Holy Ghost. Do Thou bestow upon them that earnest of their inheritance; and enable them to keep, by the Holy Ghost, that which Thou shalt commit unto them, until the day of redemption: wherein do Thou receive them unto that eternal glory, whereof they now are waiting to receive the first-fruits and the pledge. R. Amen. L After the Prayers of Commemoration are concluded, ET those who are to receive the blessing of the ¶The Angel shall go down and introduce the Candidates (or as many at this time as can be conveniently admitted) within the choir; they shall kneel at the foot of the sanctuary. The Apostle, extending his hand towards them, shall say, T THE Holy Ghost come upon you, and the power of the Highest overshadow you. A Let us pray. LMIGHTY and Everlasting God, send down. from heaven, we beseech Thee, upon these Thy children, the Holy Ghost the Comforter. R. Amen. L ORD JESU CHRIST, seal these Thy servants upon their foreheads with the seal of the living God; write upon them Thy Father's Name, the Name of the city of our God, Thy new Name. Bestow upon them the manifold gifts of Thy Spirit. Give unto them to follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest; preserve them from all guile; and let them abide without fault before the throne of God; unto Whom, even unto the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. R. Amen. Then he shall lay his hands on each, and say to each, ECEIVE the Holy Ghost, In the Name of the Ghost. God the Father Almighty confirm and perfect thee; seal thee [here he shall sign him on the forehead with the seal and signet of the Lord; and anoint thee with the ointment of salvation, unto eternal life. ¶ After all have received the laying on of hands, YE E are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are anointed with the unction from the Holy One. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen. Let us pray. LORD JESU CHRIST, who at the first didst send down the Holy Ghost upon Thine Apostles, and didst ordain that, by the laying on of their hands, He should come upon all who should believe and obey Thy Gospel; Favourably regard, we beseech Thee, this our humble service, and hear us for all these Thy children, upon whom in Thy Name we have laid our hands; that the Holy Ghost the Comforter, who hath come down upon them, may take up His abode in their hearts, and through His continual presence may perfect them to be a holy temple of His glory; Who, with the Father, and with Thee, Lord Jesu Christ, abideth ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. The newly-confirmed shall retire without the choir. Then shall be sung Psalm xcii., with the Gloria It is a good thing to give thanks, &c. ¶ Then shall follow the Order for the Administration of the holy Communion. The newly-confirmed shall receive first after the Priests and Deacons. TH The Communion Anthem. HOU preparest a table before me: Thou anointest my head with oil: Surely goodness and mercy: Shall follow me all the days of my life. In the house of the Lord for ever. G ¶ Additional Post-Communion Prayer. RANT, we beseech Thee, most merciful God, that Thy servants who have received from Thee that anointing whereby they should know all things, may continually partake of these holy mysteries with true spiritual discernment of the Body of Christ; and may abide in that blessed fellowship with Thee and with Thy Son, whereunto Thou hast admitted them; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. Form of Blessing such as Offer themselves for Works of Charity and Piety. The Deacon shall present those who offer themselves within the choir, at any Service for Prayer appointed for this purpose, after the Psalm and Lesson. ¶ The Angel, after prayer before the altar, shall turn to them, and say, world. A URE religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the Then turning to the altar, Let us pray. LMIGHTY GOD, who didst send Thy Son Jesus Christ into the world, to visit us in our low estate, and to minister unto us Thy con our solations; We render unto Thee humble and hearty thanks that Thou hast inspired the hearts of these Thy servants with zeal for the honour of Thy Name and desire to labour in Thy Church. And now we present them in Thy holy presence, and implore upon them the abundance of Thy grace and benediction. We pray Thee, shed abroad in their hearts Thy love, endow them with bowels of mercy and loving-kindness, with meekness and gentleness, with unwearying diligence, and patient endurance. Grant them, O Lord, to persevere unto the end; and forget not, we beseech Thee, in that day, the work and labour of love which they shall have shown towards Thy Name. May they be found at the right hand of Thy Son, and inherit the kingdom prepared for all who diligently serve Thee in faith and love, which are in Him. Hear us for the sake of the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. ¶ Then the Angel shall go down, and place his right hand upon each person presented, saying, THE Be HE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with thee. thou steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, that thy labour may not be in vain in the Lord. Afterwards he shall extend his hand over them, saying, Peace be with you all. R. Amen. |