‘Strive as well as you can to enter deeply with the heart into the church reading and singing and to imprint these on the tablets of the heart.’
– Abbot Nazarius
Our Father (Pater Noster)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
as in heaven, so on earth.
Give us today our supersubstantial bread,
and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors.
Save us from falling into temptation
and deliver us from the evil one.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, and now and evermore, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Rex Caelestis
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth,
present everywhere, filling all things,
Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life;
come and dwell in us,
cleanse us from every stain
and save our souls, O Good One!
The Prayer of Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of (the living) God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
The Lenten Prayer of St Ephrem the Syrian
O Lord and Master of my life, drive away from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust for power, and idle talk;
But rather grant me, your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love.
O Lord and King, grant that I may see my own failings and not condemn my (sister and) brother. For You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Paschal Acclamation
Christ is risen from the dead;
by death He has conquered death,
and to those in the tombs He has given life!
Sub Tuum Praesidium
Under your protection, we take refuge, O holy Mother of God:
do not despise our petitions in times of trouble:
but deliver us always from danger
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
A Prayer to St Melangell
All of Britain rejoices in you, O Venerable Mother Melangell,
for the grace of God has shone forth in these islands
through the uncovering of your holy relics.
As the hare fled to the protection of your cloak
when chased by the hunting dogs
so also, when we are pursued by the evil one,
who prowls like a lion seeking to devour us,
may we find protection in your prayers.
O Venerable Mother,
whose friendship with God was revealed by the hare,
awaken in our hearts true love for Christ, the Author of Creation,
so that, following your example,
we may show love to all of God’s creatures,
who serve Him better in their way than we do in ours.
Draw us closer to you,
that we come to stand with all the saints who have shone forth in this land
before the throne of Christ,
Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns, God, to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Great Antiphon for the feast of St Melangell (Tone 1)
Through your righteous ways and angelic life,
you were proved as pleasing to God, O Melangell;
for you abandoned your noble birth, royal riches, and honour,
and came to the valley, becoming a mother to nuns.
Rejoice, O root of Ireland!
Rejoice, O boast of the Celts!
Rejoice, O lamp of Britain and the pride of Wales!
The Collect for the feast of St Melangell
O Lord Jesus Christ our God,
Who gladden our hearts with the yearly memorial
of your blessed handmaid Melangell;
grant that we, who gather in her honour,
may be filled with love for all of your creatures,
and, forsaking the pleasures of this life,
may set our minds on the eternal joys of the starry realms of light;
where, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
You live and reign in glory,
God to the ages of ages.
Amen.