Ant. May the Almighty and merciful LORD direct us in the way of peace and prosperity, and may His holy Angels accompany us on our journey, that in peace, joy, and safety we may return to our homes. Let us pray. LORD, have mercy, &c. Our FATHER, &c. [Dearly beloved brethren, let us beseech with earnest prayer our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who is the straight path of them that journey, and the unwearying salvation of them that sojourn, that He may bless this His servant in the way in which he is setting out, make him . O LORD, save Thy servants. strong in bodily vigour, and still mightier in spiritual counsels, that Ry. Which put their trust in Thee. may be obedient to the Divine. Send us help from Thy sancwill, and prosperously finish the tuary. R. And strengthen us out journey which he is about to begin.] Ant. May the Almighty and merciful LORD direct us in the way of peace. of Sion. V. Be unto us, O LORD, a tower of strength. R. From the face of our enemy. V. Let no evil happen unto us. Ry. Nor the son of wickedness approach to hurt us. Benedictus. Blessed be the LORD.. Blessed be the LORD daily. R. may the GOD of our salvation make our journey prosperous. . Show us Thy ways, O LORD. R. And teach us Thy paths. V. O that our ways were made so direct. [Ps. 77, (ver. 11—20.) I will remember the works, &c., or 107. O give thanks unto the LORD, &c.] And R. That we might keep Thy sta- First Collect at end of Commututes. V. Let the crooked ways be nion Office: Assist us mercifully, made straight. R. And the rough &c. places plain. V. The LORD shall give His Angels charge over thee. Ry. To keep thee in all thy ways. . LORD, hear, &c. R. And let, &c. V. Let us pray. 22. O GOD, Who madest the children of Israel to go on dry land through the midst of the sea, and Who showedst the way to the Wise Men by the leading of a star; grant unto us, we beseech Thee, a prosperous journey and a quiet time, that with Thy Angel as our companion, our guardian, and our guide, we may reach the place whither we would go, and at length attain unto the gate of everlasting life. 23. O GOD, Who leddest Abraham Thy servant out of Ur of the Chaldees, and preservedst him unhurt throughout the days of his pilgrimage; we beseech Thee to take us Thy servants under Thy protection ; be unto us, O LORD, our Helper in our setting out, our Solace by the way, our Shadow in the heat, our Covering in the storm, our Comfort in the cold, our Support in weariness, our Guardian in danger, our Staff in slippery places, and our Haven in shipwreck, that Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may safely reach our journey's end, and at length return in safety to our own home. 24. Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty GOD, that Thy family may walk in the way of salvation, and, by following the counsels of S. John the Forerunner, may come in safety unto Him Whom he preached, Thy SON JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Who. For those about to Emigrate. 25. O GOD, Who didst send Thy servant Joseph into Egypt to prepare food for his father and his brethren against the day of famine and necessity, and bringing them into the land of Goshen didst nourish them there; mercifully guard and guide Y. Let us depart in peace. COLLECTS AND INTERCESSIONS. FOR THE USE OF THE CLERGY. A General Intercession. 26. O LORD, Whose mercies are over all Thy works, Who wouldest not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; Thou Who hast suffered death for all, and hast left Thyself to us in the Sacrament of Thy love; vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, Thy blessings upon Thy Church; to Thy Priests concord and innocence; to kings and rulers wisdom and justice; to virgins chastity; and steadfastness and continuance to those whose lives are dedicated to Thee. To my parents, relations, benefactors, and friends, give all such blessings as they need. To my enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, forgiveness for the wrongs which they have done. Vouchsafe to the married, purity ; to penitents, forgiveness; to the just, perseverance; and pardon to sinners, of whom, alas, I am chief. Bring back all heretics and schismatics, enlighten the ignorant, restore the backsliding, give to widows and orphans sustenance, to the poor protection, to mourners consolation, to the sick and afflicted, comfort and relief, and lastly, to all the faithful, living and departed, grace, peace, and everlasting life. Through. For the Church. 