Morning Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Wednesday, 2 July 2025
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   Almighty and most merciful Father,
    we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
    We have followed too much the devices and desires
       of our own hearts.
    We have offended against thy holy laws.
    We have left undone those things
       which we ought to have done;
    and we have done those things
         which we ought not to have done;
    and there is no health in us.
    But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
    Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
    Restore thou them that are penitent;
    according to thy promises declared unto mankind
       in Christ Jesu our Lord.
    And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
    that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
    to the glory of thy holy name.
  Amen.
   
  A priest says
     
    Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who desireth not the death of a sinner,
    but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;
    and hath given power, and commandment, to his ministers
    to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
    the absolution and remission of their sins:
    he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent
       and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.
    Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance,
       and his Holy Spirit,
    that those things may please him which we do at this present;
    and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy;
    so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil.
    For thine is the kingdom,
    the power and the glory,
    for ever and ever.
    Amen.
  Morning Prayer
   
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
   
  These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
Venite, exultemus Domino  
     
1
   O come, let us sing unto the Lord :
    let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
     
2
   Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving :
    and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
     
3
   For the Lord is a great God :
    and a great King above all gods.
     
4
   In his hand are all the corners of the earth :
    and the strength of the hills is his also.
     
5
   The sea is his, and he made it :
    and his hands prepared the dry land.
     
6
   O come, let us worship, and fall down :
    and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
     
7
   For he is the Lord our God :
    and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
     
[8
   Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts :
    as in the provocation,
         and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness;
     
9
   When your fathers tempted me :
    proved me, and saw my works.
     
10
   Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said :
    It is a people that do err in their hearts,
       for they have not known my ways.
     
11
   Unto whom I sware in my wrath :
    that they should not enter into my rest.]
   
Psalm 95
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
Psalmody  
   

Psalm 9

  
 

  
1
 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart *
 I will speak of all thy marvellous works.
  
 
  
2
 I will be glad and rejoice in thee *
 yea, my songs will I make of thy Name, O thou most Highest.
  
 
  
3
 While mine enemies are driven back *
 they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
  
 
  
4
 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause *
 thou art set in the throne that judgest right.
  
 
  
5
 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly *
 thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
  
 
  
6
 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end *
 even as the cities which thou hast destroyed; their memorial is perished with them.
  
 
  
7
 But the Lord shall endure for ever *
 he hath also prepared his seat for judgement.
  
 
  
8
 For he shall judge the world in righteousness *
 and minister true judgement unto the people.
  
 
  
9
 The Lord also will be a defence for the oppressed *
 even a refuge in due time of trouble.
  
 
  
10
 And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee *
 for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee.
  
 
  
11
 O praise the Lord which dwelleth in Sion *
 shew the people of his doings.
  
 
  
12
 For, when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them *
 and forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.
  
 
  
13
 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me *
 thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.
  
 
  
14
 That I may shew all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion *
 I will rejoice in thy salvation.
  
 
  
15
 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made *
 in the same net which they hid privily, is their foot taken.
  
 
  
16
 The Lord is known to execute judgement *
 the ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hands.
  
 
  
17
 The wicked shall be turned into hell *
 and all the people that forget God.
  
 
  
18
 For the poor shall not alway be forgotten *
 the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever.
  
 
  
19
 Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand *
 let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
  
 
  
20
 Put them in fear, O Lord *
 that the heathen may know themselves to be but men.
  
 

Psalm 10

  
 

  
1
 Why standest thou so far off, O Lord *
 and hidest thy face in the needful time of trouble?
  
 
  
2
 The ungodly for his own lust doth persecute the poor *
 let them be taken in the crafty wiliness that they have imagined.
  
 
  
3
 For the ungodly hath made boast of his own heart’s desire *
 and speaketh good of the covetous, whom God abhorreth.
  
 
  
4
 The ungodly is so proud, that he careth not for God *
 neither is God in all his thoughts.
  
 
  
5
 His ways are alway grievous *
 thy judgements are far above out of his sight, and therefore defieth he all his enemies.
  
 
  
6
 For he hath said in his heart, Tush, I shall never be cast down *
 there shall no harm happen unto me.
  
 
  
7
 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud *
 under his tongue is ungodliness and vanity.
  
 
  
8
 He sitteth lurking in the thievish corners of the streets *
 and privily in his lurking dens doth he murder the innocent; his eyes are set against the poor.
  
