The Daily Office

According to the Use in the Anglican Church

Morning Prayer

Matins

Ad Matutinum

I

The Opening

The Officiant may begin Morning Prayer by reading an opening sentence of Scripture. One of the following, or a sentence from among those provided at the end of the Office, is customary.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

— Philippians 1:2

The Officiant then says to the People

Dearly beloved, the Scriptures teach us to acknowledge our many sins and offenses, not concealing them from our heavenly Father, but confessing them with humble and obedient hearts that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy. We ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before Almighty God, but especially when we come together in his presence to give thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, to declare his most worthy praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things which are necessary for our life and our salvation. Therefore, draw near with me to the throne of heavenly grace.

Officiant and People together, all kneeling

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

The Priest alone stands and says

The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit.

A Deacon or layperson remains kneeling and prays

Grant your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II

The Invitatory

All stand

O Lord, open our lips;

And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Then follows the Venite. Alternatively, the Jubilate may be used. These antiphons may be sung or said before and after the Invitatory Psalm.

Venite

Psalm 95:1-7; 8-11

O come, let us sing unto the Lord; *

let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are all the depths of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands prepared the dry land.

O come, let us worship and fall down, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God, *

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

III

The Psalms Appointed

Psalm 95, 96

O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

IV

The Lessons

One or more Lessons, as appointed, are read, the Reader first saying

A Reading from Isaiah 42:1-9

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Te Deum Laudamus

We Praise You, O God

We praise you, O God; we acclaim you as Lord; *

all creation worships you, the Father everlasting.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, *

the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might, *

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you; *

the noble fellowship of prophets praise you;

the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you: *

Father, of majesty unbounded;

your true and only Son, worthy of all praise;

the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the King of glory, *

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh to set us free, *

you humbly chose the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death *

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God's right hand in glory; *

we believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people, *

bought with the price of your own blood;

and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

A Reading from Hebrews 1:1-14

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Benedictus

The Song of Zechariah — Luke 1:68-79

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies, *

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

Free to worship him without fear, *

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

To give his people knowledge of salvation *

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

To shine on those who dwell in darkness

and in the shadow of death, *

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

✠ A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

V

The Apostles' Creed

Officiant and People together, all standing

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

VI

The Prayers

The People kneel or stand.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

The Suffrages

O Lord, show your mercy upon us;

And grant us your salvation.

O Lord, guide those who govern us;

And lead us in the way of justice and truth.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

And let your people sing with joy.

O Lord, save your people;

And bless your inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord;

And defend us by your mighty power.

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;

Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And take not your Holy Spirit from us.

VII

The Collects

The Collect of the Day

A Collect for Strength to Await Christ's Return

O God, our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Unless The Great Litany or the Eucharist is to follow, one of the following prayers for mission is added.

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Officiant may invite the People to offer intercessions and thanksgivings.

A hymn or anthem may be sung.

Before the close of the Office one or both of the following prayers may be said.

The General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

VIII

The Dismissal

The Officiant may say one of these concluding sentences.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

— 2 Corinthians 13:14

"Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws."

— Psalm 119:164

Texts from the Book of Common Prayer (2019)
Anglican Church in North America