27. Almighty and everlasting GOD, Who hast in CHRIST revealed Thy glory unto all nations; protect the works of Thy mercy, that the Church spread throughout the world may abide with steadfast faith in the confession of Thy Name. Through the same. 28. O GOD, Who hast vouchsafed to raise up in every age defenders of Thy Church, to put down her enemies, and to restore the solemnities of Thy holy service; grant that we, following their footsteps, may so abide in Thy service, that overcoming all the snares of our enemies, we may rejoice in perpetual peace. Through. 29. O GOD, the might of them that hope in Thee, Who hast strengthened Thy Saints with the gift of constancy to defend the liberties of Thy Church; grant that we may valiantly strive against and overcome all obstacles. Through. 30. O LORD JESU CHRIST, LORD mighty in battle, make, I pray Thee, Thy Church militant mighty also in battle. Give her courage to attack all strongholds of infidelity and sin; arm her with patience under apparent failure, and perseverance against ever-renewed opposition. Above all, kindle in her such love of souls for Thy most blessed sake, that she may toil and travail for the salvation of all men, and may always and everywhere reflect Thine Image, and impart Thy consolations. Who. 31. O LORD JESU CHRIST, Strength of Israel, keep, I entreat Thee, Thy holy Church militant from backslidings and errors, from laxity and superstition, from coldness and lukewarmness, from dead faith and dead works, from the gates of hell, and from the bottomless pit. Who. 32. O LORD JESU CHRIST, Who standest for an Ensign of the people, rally around Thee Thy people, and bid them stand up, an exceeding great army, to do battle against the hosts of darkness. Let no traitor be in the camp, no deserter weaken the hands of his brethren, no panic turn to shameful flight, no fear make feeble, no rashness court ruin: but where Thou leadest, give us grace and courage to follow; that where Thou abidest, we also may abide with Thee. Who. 33. O LORD JESU CHRIST, Builder and Maker of the City which hath foundations, preserve Thy Church, I entreat Thee, evermore by Thine almighty power. Let her walls be salvation, and her gates praise; let her be all-glorious within, by the indwelling of the HOLY GHOST; let her raiment be of wrought gold, even of the alms, precious, self-denying gifts, and free-will offerings of Thy ransomed people. Through Thy mercy. For the Peace and Unity of the 34. O LORD JESU CHRIST, Who saidst unto Thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; regard not my sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant her that Peace and Unity which is agreeable to Thy will. Who livest. For Church Synods. 35. O Almighty and Everlasting GOD, Who hast given the Comforter to Thy Church, that He should abide with it for ever; pour forth the blessing of Thy Spirit on our Prelates and Pastors now assembled in Thy Name: defend their hearts from all hindrances of this world, and from all earthly feeling. Grant them abundantly steadfastness of faith, purity of love, sincere desire for peace, and firmness of authority, that they, by the help of Thy SON JESUS CHRIST our LORD, may both rule Thy flock committed to their care, according to Thy will, and may also, together with their people, receive from the great Shepherd and Bishop of us all the rewards which are promised to Thy Saints, and be united to the number of Thine Elect. Through the same. For the Holiness of the Priesthood. them holy, blameless, righteous, temperate, meek, pure, zealous, loving make them for Thy sake willing servants of Thy flock, diligently feeding Thy sheep and Thy lambs. Let all priests delight to celebrate Thy Blessed Sacrament, and all deacons rejoice to serve at Thine Altar. Who. For all Priests. 39. O GOD, Who hast given us Thine Only-Begotten SON to be our High Priest, and hast joined unto Him other Priests to be His Ministers to make a pure Sacrifice unto Thee; grant that all who have been counted worthy of this holy calling, may devoutly serve at Thine Altar, and present themselves as a pure and living offering. Through the same. For Candidates for Holy Orders. 40. O God, Who dost ever hallow and protect Thy Church; raise 36. O LORD GOD Almighty, and faithful stewards of the Mysup in it through Thy SPIRIT good Who hast separated us Thy ser-teries of CHRIST, that by their mivants from the people, that we may nistry and example the Christian discharge the office of Priests unto the same. Thee; mercifully separate us from people may, under Thy defence, be sinners, that according to our call-guided in the way of truth. Through ing we may be made a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people before Thee. Through. 