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 to sing the
Hymn
1. The race that long in darkness pined
Have seen a glorious light;
The people dwell in day, who dwelt
In death’s surrounding night.
2. To hail thy rise, thou better Sun,
The gathering nations come;
Joyous as when the reapers bear
Their harvest treasures home.
3. To us a Child of hope is born,
To us a Son is given;
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him all the hosts of heaven.
4. His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
For evermore adored;
The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
The great and mighty Lord.
5. His power increasing still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know:
Justice shall guard his throne above,
And peace abound below.
John Morison (1750–98); Thomas Ravenscroft’s Psalter, 1621
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.
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
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
To which all reply
Amen.
Please remain standing whilst the Choir sing
Gloria in excelsis
Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Please remain standing whilst the Celebrant intones the
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated for the
Reading
Corinthians 12: 1–11
At the end of the Reading
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please remain seated for the
Gradual
What child is this, who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds worship and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him praise the Babe, the son of Mary. Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Come, have no fear, God’s son is here, his love all loves exceeding. Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross he bore for me, for you: Hail, hail, the Saviour comes, the Babe, the son of Mary. So bring him incense, gold and myrrh, all tongues and peoples own him, the King of kings salvation brings, let every heart enthrone him. Raise, raise your song on high while Mary sings a lullaby, Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the Babe, the son of Mary.
Andrew Gant (b.1963)
Please stand for the
Gospel
The Minister and Choir sing
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ according to Saint John, in the 2nd chapter, beginning at the 1st verse.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reading
John 2: 1–11
At the end, the Minister and Choir sing
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Please remain standing whilst the Preacher moves to the Pulpit for the
Sermon
Preacher: The Venerable P. Thompson, B.A. Prebendary of Donaghmore
Please be seated for the Sermon. At the end, the Preacher will conclude with a prayer, during which the congregation will stand for 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 Minister says
Let us pray.
Please kneel or be seated for the
Prayers
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 as the Celebrant introduces the
Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Please remain standing to sing the
Hymn
During the hymn, a collection of money is made. You can donate online by tapping the Support Us button in the bottom right.
1. The heavenly Word proceeding forth
Yet leaving not his Father’s side,
And going to his work on earth,
Had reached at length life’s eventide.
2. By false disciple to be given
To foemen for his life athirst,
Himself, the living bread from heaven,
He gave to his disciples first.
3. In twofold form of sacrament,
He gave his flesh, he gave his blood,
That man, of soul and body blent,
Might wholly feed on mystic food.
4. In birth man’s fellow-man was he,
His meat while sitting at the board;
He died, our ransomer to be,
He reigns to be our great reward.
5. O saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below;
Our foes press hard on every side,
Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.
6. All praise and thanks to thee ascend,
Foe evermore, blest One in Three;
O grant us life that shall not end
In our true native land with thee.
Thomas Aquinas (1227–74) tr. J. M. Neale (1818–66); Percy Buck (1871–1947)
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:
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 cœli 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 sit, according to your custom, 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.
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 sing
Agnus Dei
Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world, give us peace.
Agnus Dei qui tollis
peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei qui tollis
peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Motet
What sweeter music can we bring than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our heavenly King? Awake the voice! Awake the string: We see him come, and know him ours, who with his sunshine and his showers turns all the patient ground to flowers. Dark and dull night fly hence away, and give the honour to this day that sees December turned to May. The Darling of the world is come, and fit it is we find a room to welcome him. The nobler part of all the house here is the heart: Which we will give him, and bequeath this holly and this ivy wreath, to do him honour who’s our King, and Lord of all this revelling:
John Rutter (b.1945)
When all have received Communion, the Celebrant says
Let us pray.
A seasonal Post-Communion Prayer may be said, and then 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 the
Hymn
1. Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesu, Lord, to thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar;
Branch of royal David’s stem
In thy birth at Bethlehem:
Anthems be to thee addrest,
God in Man made manifest.
2. Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
And at Cana wedding-guest
In thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine:
Anthems be to thee addrest
God in Man made manifest.
3. Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
All will see his glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear:
Thou by all wilt be confest,
God in Man made manifest.
4. Grant us grace to see thee, Lord,
Mirrored in thy holy word;
May we imitate thee now,
And be pure, as pure art thou;
That we like to thee may be
At thy great Epiphany;
And may praise thee, ever blest,
God in Man made manifest.
Christopher Wordsworth (1807–85); Charles Steggall (1826–1905)
The Celebrant says the
Blessing
After which, all say
Amen.
The Deacon and the Choir sing the
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Please remain standing as the Choir and Clergy depart.
Please remain at your seat for the duration of the
Organ Voluntary
Acknowledgements
Developed by the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Education Department: Clark Brydon (Education & Safeguarding Officer).
Material in this service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer, © RCB 2004.
Translations are provided automatically by Google Translate. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is not responsible for automatically generated content or for content on external websites.
To report a problem or to send feedback and suggestions, please email: education@stpatrickscathedral.ie