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
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 who are far off to draw near and receive his body and his blood in the lavish banquet of his love. Let us respond by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
A short time of silence is kept for self examination
Lord, you prayed that your Church might be for ever one, but we fail to act in unity:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, you washed the disciples’ feet, but we are too proud to serve with humility:
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, you ask us to keep watch with you, but in our selfishness we forsake you:
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 peace on earth
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, King of heaven,
O God the Father Almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
who takes away the sins of the world
have mercy on us.
You who take away the sins of the world
receive our prayer.
You who 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.
Please remain standing 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 as the Choir sings
The Offertory Motet
During this hymn a collection of money is made for charity. If you would like to donate online, click here.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exultemus et in ipso iocundemur. Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
(Where charity and love are, there is God. The love of Christ has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be glad in him. Let us fear and love the living God, and let us love with a sincere heart.)
Maurice Duruflé (1902–86)
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.
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 sit as the altar is stripped. The organist plays
Le banquet céleste
Olivier Messiaen (1908–92)
The Clergy, Choir and People leave the Cathedral in silence, in the same way as the Disciples deserted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.