God has been worshipped in this place through the prayers and praises of countless generations. Worship lies at the heart of our life as Christians and we express our theology and belief through our liturgy. It is through these liturgical patterns of words and actions that we are formed and transformed.
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You are invited to say the text in bold in English.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Hymn
For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
Who thee by faith before the world confest,
Thy name, O Jesu, be for ever blest.
Alleluia!
O blest communion! fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine,
Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest:
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day:
The Saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host.
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Alleluia!
William How (1823–97)
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
The Gathering of God’s People
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. (The Lord be with you.)
Agus leat féin. (And also with you.)
The COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Christ calls us to share the heavenly banquet of his love with all the saints in earth and heaven. Let us ask from him both mercy and forgiveness:
A time of silence is kept for self examination
O taste and see that the Lord is good: happy are those who trust in him.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
The Lord ransoms the lives of his servants and none who trust in him will be destroyed.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Come, my children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
The Celebrant pronounces the
ABSOLUTION
The Choir sings the canticle
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, Adoramus te, Glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Filii unigenite Iesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, Tu solus Dominus, Tu solus altissimus, Iesu Christe cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
(Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those of good will. We praise you, we bless you, We worship you, we glorify you. We give thanks to you for your great glory. O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. O Lord God, Lamb of God Son of the Father, you who take away the sins of the world have mercy on us. You who take away the sins of the world receive our prayer. You are seated at the Father’s right hand, have mercy on us. For you alone are holy, you alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.)
The Celebrant prays the
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Almighty God, in your providence you chose your servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, to baptize those who were wandering in darkness and error and to bring them to the true light and knowledge of your Word: Keep us in that light and bring us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PROCLAIMING AND RECEIVING THE WORD
Please be seated for the
2 Corinthians 4: 1–12
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Choir sings
PSALM 145 vv 1–7
Exalbo te, Deus.
I will magnify thee, O God, my King: and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I give thanks unto thee: and praise thy Name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised: there is no end of his greatness. One generation shall praise thy works unto another: and declare thy power. As for me, I will be talking of thy worship: thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works; So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts: and I will also tell of thy greatness. The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be shewed: and men shall sing of thy righteousness.
Please stand for the
Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ according to…
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
John 4: 31–38
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Please be seated for the
Sermon
Please stand to say the
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
The Leader says
Let us pray.
Please kneel or sit according to your custom
Each petition ends
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
The prayers may conclude
Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Please stand for
The Peace
The Celebrant introduces the Peace and says
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Please remain standing to sing
The Offertory Hymn
During this hymn a collection of money is made for charity. If you would like to donate online, click here.
1. Light’s abode, celestial Salem,
Vision dear whence peace doth spring,
Brighter than the heart can fancy,
Mansion of the highest King;
O how glorious are the praises
Which of thee the prophets sing!
2. There for ever and for ever
Alleluia is outpoured;
For unending, for unbroken
Is the feast-day of the Lord;
All is pure and all is holy
That within thy walls is stored.
3. There no cloud nor passing vapour
Dims the brightness of the air;
Endless noon-day, glorious noon-day
From the Sun of suns is there;
There no night brings rest from labour,
There unknown are toil and care.
4. O how glorious and resplendent,
Fragile body, shalt thou be,
When endued with so much beauty,
Full of health, and strong, and free,
Full of vigour, full of pleasure
That shall last eternally!
5. Now with gladness, now with courage,
Bear the burden on thee laid,
That hereafter these thy labours
May with endless gifts be paid,
And in everlasting glory
Thou with joy may’st be arrayed.
6. Laud and honour to the Father,
Laud and honour to the Son,
Laud and honour to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One,
One in love, and One in splendour,
While unending ages run.
Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471)
Henry Smart (1813–79)
CELEBRATING AT THE LORD’S TABLE
Please remain standing
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Celebrant prays the
PREFACE
concluding
Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:
The Choir sings
Sanctus & Benedictus
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Sanctus Dominus, Deus Sabaoth,
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit
in nomine Domine.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Please remain standing as the
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
continues, concluding
… through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom and in whom, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of never-ending praise:
The Choir sings
Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen.
The Celebrant invites the People to pray
The LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who 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.
The Celebrant breaks the bread and says
The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread.
The Celebrant invites the People to receive Communion.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, a member church of the Anglican (Episcopalian) Communion. Members of all Christian Church denominations are welcome to receive Holy Communion here.
Holy Communion will be distributed at the crossing and in the nave.
You will be directed to your appropriate location: please follow the stewards’ directions.
While the People receive Communion the Choir sings
AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei qui tollis
peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei qui tollis
peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world, give us peace.
Motet
O salutaris hostia quae cœli pandis ostium. Bella premunt hostilia; Da robur, fer auxilium.
O health-giving sacrifice, you open the gate of heaven. Wars oppress us; give us strength, lend your help.
Fernand Laloux (1901–70)
GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE
When all have received Communion, the Celebrant says
Let us pray.
Please kneel
The seasonal POST-COMMUNION PRAYER is said, and this prayer
Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.
Please stand to sing
HYMN
ALL 1. I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
MEN 2. I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
All His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.
WOMEN 3. I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of Cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the Seraphim,
Men Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls,
All All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.
CHOIR ONLY 4. I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star-lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
All The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
WOMEN 5. I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need;
Choir The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
ALL 6. I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.
Attrib. Saint Patrick (d.461)
Trad. Irish arr. C. V. Stanford (1852–1924
The Celebrant says the
BLESSING
After which, all say Amen.
The Deacon and Choir sing the
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.