Let thy fountain be blessed:

And rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

WE

¶Or this.

HO can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is above rubies.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom:

And in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

The Gospel [John, ii. 1–11].

In the Prayer of Oblation (after Consecration).

our prayers. Especially commending unto Thy gracious favour this man and this woman; and praying Thee of Thy mercy to bless unto them this holy bond of marriage whereinto they have entered, and to grant unto them the continual supply of Thy heavenly grace, which through the ministry of Thy Church Thou hast bestowed upon them. Vouchsafe that they may live together in mutual love, in holiness, in godly fear; fulfilling in the Holy Ghost those vows which they have mutually exchanged. Grant that they may live in peace all the days Thou continuest them on the earth. Bless them with the abundance of all such things as they shall need for this life. [Vouchsafe Thy favour unto the children which may be born of them, counting them among the number of Thy true flock.] And finally administer unto them an abundant entrance into the kingdom of Thy dear Son.

R. Amen.

¶ After the Prayers of Commemoration, and while the Priest is preparing the holy Sacrament for Communion, the two newly-married persons shall come to the foot of the sanctuary, and shall kneel with their faces to the altar.

Before the Benediction of Peace the Priest shall come down, and pronounce over them this Blessing:

GOD

preserve

OD the Father bless you, God the Son you, God the Holy Ghost enlighten and sanctify you. The Lord visit you with His salvation, and fill you with the joy of His gracious consolations. The Lord unite your hearts to fear His holy Name, to abide in His love, and to walk in His laws continually. The Lord preserve you both from all evil, and bring you unto His eternal joys, there to reign with Him and all His saints, in glory everlasting.

R. Amen.

Peace be with you.

R. Amen.

The newly-married shall receive the holy Communion before any other of the Congregation.

The Communion Anthem shall be Psalm cxxviii. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, &c. TOr this.

WILL sing of mercy and judgment:

Unto Thee, O Lord, will I sing.

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way:
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful in the land:
That they may dwell with me.

He that walketh in a perfect way:

He shall serve me.

Additional Post-Communion Prayer.

ALMIGHTY GOD, who in

ment dost vouchsafe unto Thy people such union with Thee and with each other, that whoso doth therein eat the flesh of Thy dear Son, and drink His blood, dwelleth in Him, and He in them; We humbly beseech Thee especially to vouchsafe unto these Thy two servants upon whom we have invoked Thy blessing, that they may receive the fruit of this holy Communion in their continual abiding together in Thy grace; that they, being joined unto the Lord, may be one spirit in Him; and that, in the day of the glorious resurrection, they may together be fashioned in His likeness, who abideth at Thy right hand in glory and immortality. Hear us, O merciful Father, for His sake; to whom, with Thee, and with the Eternal Spirit, be glory for ever and ever. R. Amen.

Prayer for a Woman immediately after Childbirth, and Dedication of the new-born Infant.

This Office may be used in an adjoining room to that of the mother, with the doors open, if the mother can bear it. The infant should be brought into the same room with the Priest.

L

EACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

ET Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please Thee: through Jesus Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
R. Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY LORD GOD, heavenly Father, who didst appoint unto our first mother Eve,

after her transgression, that in sorrow she should bring forth children; but didst promise redemption and deliverance through her seed, even through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord and God: We beseech Thee, that Thou wilt raise up Thine handmaid whom Thou hast preserved in the pains and through the peril of child-bearing, and wilt heal her infirmities. Defend her, and this infant whom she hath borne; hide her under the shadow of Thy wings from this day present, and through her whole life; grant unto her the increase of faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety; and, according to Thy word, vouchsafe unto her Thy salvation. For Thou art blessed throughout all ages, world without end.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

BLESSED LORD our God, who for our sakes

wast pleased to come down from heaven, and to be born of the pure and blessed Virgin Mary; Who wast laid, an infant, in the manger, and wast manifested a new-born babe; Who knowest the frailty of man's nature, for Thou wast made in all points like as we are, yet without sin; O most compassionate Lord and Saviour, have mercy upon Thine handmaid, and pardon all her sins and offences, wilful and involuntary. Shield and defend her, and the infant she hath borne, from the oppression and devices of the devil, and from the invasion of every evil spirit. Stretch forth Thine hand to heal: restore and deliver her from pain; endue her with renewed vigour both in soul and body, and comfort her on every side. From disease and weakness, from evil influence, whether from within or from