we purpose to build a temple for the spiritual worship which becomes Thy holy Name. O Thou that didst render effectual the devotion of Thy servant David, by the labour of Solomon his son; Vouchsafe also to fulfil our desires in this work which we undertake in Thy Name, and scatter from hence all spiritual wickedness; purify this place from all defilement, and keep it pure: Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. R. Amen. Then he shall proceed as follows: The reading of the words of David, when the people offered willingly for the building of the Temple of the Lord. B LESSED be Thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all. Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is power and might, and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious Name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee. For we are strangers before Thee and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O Lord our God, all this store that we have pre pared, to build Thee an house for Thine holy Name, cometh of Thine hand, and is all Thine own. I know also my God, that Thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy Thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto Thee. ¶ Then shall be sung or said Psalm cxxii. I was glad when they said unto me, &c. And in singing it they shall come to the stone, and there sing the Gloria Patri. After which the Angel shall kneel at a faldstool to be set there, and proceed as follows: Let us pray. LORD JESU CHRIST, Son of the Living God, True Corner-Stone, Immutable Foundation; Establish Thou this stone which we plant in Thy Name: And do Thou, who art the Beginning and the End, in whom all things were created, vouchsafe Thy presence, that this our work, which we undertake for Thy service, may be carried on and perfected to the glory of Thy Name; Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest One God, world without end. R. Amen. HOLY LORD, Almighty Father, Eternal God, vouchsafe to bless this stone for the foundation of a Church; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord: for He is the living Stone, the Chief Corner-Stone, elect, precious, the true foundation; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. R. Amen. Then he shall rise, and mark with a graving tool the sign of the Cross in the centre of the Stone, and on each side, at the top, saying, IN N the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost R. Amen. B Let us pray. LESS, O Lord, this stone; and grant, through the Invocation of Thy thrice holy Name, that this work, begun in Thee, may be fulfilled to Thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Then the stone shall be laid, and cemented in the foundation. While this is doing, they shall sing or say Psalm lxxxvii. His foundation is in the holy mountains, &c. IN When the stone is fixed, the Angel shall place his hand on it, saying, N the faith of Jesus Christ, we lay the first stone in this foundation, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost May the true faith flourish in this place, the fear of God, the love of the brethren; Here may the voice of prayer continually be heard, the voice of rejoicing and salvation, the voice of praise and invocation of Thy most glorious and honourable Name, even the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, henceforth and for ever. R. Amen. ¶ Then shall be sung or said Psalm cxxvii. Except the Lord build the house, &c. L Let us pray. ET Thy Holy Spirit, O Lord our God, descend continually and rest upon this place, that our gifts and all our service may be sanctified; and our hearts, and the hearts of all who labour upon this building, may be cleansed and purified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. GOD, who art present in all places of Thy dominion, to accept and further the services of all Thy creatures; Hear us, we most humbly beseech Thee: Accept the humble service of all who contribute from their substance unto this building; and let Thy blessing rest upon them, and upon those who labour in erecting it: And grant that the progress of this work may be secured against every accident, and may be carried forward without hindrance unto perfection; through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. R. Amen. Then the Angel shall rise, and if he please, address those present. In conclusion he shall pronounce the Benediction. B LESSED be the Lord God of Israel, and blessed be His glorious Name for ever and ever. And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you all. R. Amen. The Order for the Consecration of Churches. At the time appointed for the Consecration, the Angel, with the Priests, Deacons, and other Ministers, properly vested according to their degree, shall meet the Apostle, and the Ministers with him, in the vestibule, porch, or portico. The Angel shall say, IR, Our desire is that this building, which hath been given up that it may be wholly dedicated to Almighty God, should be consecrated and sanctified to His worship, for the use and benefit of the Catholic Church. Apostle. Let the transfer thereof to the perpetual use of the Church be first certified to me. Here the proper officer shall present to the Apostle a sufficient Certificate or Authentication of the Docu |