Welcome
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.
Please stand as the Minister, at the West End of the Cathedral, sings
Let us pray.
Please remain standing whilst the Choir and Clergy enter the stalls
Please remain standing to sing the
Hymn
1. O Jesu, King most wonderful,
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable,
In whom all joys are found!
2. When once thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine
Then earthly vanities depart;
Then kindles love divine.
3. O Jesu, Light of all below,
Thou Fount of life and fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire:
4. May every heart confess thy name,
And ever thee adore;
And, seeking thee, itself inflame
To seek thee more and more.
5. Thee may our tongues for ever bless,
Thee may we love alone;
And ever in our lives express
The image of thine own.
Latin, 12th Century tr. Edward Caswall (1814–78)
Gordon Slater (1869–1979)
The Celebrant says
The Greeting
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Please remain standing for
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 Choir sings
Kyrie eleison
Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy upon us; Christ, have mercy upon us; Lord, have mercy upon us.
The Celebrant introduces
The Confession
After a short pause for reflection, all say
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may walk in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
The Celebrant pronounces
The Absolution
The Choir sings
Gloria in excelsis
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
Please remain standing whilst the Celebrant intones
The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: Help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Please sit for the
Reading
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
At the end of the reading
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please sit whilst the Choir sings
The Gradual
Psalm 115
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give the praise: for thy loving mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore shall the heathen say: Where is now their God? As for our God, he is in heaven: he hath done whatsoever pleased him. Their idols are silver and gold: even the work of men’s hands. They have mouths and speak not: eyes have they, and see not. They have ears, and hear not: noses have they, and smell not. They have hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them: and so are all such as put their trust in them. But thou, house of Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their succour and defence. Ye house of Aaron, put your trust in the Lord; he is their helper and defender. Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in the Lord: he is their helper and defender. The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us: even he shall bless the house of Israel, he shall bless the house of Aaron. He shall bless them that fear the Lord: both small and great. The Lord shall increase you more and more: you and your children. Ye are the blessed of the Lord: who made heaven and earth. All the whole heavens are the Lord’s: the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not thee, O Lord: neither all they that go down into silence. But we will praise the Lord: from this time forth for evermore. Praise the Lord.
Please stand for the
The Minister and Choir sing
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ according to Saint Luke, in the twenty-fourth chapter, beginning at the forty-fourth verse.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Please sit to listen to
The Sermon
The Reverend S. E. Doogan, LL.B., B.Th., LL.M.
Prebendary of Wicklow
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
Let us pray.
Please kneel or sit, according to your custom
Each petition ends
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
At the end
Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Please stand for
The Peace
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. Should you wish to donate online, please tap the button below to give securely by card.
1. Now is eternal life,
If risen with Christ we stand,
In him to life reborn,
And holden in his hand;
No more we fear death’s ancient dread,
In Christ arisen from the dead.
2. For God, the living God,
Stooped down to man’s estate;
By death destroying death,
Christ opened wide life’s gate:
He lives, who died; he reigns on high;
Who lives in him shall never die.
3. Unfathomed love divine,
Reign thou within my heart;
From thee nor depth nor height,
Nor life nor death can part;
Our life is hid with God in thee,
Now and through all eternity.
G. W. Briggs (1875–1959)
Charles Steggall (1826–1905)
Please remain standing as the Celebrant and Choir sing
Sursum Corda
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 intones 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 singing:
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 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:
Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen.
Please kneel or be seated for
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.
Receiving Communion
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, a member Church of the Anglican (Episcopalian) Communion. We welcome members of all Christian Church denominations to receive Holy Communion here. Please follow the stewards’ directions.
Whilst the people receive communion, the Choir sings
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.)
The Motet
Venite comedite panem meum et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis.
(Come, eat my bread; and drink the wine, in which I have mixed spices for you.)
William Byrd (d.1623)
When all have received, the Celebrant says
Let us pray.
A seasonal post-communion prayer is said, followed by
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 the
Hymn
1. To the name that brings salvation
Praise and honour let us pay,
Which for many a generation
Hid in God’s foreknowledge lay,
But to every tongue and nation
Holy Church proclaims today.
2. Jesus – be that name our treasure,
Name beyond that words can tell;
Name of gladness, name of pleasure,
Ear and heart delighting well;
Name of sweetness, passing measure,
Freeing souls from sin’s dark spell.
3. Name by hard-won right exalted
Over every other name;
And when man was sore assaulted,
Put the enemy to shame:
Strength to them that else had halted,
Sight to blind, and health to lame.
4. Jesu, we thy name adoring,
Long to see thee as thou art:
Of thy clemency imploring
So to write it in our heart,
That hereafter, upward soaring,
We with angels may have part.
John Neale (1818–66)
Cantica Sacra, Munich (1840)
The Celebrant says
The Blessing
The Minister and People say
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Please stand as the Choir and Clergy depart.
Please remain at your seat for the duration of the