without, good Lord deliver her, and have mercy upon her.

R. Amen.

Then the Priest, standing over the infant, and signing him with his finger on the forehead, shall say,

A

LMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who

by Thy Son Jesus Christ showest unto all men the way of salvation, and openest the gates of everlasting life to them that believe; We beseech Thee to embrace in the arms of Thy compassion this the creature of Thy hand, upon whom we have set the sign of our salvation in token of Thy good will towards him. Do Thou defend him from the power and invasions of the devil; preserve him by Thy good providence from all harm and mischief to his soul and body; and grant that, being presented in Thy temple, he may escape the corruption of this evil world, may worthily receive Thy holy baptism, and may abide Thy faithful servant unto his life's end: through Jesus Christ our Lord.

R. Amén.

A

Let us pray.

LMIGHTY GOD, we beseech Thee of the abundance of Thy mercy favourably to regard Thy handmaid, whom Thou hast brought through the valley of the shadow of death, and hast made her the living mother of a living child, filling her heart with joy and gladness. And, we pray Thee, sanctify and cleanse her by Thy divine and quickening Spirit from all impurity of flesh and of spirit; prepare her in body and in soul, bring her again in peace into Thy holy Church, that she may praise Thy name in the midst of Thy congregation. And as Thou hast said by Thy well-beloved Son

concerning little children, that in heaven their angels do always behold Thy face, we, knowing Thy mercy, assured of Thy good will, and confident in heart because of Thy loving-kindness and goodness, do invoke with fear and reverence the holy Name of Thy Majesty; beseeching Thee for the sake of Jesus Christ, that this infant, born in sin, may be accepted in Thy presence, may be brought into Thy holy Church, may be made partaker of Thy heavenly grace, and finally may be admitted to Thine eternal glory. For Thou alone hast power to forgive sins; and unto Thee be ascribed all glory, honour, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

R. Amen.

HE

TH

of grace our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you, and with all under this roof. R. Amen.

The Churching of Women.

¶ The Woman may present herself for this Thanksgiving at any service at Nine or Three o'clock; and it shall be offered before the concluding Prayer.

The Priest ministering shall say to her, ORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God, of His goodness, to give you safe deliverance, and that He hath preserved you in the great danger of childbirth; you shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God, and say:

I

¶ Then shall the Priest say the 116th Psalm.

LOVE the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

Then called I upon the Name of the Lord: 0 Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful:

The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He helped me.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

I believed, therefore have I spoken; I was greatly afflicted.

I said in my haste, All men are liars.

What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows unto the Lord, now in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the son of Thy handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds.

I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows unto the Lord, now in the presence of all His people;

In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Then the Priest shall say,

and ever

LORD, save this woman Thy servant;

R. Who putteth her trust in Thee.

Be Thou to her a strong tower,

R. From the face of her enemy.

Lord, hear our prayer;

R. And let our cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY GOD, we give Thee humble

deliver this woman, Thy servant, from the great pain and peril of childbirth; Grant, we beseech Thee, most merciful Father, that she, through Thy help, may both faithfully live and walk according to Thy will, in this life present; and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, and with the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.

R. Amen.

T The Woman should come up to receive the holy Communion on the next convenient occasion of administration.

And on this, and on all occasions of individual thanksgivings, persons should be encouraged to make offerings, as God may enable them, in testimony of their thankfulness to Him.

For a Woman after Childbearing.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

In the Prayer of Oblation (after Consecration).

our prayers. Especially offering unto Thee this sacrifice of praise, and giving thanks unto Thy holy Name, for Thy loving-kindness and mercy unto this woman before Thee, whom Thou hast in Thy compassion preserved in child-bearing, and hast restored unto Thy Church, that she may give thanks with Thy congregation. Grant that as she doth now profess before Thy people the vows which she made unto Thee in secret when she was in trouble, so she may have grace steadfastly to perform the same, and to abide Thy faithful servant unto eternal life. R. Amen.