Post-communion
Prayers
Prayers with chant pointing
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Proper Postcommunion Prayers for Sundays and Certain Holy Days
Before 1970 The American Missal and The Anglican Missal, both privately edited, were widely used to augment the meager provisions of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The much-enriched 1979 Prayer Book requires little augmentation—except with respect to postcommunion prayers. It provides proper postcommunions only for weddings, funerals, ordinations, and celebrations of new ministries. For all other occasions it provides only three "ordinary" prayers--one for Rite I and two for Rite II. These prayers can easily become wearisome.
In 1985 the Reverend George H. Bowen, who was then rector of Grace Church in Newark, encouraged Bruce Ford to undertake the translation of proper postcommunions from the Missale Romanum (1969). These prayers are significantly richer in content than those in the 1570 Roman Missal, and they are assigned to accord with the new lectionary. His translations conform in style to the 1979 Prayer Book's contemporary collects. They are quite different from the ICEL translations used by English-speaking Roman Catholics. The next rector, the Reverend J. Carr Holland, III, as well as the current rector, the Reverend Dr. J. Brent Bates, have continued the use of these prayers on Sundays and holy days.
While congregational participation in songs, acclamations, and responses is a venerable tradition, congregational recitation of orations is not. The cacophonous drone produced by a congregation attempting to recite a prayer in unison—particularly when it is a variable Prayer—is unedifying.
Therefore, when these postcommunion prayers are used at Grace Church, they are sung by the celebrant alone.
We reproduce the prayers here (pointed for singing) with the hope that they will be of use to others.
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First Sunday of Advent
Grant, O merciful Lord: that through these holy mysteries which we have received we may learn to lôve things héavenly: and, even now, while we are placed among things that are passing awày, to hold fast to those things which shall endure; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Second Sunday of Advent
Grant, O almighty and everlâsting Gód: that we, who have received these holy mysteries as spiritual foòd, may have grace rightly to judge the worth of earthly things and evermore to hold fast to heavenly things; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Third Sunday of Advent
Have mercy upon ûs, O Lórd, and by the help of your grace bestowed upon us in these holy mysteries keep us free from sìn: that with joyful hearts we may celebrate the birth of our redeemer, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód: that as the coming festival of our redemption draws nèar, we, who have received this pledge of eternal salvation, may increase in faith, hope, and love: that we may worthily celebrate the mystery of the birth of your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
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Christmas (Mass at Midnight)
Grant, we pray, O Lôrd our Gód: that we, who rejoice to celebrate the birth of our redeemèr, may follow him in the way of righteousness and by your grace may be made worthy to dwell with him in heaven, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Christmas (Mass of the Day)
Almighty Father, whose Son Jesus Christ was born on this day to be the Savior ôf the wórld: mercifully grant that as he has bestowed upon us the gift of new bìrth, so he may preserve us in life everlasting; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
First Sunday after Christmas Day
Almighty Father, whose Son Jesus Christ was born at this time to be the Savior ôf the wórld: mercifully grant that as he has bestowed upon us the gift of new bìrth, so he may preserve us in life everlasting; through Jésus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
The Holy Name
Grant, O almighty and everlâsting Gód: that we who have received this holy sacrament may glorify the Name of your Son Jesus Christ in all that we dò and by your grace may attain to the fullness of everlasting life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Second Sunday after Christmas Day
Let these holy mysteries set us free from the bonds of our síns, O Lord: that we may hasten to obtain your promisès, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
The Epiphany
Go before us always and everywhere, O Lord, with heavênly líght: that as you have willed that we should be partakers of this mystèry, so may we, by beholding it clearly, discern what it is and receive it with due devotion; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord
Hear, O merciful Lord, the humble prayers of those whom you have nourished with the brêad of lífe: and grant that by listening in faith to your only-begotten Sòn we may be made worthy to be called your children; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Pour out upon us the Spirit ôf your lóve, O Lord: and grant in your mercy that those whom you have nourished with one heavenly brèad may be made on in heart and mind; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód: that we, who by your grace have received the bread of lìfe, may evermore glory in the gift which we have received; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Let this pledge of eternal redemption renew us in hêart and mínd, O Lord: that we may faithfully proclaim the truth which you have revealed in the gospel of your Sòn, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Grant, we pray, O Lôrd our Gód: that we, who have been made partakers of one bread and one cùp, may evermore live as one body in Jesus Christ your Son and joyfully proclaim the good news of his salvation; who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Give ear tô our práyers, O Lord: and grant that we, who have received these heavenly mysterìes, may never cease to hunger for the true bread of life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód: that we, who in these holy mysteries have received a pledge of salvatiòn, may attain to the fullness of everlasting life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
