
  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: Genesis 16

 

Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.
 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

   
  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 26.57-end

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

   
  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  
     
    Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; 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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