DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JAMES THE PREPARATION Before the Divine Liturgy an appropriate Prothesis may be used. The Priest says (softly) the following prayer immediately before the clergy enter into the nave: Almighty God, unto Whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from Whom no Priest: secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify Thy Holy name: through Christ our Lord. People:
Amen.
Priest: Our Lord Jesus Christ said: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: there is none other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. People:
Kyrie eleison! And write these laws in our hearts, we beseech Thee.
THE SAINT JAMES LITURGY FOR THE ANCIENT SCOTTISH CHURCH
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD The Prayer of Preparation Standing before the Holy Altar, the Bishop (or Priest if celebrating) softly says this prayer as he faces east [At the same time the deacon or deacons stand on either side of the Royal Doors, facing the people. If there are concelebrants, they stand around the altar as the celebrant prays]: O Sovereign Lord our God, contemn me not, defiled with a multitude of sins: for, behold, Priest: I have come to this Thy divine and heavenly mystery, not as being worthy; but looking only to Thy goodness, I direct my voice to Thee: God be merciful to me, a sinner; I have sinned against Heaven, and before Thee, and am unworthy to come into the presence of this Thy holy and spiritual table, upon which Thy only-begotten Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ, is mystically set forth as a sacrifice for me, a sinner, and stained with every spot. Wherefore I present to Thee this supplication and thanksgiving, that Thy Spirit the Comforter may be sent down upon me, strengthening and fitting me C:\My Documents\Divine Liturgy (St. James – Scottish)
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