Propers for All Souls

Today being All Souls Day (in the Ordinariate, at least -- I think the Roman Rite transferred it to tomorrow, since requiem Masses are not normally held on Sundays), I thought I'd post some of the beautiful prayers and readings employed for the day by the Anglican Use, of which I'm a member. I attend Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore, and our choir and schola sang some particularly enchanting pieces today, including Antonio Lotti's Miserere Mei as the Communion motet.

Introit: Requiem Aeternam

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon them. Thou, O God, art praised in Syon, and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. Thou that hearest the prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Collect for All Souls

Everlasting God, our maker and redeemer, grant us, with all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of thy Son's saving passion and glorious resurrection: that, in the last day, when thou dost gather up all things in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of thy promises; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lesson: Wisdom 3.1-9

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seem to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

Gradual: Requiem Aeternam

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord: and let light perpetual shine upon them. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance: he will not be afraid of any evil tidings.

Epistle: Romans 5.5-11

Brethren: hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received our reconciliation.

Tract: Absolve Domine

Absolve, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin. And by the help of thy grace may they be worthy to escape the avenging judgment. And enjoy the bliss of everlasting light.

Gospel: John 6.37-40

At that time: Jesus said to the crowds: "All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Offertory: Domine Jesu Christe

O Lord Jesu Christ, King of majesty, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the hand of hell, and from the pit of destruction: deliver them from the lion's mouth, that the grave devour them not, that they go not down into the realms of darkness: but let Michael, the holy standard-bearer, make speed to restore them to the brightness of glory: which thou promisedst of old to Abraham and his seed. Sacrifice and prayer do we offer to thee, O Lord: do thou accept them for the souls departed, in whose memory we make this oblation: and grant them, Lord, to pass from death unto life. Which thou promisedst of old to Abraham and his seed.

Preface of the Dead

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God: through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom hath shone forth unto us the hope of a blessed resurrection: that they who bewail the certain condition of their mortality may be comforted by thy promise of immortality to come. For the life of thy faithful people, O Lord, is changed, not taken away, and at the dissolution of the tabernacle of this earthly sojourning, a dwelling place is made ready in the heavens.

And this piece ("Funeral Ikos" by John Tavener) was our closing motet: