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7.53am on Wednesday 11 March 2026

Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

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   Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Tuesday, 10 March 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: Genesis 47.28 - end of 48

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.
 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:
 But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.
 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

 

And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.
 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

   
  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: Hebrews 5.11 - 6.12

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
 And this will we do, if God permit.
 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

   
  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  
     
    We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; 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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