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.
Should you wish to translate this order of service into another language, please choose your language in the bottom right. There is a guest wireless network available within the Cathedral for those without a mobile data connection.
Please note that this service may be live streamed for our online congregation. By participating in this service, you acknowledge that you may be visible or audible. If you are uncomfortable about this possibility, please speak to a steward or verger, who will be able to advise further.
The ministry of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is made possible entirely through the support of individuals like you. The donations which we receive from people all over the world support our worship and music tradition, education programmes, and community outreach work, as well as contributing towards the vast cost of maintaining this historic building. Should you wish to donate online, please tap the donate button.
You are invited to say the text in bold in English.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Hymn
1. Christ the Lord is risen again;
Christ hath broken every chain;
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
Singing evermore on high,
Alleluia!
2. He who gave for us his life,
Who for us endured the strife,
Is our Paschal Lamb to-day!
We too sing for joy and say
Alleluia!
3. He who bore all pain and loss
Comfortless upon the cross,
Lives in glory now on high,
Pleads for us, and hears our cry.
Alleluia!
4. He whose path no records tell,
Who descended into hell;
Who the strong man armed hath bound,
Now in highest heaven is crowned.
Alleluia!
5. Now he bids us tell abroad
How the lost may be restored,
How the penitent forgiven,
How we too may enter heaven.
Alleluia!
6. Thou, our Paschal Lamb indeed,
Christ, to-day thy people feed;
Take our sins and guilt away,
That we all may sing for ay,
Alleluia!
Michael Weisse (d.1534)
Hundert Geistliche Arien, Dresden, 1694
The Greeting
The Lord be with you.
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.
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy upon us; Christ, have mercy upon us; Lord, have mercy upon us.
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
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
The Celebrant prays the
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PROCLAIMING AND RECEIVING THE WORD
Please be seated for the
1 Peter 1: 3–9
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Choir sings
Psalm 16
Conserva me, Domine.
Preserve me, O God: for in thee have I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord: Thou art my God, I have no good like unto thee. All my delight is upon the saints, that are in the earth: and upon such as excel in virtue. But they that run after another god: shall have great trouble. Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer: neither make mention of their names within my lips. The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou shalt maintain my lot. The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground: yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will thank the Lord for giving me warning: my reins also chasten me in the night-season. I have set God always before me: for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall. Wherefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For why? thou shalt not leave my soul in hell: neither shalt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Thou shalt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is the fulness of joy: and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.
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.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Please be seated for the
Sermon
Preacher:
The Reverend B. M. McKay, O.Carm., B.A., B.D., M.Phil., D.D., Prebendary of Clondalkin
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. At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from his piercèd side.
Praise we him, whose love divine
Gives his guests his Blood for wine,
Gives his body for the feast;
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.
2. Where the Paschal Blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose Blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, Paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
3. Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce powers beneath thee lie;
Thou hast conquered in the fight;
Thou hast brought us life and light.
Now no more can death appal,
Now no more the grave enthral;
Thou hast opened Paradise,
And in thee thy saints shall rise.
4. Easter triumph, Easter joy,
Sin alone can this destroy;
From sin’s power do thou set free
Souls new-born, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, unto thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to thee,
With the Spirit, ever be.
Latin, tr. Robert Campbell (1814–68)
Jakob Hintze (1622–1702)
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
Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliavit peccatores Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando, Dux vitae mortuus, regnat vivus. Dic nobis Maria, quid vidisti in via? Sepulcrum Christi viventis, et gloriam vidi resurgentis: Angelicos testes, sudarium et vestes. Surrexit Christus spes mea: praecedet suos in Galilaeam. Credendum est magis soli Mariae veraci quam Iudaeorum turbae fallaci. Scimus Christum surrexisse a mortuis vere: Tu nobis, victor Rex, miserere. Amen. Alleluia.
(To the Paschal victim let Christians offer up their songs of praise. The Lamb has redeemed the sheep: Christ who is without sin has reconciled sinners to the Father. Death and life have fought a great battle; The Prince of Life was dead, but lives and reigns. Tell us, Mary, what did you see on your way? The tomb of Christ, who is alive, and I saw the glory of his rising; Angels standing as witnesses, the shroud and linen cloth. Christ my hope has risen: He has gone to Galilee before you. More trust should be placed in truthful Mary than in a deceitful crowd of Jews. Truly, we know Christ has risen from the dead: O King and Victor, have mercy on us. Amen. Alleluia.)
William Byrd (d.1623)
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
1. Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
Your sweetest notes employ,
The Paschal victory to hymn
In strains of holy joy.
2. How Judah’s Lion burst his chains,
And crushed the serpent’s head,
And brought with him from death’s domains
The long-imprisoned dead.
3. From hell’s devouring jaws their prey
Alone our Leader bore;
His ransomed hosts pursue their way
Where he hath gone before.
4. Triumphant in his glory now,
His sceptre ruleth all;
Earth, heaven and hell before him bow
And at his footstool fall.
5. While joyful thus his praise we sing,
His mercy we implore,
Into his palace bright to bring
And keep us evermore.
6. All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
While endless ages run.
St Fulbert (d.1028) tr. Robert Campbell (1814–68)
Henry Gauntlett (1805–76)
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.