 
  
9
 For he lieth waiting secretly, even as a lion lurketh he in his den *
 that he may ravish the poor.
  
 
  
10
 He doth ravish the poor *
 when he getteth him into his net.
  
 
  
11
 He falleth down, and humbleth himself *
 that the congregation of the poor may fall into the hands of his captains.
  
 
  
12
 He hath said in his heart, Tush, God hath forgotten *
 he hideth away his face, and he will never see it.
  
 
  
13
 Arise, O Lord God, and lift up thine hand *
 forget not the poor.
  
 
  
14
 Wherefore should the wicked blaspheme God *
 while he doth say in his heart, Tush, thou God carest not for it.
  
 
  
15
 Surely thou hast seen it *
 for thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong.
  
 
  
16
 That thou mayest take the matter into thine hand *
 the poor committeth himself unto thee; for thou art the helper of the friendless.
  
 
  
17
 Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious *
 take away his ungodliness, and thou shalt find none.
  
 
  
18
 The Lord is King for ever and ever *
 and the heathen are perished out of the land.
  
 
  
19
 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the poor *
 thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto;
  
 
  
20
 To help the fatherless and poor unto their right *
 that the man of the earth be no more exalted against them.
  
 

Psalm 11

  
 

  
1
 In the Lord put I my trust *
 how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
  
 
  
2
 For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver *
 that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
  
 
  
3
 For the foundations will be cast down *
 and what hath the righteous done?
  
 
  
4
 The Lord is in his holy temple *
 the Lord’s seat is in heaven.
  
 
  
5
 His eyes consider the poor *
 and his eye-lids try the children of men.
  
 
  
6
 The Lord alloweth the righteous *
 but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness doth his soul abhor.
  
 
  
7
 Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest *
 this shall be their portion to drink.
  
 
  
8
 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness *
 his countenance will behold the thing that is just.
  
 

   
  At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
   
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
  and to the Holy Ghost;
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
  world without end. Amen.
   
  Old Testament Reading  
   

First Reading: Job 22

 

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

   
  Te Deum Laudamus  
   
  Either the Te Deum Laudamus (as follows) or Benedicite, omnia opera is said or sung.
   
  We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
  All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
  To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein.
  To thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry,
  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
  Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
  The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
  The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
  The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
  The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee:
  the Father of an infinite majesty;
  thine honourable, true and only Son;
  also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.
   
  Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
  Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
  When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
       thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
  When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
       thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
  Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
  We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
  We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
       whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
  Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.
   
  O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage.
  Govern them and lift them up for ever.
  Day by day we magnify thee;
  and we worship thy name, ever world without end.
  Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
  O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
  O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee.
  O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.
   
  New Testament Reading  
   

Second Reading: Romans 10.1-10

 

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

   
  Benedictus  
   
  Either The Benedictus (as follows) or Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) is said or sung.
   
 
1
   Blessed be the Lord God of Israel :
  for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;
   
 
2
   And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us :
  in the house of his servant David;
   
 
3
   As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets :
  which have been since the world began;
   
 
4
   That we should be saved from our enemies :
  and from the hands of all that hate us;
   
 
5
   To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers :
      and to remember his holy covenant;
       
 
6
   To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham :
      that he would give us,
       
 
7
   That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies :
      might serve him without fear,
       
 
8
   In holiness and righteousness before him :
      all the days of our life.
       
 
9
   And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest :
      for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
       
 
10
   To give knowledge of salvation unto his people :
      for the remission of their sins;
       
 
11
   Through the tender mercy of our God :
      whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;
       
 
12
   To give light to them that sit in darkness,
         and in the shadow of death :
      and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
     
Luke 1.68-79
   
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
  and to the Holy Ghost;
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
  world without end. Amen.
   
  The Apostles' Creed  
   
All
   I believe in God the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth:
  and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell;
    the third day he rose again from the dead;
    he ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the King.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
  but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
  Three Collects are said.
     
The Collect of the Day  
     
    O God, who didst lead the Blessed Virgin Mary to visit Elizabeth, to their exceeding joy and comfort: Grant unto thy people, that as Mary did rejoice to be called the Mother of the Lord, so they may ever rejoice to believe the incarnation of thine only-begotten Son; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end.
All
   Amen.
     
     
The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord,
    in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life,
    whose service is perfect freedom;
    defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies;
    that we, surely trusting in thy defence,
    may not fear the power of any adversaries;
    through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
The Collect for Grace  
     
    O Lord, our heavenly Father,
    almighty and everlasting God,
    who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day;
    defend us in the same with thy mighty power;
    and grant that this day we fall into no sin,
    neither run into any kind of danger,
    but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance,
    to do always that is righteous in thy sight;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
  The order for the end of the service may include:
     
  hymns or anthems
    a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
  This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
   
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are available from Church House Publishing.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2020.