37. O LORD JESU CHRIST, Whose is the unchangeable Priesthood; grant, I pray Thee, that all who on earth are called to be Thy priests may daily follow in Thy blessed footsteps; may show forth in their lives and preaching Thy love and severity, Thy hatred of sin and love of sinners; may be patient toward all men, and for Thy sake may make themselves servants to all. Who. 38. O LORD JESU CHRIST, a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle; give Thine abundant grace, I beseech Thee, to all priests and deacons who minister in Thy Church on earth. Make For one about to be Ordained or Consecrated. 41. Hear us, we beseech Thee, O LORD, our GOD, and pour forth upon Thy servant [N.] the blessing of Thy HOLY GHOST, and grace to strengthen him for the Office of a Deacon, [or Priest, or Bishop,] that the beauty of all righteousness may shine forth in him, and also that he may render a good account of the stewardship intrusted to him, and may attain the reward of everlasting blessedness. Through. For the Increase of Clergy. 42. O Almighty God, look mercifully upon the world, redeemed by the Blood of Thy dear SON, and send forth many more to do the work of the ministry, that perishing souls may be rescued, and Thy glorious triumph may be hastened by the perfecting of Thine elect. Through the same. Thyself of glory for our sakes; give us grace, I beseech Thee, with willing hearts to offer ourselves to Thee, all we are and all we have. Raise up, according to Thy will and for Thy glory, saintly priests, heroic missionaries, self-denying rich and For the Superior Clergy. 43. O LORD GOD Almighty, gra-poor, men and women devoted to ciously hear our prayers, and hallow Thy service, virgins espoused to the pastors and overseers of Thy Thee, married persons loving Thee flock, that our adversary the devil, above all, and each other as Thy overcome by their faith and holi-precious and cherished gift. Guide ness, may not dare to approach us by that wisdom which is pure, or injure the fold of the LORD. peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, Through. merciful, fruitful, without partiality or hypocrisy. And prosper, O LORD, Thy work in our hands. Who. 44. O LORD JESU CHRIST, the SON, consecrated for evermore, call and seal all souls for evermore unto Thy willing service. I pray for all Bishops consecrated to Thee after Thy likeness: help them in every point to copy Thee, their perfect Example. Make them holy, pure, full of good works and hospitality, meek, zealous, poor in spirit, fearless in defence of Thy Church, which is the pillar and ground of the truth. Remember them, O my GOD, for good. Who. For the Bishop of the Diocese. 45. Grant, O LORD, to Thy servant N whom Thou hast set over Thy flock in this Diocese, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of wisdom and piety, that through the holy conversation of their Bishop the devotion of the faithful may increase, and that the salvation of the flock may be the joy and crown of the shepherd. Through. During the Vacancy of a See. 46. May Thy boundless lovingkindness, O LORD, grant to Thy Church a Bishop who shall be pleasing to Thee in holiness of life, and profitable to us in watchfulness and zeal. Through. For divers Orders in the Church. 47. O LORD JESU CHRIST, LORD of Glory, Who didst empty For Religious Orders. 48. O GOD, Who inspirest and bringest to perfection every good resolve, direct Thy servants in the way of everlasting salvation, and cause them who have left all, and have vowed themselves entirely to Thee, to meditate on heavenly things, and to serve Thee in the toil of penitence, in the spirit of poverty, and in lowliness of heart. Through. For Sisterhoods. 49. O God, Who inhabitest and keepest pure hearts, grant to Christian virgins to know the excellence of virginity, to love that which they know, to preserve faithfully that which they love, that going forth to meet the Bridegroom with kindled lamps, they may be admitted to His heavenly marriage. Through the same. For those engaged in Works of 50. Bless, O LORD, we beseech Thee, all those who are devoted to serve Thee in works of charity, as well for the training of the young as for the reclaiming of the fallen [especially. . . .] Also those who are occupied in visiting the sick, the poor, and the ignorant [espe |