Trisagion Prayer

The following is a variation of what is known as the Trisagion Prayer. Trisagion means "thrice holy." It is laid out for use in a group setting.

Leader - O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, You Who are everywhere present and fill all things, the Treasury of all that is good and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

All - Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Leader - All Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins.

All - Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Leader - Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for the glory of Your Name.

All - Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen

Collect for Holy Saturday

From the Book of Common Prayer:

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on his holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Good Friday Prayer

On this Good Friday, the following Apochryphal canticle was part of my morning reading and prayer. What a great prayer for today's occasion or for any other time of confession and repentance.

14 A Song of Penitence, Kyrie Pantokrator
Prayer of Manasseh 1-2, 4, 6-7, 11-15

O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven,
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
and of all their righteous offspring:

You made the heavens and the earth,
with all their vast array.

All things quake with fear at your presence;
they tremble because of your power.

But your merciful promise is beyond all measure;
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.

O Lord, you are full of compassion,
long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.

You hold back your hand;
you do not punish as we deserve.

In your great goodness, Lord,
you have promised forgiveness to sinners,
that they may repent of their sin and be saved.

And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart,
and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,
and I know my wickedness only too well.

Therefore I make this prayer to you:
Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.

Do not let me perish in my sin,
nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.

For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent,
and in me you will show forth your goodness.

Unworthy as I am, you will save me,
in accordance with your great mercy,
and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.

For all the powers of heaven sing your praises,
and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen.


IT'S FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY'S COMING!

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday, the Holy Day that we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist, Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, by the Lord Jesus at the Last Supper. This happened "on the night He was betrayed," on the evening before His crucifixion.

Maundy Thursday is known by different names, depending on the faith tradition that is commemorating it.

In most churches in the West, Maundy Thursday is called Holy Thursday.
In the Easter Orthodox Tradition you might see - Great and Holy Thursday
In the Coptic (Egyptian) Church - Covenant Thursday
In the Syriac Orthodox Church - Thursday of Mysteries

Whatever your faith tradition, or by whatever name you call today, may you be blessed on this Holy Day.

Prayer for Holy Thursday from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered,
instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood:
Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully
in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord,
who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life;
and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.