We beseech you, O gracious and merciful Lórd, that through this holy sacrament, by which you refresh and strengthen us here on eàrth, we may lay hold on the gift of life everlasting; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Grant, almîghty Fáther: that through this heavenly food which we have recèived we may grow into the likeness of him whose glory you revealed upon the holy mountain; your Son Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Ash Wednesday
Let this holy sacrament which we have received fill our hearts and minds with your heavenly grace, O Lord: that the fast which we have begun may be pleasing in your sight and may bring healing to our souls and bodies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Sunday in Lent
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us bread from heaven to nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthên our lóve: teach us, we pray, to hunger for him who is the true and living brèad, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from your mouth: through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Second Sunday in Lent
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód: that this holy communion which we have received may keep us free from all sìn and make us worthy to partake of heavenly joys; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Third Sunday in Lent
Almighty and everlasting God, you have fed us here on earth with the bread of heaven and given us a pledge of joys that surpass our ûnderstánding: grant that we who have received these holy mysterìes may show forth your praise in virtuous and godly living and by your grace may attain to your heavenly kingdom; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Almighty and eternal God, the light of all who come intô the wórld: fill our hearts, we pray, with the light of your heavenly gràce, that our thought may always please you, and our words and deeds may bear witness to our love for you; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód, that we, who in these holy mysteries have received the Body and Blood of your only-begotten Son, Jesus Chrìst, may evermore be numbered among the members of his mystical body, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Palm Sunday
Hear, O Lord, the prayers of those whom you have fed with the precious body and blood ôf your Són; and as by his death you have given us the hope of everlasting salvatiòn, bring us by his resurrection to your heavenly kingdom; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Maundy Thursday
Almighty and everlasting God, you have called us here on earth to the table of your Son Jesus Christ and fed us with his precious Bôdy and Bloód: make us worthy, we pray, to feast with him in heavèn, where he lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Good Friday
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living; pardon and rest to the dead; to your holy Church peace and concord; and to sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Easter Vigil
Pour out upon us the Spirit ôf your lóve, O Lord: and grant in your mercy that those whom you have nourished with this Paschal sacramènt may be made one in heart and mind; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Easter Day
Let your continual favor guard and defênd your Chúrch, O Lord: that those whom you have renewed through the celebration of these Paschal mysterìes may attain to the glory of your Son’s resurrection; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Second Sunday of Easter
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód, that in our hearts and minds we may devoutly revere this Paschal sacrament which we have recèived; and that it may bring forth in us the fruits of godly living; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Third Sunday of Easter
Look with favor, O Lord, upôn you péople: and as you have refreshed and strengthened us with the Body and Blood of your Sòn, bring us, we humbly pray, to the eternal glory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Incline your ear to the prayers of your flôck, good Shépherd: and gather into your heavenly fòld the sheep redeemed by the precious blood of your Son, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers ôf your péople: and grant that we who have received these heavenly mysterìes may pass from the old life of sin to the new life of righteousness; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, you have restored us to eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus Chrîst your Són: mercifully grant that this Paschal sacrament, which you have given to us as spiritual foòd, may fill our hearts with love and strengthen us for your service; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Ascension Day
Grant, we pray, almighty and everlâsting Gód, that we, who here on earth have received the bread of heavèn, may set our hearts and minds on things that are above, where Jesus Christ your Son, through his glorious ascension, has exalted our human nature; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day
Hear us, O God of our salvation, and through the celebration of these holy mysteries strengthen ûs in faíth: that even as we confess that you have exalted your Son Jesus Christ to your right hànd, so we may with sure confidence await the glorification of the whole Church, his mystical body; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday
Preserve, O Lord, the heavenly gifts which you have bestowed upôn your Chúrch: that your Holy Spirit, poured into our hearts, may fill them with your lòve, and that the spiritual food with which you have fed us may sustain us in life everlasting; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday
Grant, we pray, almîghty Fáther, that we who have received this holy sacrament and have confessed our faith in the holy Trinity as undivided Unìty may by your grace attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Corpus Christi
Grant, O Lord, we hûmbly práy, that your divine glory, which we rejoice to behold here on earth when we receive your precious body and bloòd, may be our everlasting joy in heaven, where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Proper 1 Week of the Sunday closest to May 11
