An Office for the Dead.

This office is intended to be used, except during the season of Easter, on the first of every month, unless one of the greater Festivals happens to full on that day; in which case it should be postponed to the day following. In Advent und Lent it should be said on the Monday in every week, when there is no such interference; excepting the Monday in Holy Week. Most properly it is said after the service for the day, i. e. Vespers after Vespers, and Matins after Matins; but it may be used by individuals as opportunity allows.

AT VESPERS.

Begin immediately from the Antiphon.

ANTIPHON. I will walk before the Lord.

PSAL. cxvi. 1 to 9. Dilexi quoniam.

I am well pleased that the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer.

That he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The snares of death compassed me round about : and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.

I shall find trouble and heaviness, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord : O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous: yea, our God is merciful.

The Lord preserveth the simple: I was in misery and he helped me.

B

Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul: for the Lord hath rewarded thee.

And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

[At the end of each Psalm, instead of " Glory be to the Father, &c.," is repeated,]

Grant them, O Lord eternal rest.

:

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

ANT. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

ANT. Wo is me.

PSAL. CXX. Ad Dominum.

When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord : and he heard me.

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.

What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.

Wo is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar.

:

My soul hath long dwelt among them that are enemies unto peace.

I labour for peace, but when I speak unto them thereof; they make them ready to battle.

Grant them, O Lord : eternal rest. :

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

ANT. Wo is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech.

ANT. The Lord shall preserve thee.

PSAL. cxxi. Levavi oculos.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help.

:

My help cometh even from the Lord who hath made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.

Behold he that keepeth Israel : shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.

So that the sun shall not burn thee by day : neither the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth for evermore.

Grant them, O Lord: eternal rest.

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

ANT. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil : yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

ANT. If thou, Lord.

PSAL. CXXX. De profundis.

Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.

O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint.

If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss O Lord, who may abide it?

For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared.

I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him : in his word is my trust.

My soul fleeth unto the Lord: before the morning watch; I say before the morning watch.

O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel: from all his sins.

Grant them, O Lord : eternal rest.

:

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

ANT. If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it?

ANT. Despise not.

PSAL. CXXXviii. Confitebor tibi.

I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving kindness and truth: for thou hast magnified thy Name and thy word above all things.

When I called upon thee, thou heardest me and enduedst my soul with much strength.

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord for they have heard the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord that great is the glory of the Lord.

For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.