The Holy Cross Missal

Propers and Commons of Various Feasts and Fasts Not Included in the Book of Common Prayer together with the Ordinary and Canon of the Mass, Requiems, and Other Votive Masses.

West Park, New York: Holy Cross Press, 1920.

MASSES FOR THE DEPARTED

THE COLLECTS

On All Souls’ Day and for the Faithful Departed

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all them that believe, grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins: that through devout supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired. Who livest.

On or before the day of Burial

O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions for the soul of thy servant, N . . . , which thou hast commanded to pass out of this world: deliver it not into the hands of the enemy, neither forget it at the last, but command it to be received by thy Holy Angels, and to be carried into the land of the living; and, forasmuch as it hoped and believed in thee, let it be counted worthy to rejoice in the fellowship of thy Saints. Through.

On the 3rd, 7th, and 30th days after Burial

We beseech thee, O Lord, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to grant to the soul of thy servant N. . . . the third (or seventh, or thirtieth) day after whose burial we commemorate, the society of thy saints and elect, and wouldest pour down upon it the everlasting dew of Thy mercy. Through.

On Anniversaries

O God, the Lord of forgiveness, grant unto the soul of thy servant N. . . . the anniversary of whose burial we have in remembrance, a place of refreshment, the blessedness of rest, and the brightness of thy divine light. Through.

For Bishops

O God, who amongst priests apostolic hast caused thy servants (or servant N.,) to be reckoned among those of Episcopal dignity in the Apostolic Ministry, grant, we beseech thee, that they may rejoice in the everlasting fellowship in heaven of those whose office they bore while on earth. Through.

For a Priest

As for a Bishop, altering the word Episcopal to Priestly.

For Brethren, Relations, and Benefactors

O God, the giver of pardon and author of man’s salvation: we beseech thy mercy; that thou wouldst grant the brethren, [sisters], kinsfolk, and benefactors, of our congregation, who have passed away from this world, Blessed Mary, Ever-Virgin, and all thy Saints praying for them, to come to the fellowship of eternal blessedness. Through.

For Father or Mother, or Both

O God, who hast commanded us to honour our father and mother: graciously have mercy upon the soul (or souls) of my (or our) father (or mother or parents), and forgive him all his sins; and grant me (or us) to behold him in the joy of eternal brightness. Through.

For a Man

O Lord, incline thine ear to our prayers, we humbly beseech thee, and grant that the soul of thy servant, N., which thou hast commanded to pass out of this world may be placed in the region of peace and light, and make him to be a partaker with thy Saints. Through.

For a Woman

We beseech thee, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness, have mercy upon the soul of thy handmaid N., and, now, that she is set free from contact with mortal flesh, restore her to a portion in thine eternal salvation. Through.

EPISTLES

For all the Faithful Departed

On All Souls’ Day, 1 Cor. xv: 51

Brethren, behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

At other Times, Rev. xiv: 13

In those days, I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

On or before the Day of Burial and on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th Days after Burial

1 Thes. iv: 13

I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in. Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we be ever with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

On Anniversaries, 2 Mac. xii: 43

In those days, Judas, a most noble man, when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection: for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead. And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.

If for a Bishop, I Cor. xv: 51, as on All Souls’ Day. The same may also be used for a Priest.

GOSPELS

On All Souls’ Day, St. John v: 25

At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews, Verily; verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

At other Times, St. John vi: 51

At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up the last day.

On or before the Day of Burial and on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th Days after Burial, St. John xi: 21

At that time Martha said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

On Anniversaries, St. John vi: 37

At that time Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

If for a Bishop, S. John v: 25, as on All Souls’ Day. The same may also be used for a Priest.

THE POST COMMUNIONS

On All Souls’ Day, and for the Faithful Departed

Let the prayers of thy people, O Lord, we beseech thee, be profitable unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids, that thou mayest deliver them from all their sins and make them partakers of thy redemption. Who livest.

On or Before the day of Burial

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the soul of thy servant N., which has departed out of this world, being purified by this Sacrifice and delivered from the bonds of his sins, may receive pardon, and everlasting rest. Through.

On the 3rd, 7th, and 30th days after Burial

Receive our prayers, O Lord, for the soul of thy servant N. that whatsoever stains may remain to it from contact with the world, may, by thy merciful pardon, be done away. Through.

On Anniversaries

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that the soul of thy servant, the anniversary of whose death we commemorate, being cleansed by this Sacrifice, may obtain pardon and everlasting rest. Through.

For Bishops

Do well, we beseech thee, O Lord, unto the souls of thy servants our Bishops, that by the pitifulness of thy great mercy, they may obtain eternal life with him in whom they hoped and believed. Through.

For a Priest

As for a Bishop, altering the word Bishop to Priest

For Brethren, Relations and Benefactors

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty and merciful God, that the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, for whom we have offered unto thy majesty this Sacrifice of praise, being purified from all their sins, may by virtue of this same Sacrament, receive the blessedness of perpetual light. Through.

For a Father, or Mother, or Both

O Lord, let the partaking of this heavenly Sacrament obtain everlasting rest and light for the soul (or souls) of my father (or mother or parents), and let me have, with him, through thy grace, a share in the heavenly crown. Through.

For a Man

Absolve, O Lord, we beseech thee, the soul of thy servant, N., from every bond of sin, that he may ever live among thy Saints and elect, in the glory of the resurrection. Through.

For a Woman

We beseech thee, O Lord, that the soul of thy handmaiden may have a part in the eternal light through this Sacrament, which, of thy perpetual mercy, she received while on earth. Through.