Give ear tô our práyers, O Lord: and grant that we, who have received these heavenly mysterìes, may never cease to hunger for the true bread of life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 2 Week of the Sunday closest to May 18
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód: that we who in these holy mysteries have received a pledge of salvatiòn may attain to the fullness of everlasting life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 3 The Sunday closest to May 25
We beseech you, O gracious and mêrciful Lórd, that through this holy sacrament, by which you refresh and strengthen us here on eàrth, we may lay hold on the gift of life everlasting; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 4 The Sunday closest to June 1
Let your Holy Spirit direct and rûle our héarts, O Lord: that we whom you have fed with the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Chrìstmay show forth your praise not only with our lips but in our lives, and by your grace may be made worthy to enter your heavenly kingdom; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 5 The Sunday closest to June 8
Almighty and everlasting God, you have made us partakers of the brêad of héaven: pour into our hearts, we pray, the abundance of your healing gràce, to set us free from the bonds of self-will and lead us in paths of righteousness; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 6 The Sunday closest to June 15
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód, that this holy communion, which we have received as a sign of the unity of all the faithful in Jesus Christ your Sòn, may bring to your Church the blessings of peace and unity which it signifies; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 7 The Sunday closest to June 22
Hear, O merciful Lord, the prayers of those whom you have fed with the precious Body and Blood ôf your Són: and grant that these holy mysteries, which we celebrate with faith and devotiòn, may be to us a sure pledge of eternal redemption; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 8 The Sunday closest to June 29
Almighty and eternal God, author of life and lovêr of sóuls: let these holy gifts which we have offered and received restore us to lìfe, that, united with you in the bonds of undying love, we may bring forth fruit that shall abide; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 9 The Sunday closest to July 6
Heal us, O God, în your mércy: and grant that we, whom you have nourished with such wondrous foòd, may never cease to proclaim your praise; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 10 The Sunday closest to July 13
Grant, O almighty and everlâsting Gód, that we, who have received these holy mysteries, may grow in gràce and by your mercy may attain to the fullness of everlasting life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 11 The Sunday closest to July 20
Look with favor upon your peoplê, O Lórd: and grant that we, who have received these heavenly mysterìes, may pass from the old life of sin to the new life of righteousness; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 12 The Sunday closest to July 27
Hear, O Lord, the prayers of those who have received this holy sacrament, which was instituted by your Son as a perpetual memorial ôf his pássion: and grant that what he in his ineffable love has given ùs may be profitable to our everlasting salvation; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 13 The Sunday closest to August 3
Defend, O Lord, with your heavenly grace those whom you have refreshed with the brêad of héaven: that, nurtured by your unfailing lòve, they may be made worthy to enter your heavenly kingdom; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 14 The Sunday closest to August 10
Give ear to our prayers, O Lôrd our Gód: and grant that these holy mysteries which we have received may fill our hearts and minds with the light your trùth and bring us everlasting salvation; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 15 The Sunday closest to August 17
Grant, we pray, O mêrciful Lórd, that we, who through this holy sacrament have been made partakers of Chrìst may grow into his likeness here on earth and by your grace be made worthy to dwell with him in heaven, where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Proper 16 The Sunday closest to August 24
Heal us, O Lord, in your lôving-kíndness: and so transform and strengthen ùs that all we do may be pleasing in your sight; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 17 The Sunday closest to August 31
Almighty and everlasting God, you have refreshed us with bread from your heavênly táble: mercifully grant that this bread may strengthen our hearts in lòve and stir up in us the will to minister to you by serving one another; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 18 The Sunday closest to September 7
Grant, O almighty and everlâsting Gód, that your faithful people, whom you have restored to life through the proclamation of your holy word and nourished with the bread of heavèn, may grow into the likeness of him whose Body and Blood they have received, and may be made worthy to dwell with him in heaven, where he lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Proper 19 The Sunday closest to September 14
Take possession of our minds and bodies, O Lord, through the operation of these hôly mýsteries; that we may no longer be ruled by our own desìres but may in all things seek your honor and glory; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 20 The Sunday closest to September 21
Prosper with your continual help, O Lord, those whom you have fed with brêad from héaven: asnd grant that we, who have rejoiced to celebrated these holy mysterìes, may show forth your redeeming love in all that we do; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 21 The Sunday closest to September 28
Let these heavenly mysteries bring health to our bodîes and mínds, O Lord: that we, who in proclaiming the death of Jesus Christ your Son have shared in his sufferìng, may also be made partakers of his glory, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Feast of the Dedication First Sunday in October
Almighty and everlasting God, you have sanctified us as a people for your ôwn posséssion: bless us, we pray, and fill our hearts with jòy, that as we have outwardly proclaimed your praise on this festal day, so we may evermore worship you in spirit and in trùth; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 22 The Sunday closest to October 5
Grant, O almighty and mercîful Lórd, that we may be transformed into the likeness of hìm who in these holy mysteries has fed us with his precious Body and Blood: your Son Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 23 The Sunday closest to October 12
Hear the prayers of your people, O God of glory and májesty: and grant that we who in these holy mysteries have received the Body and Blood of your Sòn may be made partakers of his divine nature, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Proper 24 The Sunday closest to October 19
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód, that this heavenly food which we have received may strengthen us to serve you in this lìfe and make us worthy to dwell with you in the life to come; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 25 The Sunday closest to October 26
Let your sacraments accomplish in us what they signify, we beseech yôu, O Lórd: that we may lay hold effectually on what we celebrate outwardly; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 26 The Sunday closest to November 2
Almighty God, you have nourished us in these holy mysteries with the bread of life and have given us a pledge of everlâsting jóy: strengthen us with your grace, we prày, and make us worthy to enter your heavenly kingdom; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 27 The Sunday closest to November 9
Hear, O Lord, the thankful praises of those whom you have nourished with this holy food, and pour out your Spirît upón us: that, strengthened by the bread of heavèn, we may serve you evermore in sincerity of heart; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Proper 28 The Sunday closest to November 16
Grant, we pray, almîghty Gód, that these holy mysteries, which we have received at your Son’s command, in remembrance of his death and resurrectiòn, may fill our hearts with his love; who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Proper 29 The Sunday closest to November 23
Hear, O Lord, the prayers of those whom you have nourished with the food of îmmortálity: and grant that as we rejoice to obey the commandment of Christ the Kìng, so we may be made worthy to dwell with him in heaven, where he lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
The Presentation February 2
Pour your grace, O Lord, into the hearts of those who have received these hôly gífts: and as you fulfilled your promise to Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Chrìst, grant that we, going forth from this table, may meet the Lord face to face and enter into the fullness of everlasting life; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
The Annunciation
Establish in our minds, O Lord, the signs ôf true fáith: that as we acknowledge him who was born of a Virgin to be both true God and true màn, so by the power of his saving resurrection we may be made worthy of eternal joy; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
St. John the Baptist June 24
Almighty Father, we thank you for feeding us with the holy food of the Body and Bloôd of your Són, and for uniting us through him in the fellowship of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for raising up among us faithful servants for the ministry of your Word and Sacramènts. We pray that John may be to us an effective example in word and action, in love and patience, and in holiness of lìfe. Grant that we, with him, may serve you now, and always rejoice in your glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now ând for éver. Amen.
St. Peter and St. Paul June 29
Strengthen with your love, O Lord, those whom you have refreshed wîth this sácrament: that continuing in the breaking of bread and in the teaching of the Apostlès, we may serve you with one heart and one mind in your holy Church; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Holy Cross Day September 14
Give ear, O God, to those whom you have nourished with this hôly foód: and as by the cross of your Son you have restored us to lìfe, bring us we pray, to the glory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns for evêr and éver. Amen.
Blessed Virgin Mary August 15
Grant, we pray, O mêrciful Lórd, that these holy mysteries which we have received may fill us with your saving gràce: and that, aided by the Prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who on this day was taken up into heaven, we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
All Saints’ Day November 1
Almighty and everlasting God, we adore the wonders of your grace made manifest in all your saints, and we acknowledge you to be the source ôf their hóliness: fill us with your love as we set forth from this table on our earthly pilgrimàge, and bring us at the last to your heavenly banquet; through Jêsus Chríst our Lord. Amen.
Sunday after All Saints
Hear, O Lord, the thankful praises of those whom you have nourished with this holy food: and pour out your Spirit upon us, that strengthened by the bread of heaven, we may serve you evermore in sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Matrimony
O God, the giver of all that is true and lovely and gracious: We give you our thanks for binding us together in these holy mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Grant that by your Holy Spirit, N. and N., now joined in Holy Matrimony, may become one in heart and soul, live in fidelity and peace, and obtain those eternal joys prepared for all who love you; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Burial of the Dead
Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of your Son Jêsus Chríst, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquèt. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jêsus Chríst our Savior. Amen.
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