Leofric Missal: Ordo in agenda mortuorum (Order for the Dead) (Leofric A, written c. 900 in Lotharingia; in England by the 10th century, at Exeter under Bishop Leofric (1050–72))

At the Approach of Death

As soon as they see the sick person drawing near to death, he is to be given communion of the holy sacrifice, even if he has eaten that day, for communion will be his defender and helper in the resurrection of the just, and it will raise him up. After he has received communion, the passions of the Lord are to be read before the body of the sick person, by priests or by deacons, until the soul goes out of the body.

As soon as the soul has left the body, haircloth is to be laid under it, and the seven penitential psalms are to be sung, and the litany said as time allows. When the names of the saints are finished, at once is begun:

R. Come to his aid, saints of God; come forth to meet him, angels of the Lord.

V. Rest eternal.

Then follows the antiphon. Ant. May Christ receive you, who has called you, and may the angels lead you into Abraham's bosom.

Psalm 114 (When Israel came out of Egypt), and the other psalms following, as far as Psalm 120 (When I was in trouble I called upon the Lord).

Prayers over the Dead

With loving remembrance, dearest brethren, we make commemoration of our dear one N., whom the Lord has taken from the temptations of this world; beseeching the mercy of our God, that he may vouchsafe to grant him a calm and quiet dwelling, and forgive all the offences of slippery rashness; that, the pardon of full forgiveness being granted, whatever he has done amiss in this world by his own fault, he may wholly blot out and wipe away by his unspeakable goodness and kindness. Which may he vouchsafe to grant, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, for ever.

Receive, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N., returning to thee out of the land of Egypt and setting out towards thee. Send thy holy angels to meet him, and show him the way of righteousness. Open to him the gates of righteousness, and drive away from him all the princes of darkness. Acknowledge, O Lord, thy creature, not made by strange gods but by thee, the living and true God; for there is no other God beside thee, O Lord, and none whose works are like thine. Make glad, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N. Remember not his old iniquities and drunkenness, which the fury of evil desire stirred up. For though he has sinned, yet he has not denied the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, but believed, and had a zeal for God, and worshipped God who made all things. Through.

Another. Vouchsafe to grant us thy help; bestow thy aid and thy mercy; and receive the spirit also of thy servant, our dear one N., set free from the bonds of the body, into the peace of thy saints; that he may escape the place of punishment, the fire of Gehenna and the flames of Tartarus, and come into the land of the living. Who reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Another. Receive, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N., whom thou hast vouchsafed to call from the prison-house of this world; and deliver it from the princes of darkness and from the places of punishment; that, loosed from every bond of sin, it may enjoy the blessedness of eternal rest and light, and be counted worthy to be raised up among thy saints and elect in the glory of the resurrection. Through.

Another. Enter not into judgement with thy servant N., O Lord, for in thy sight shall no man be justified, unless through thee remission of all his sins be granted him. Let not, we beseech thee, the sentence of thy judgement weigh upon him whom the true prayer of Christian faith commends to thee; but by the help of thy grace may he be counted worthy to escape the judgement of vengeance, who while he lived was sealed with the sign of the Trinity. Through.

Another. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, this mercy to thy servant N., that he may not receive in punishment the requital of his deeds, who in his desires held fast thy will; that as here true faith joined him to the company of the faithful, so there thy mercy may unite him to the choirs of angels. Through.

Another. Incline thine ear, O Lord, to our prayers, in which we humbly entreat thy mercy, that thou wouldest set the soul of thy servant N., whom thou hast bidden pass from this world, in the region of peace and light, and bid it be a partaker with thy saints. Through.

Another. Absolve, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N. from every bond of sin, that in the glory of the resurrection he may be raised up and breathe again among thy saints. Through.

Another. Grant us, O Lord, that the soul of thy servant N. may obtain the remission of sins which it always desired. Through.

At the Washing of the Body

Prayers when they begin to wash the body.

Receive, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N., returning to thee; clothe it with heavenly raiment, and wash it in the holy fountain of eternal life; that it may rejoice among those who rejoice, be wise among the wise, sit among the martyrs, go forward among the patriarchs, strive to follow Christ among the prophets and apostles, behold the brightness of God among the angels and archangels, possess joy among the shining stones of paradise, come to know the mysteries of God, find the brightness of God among the cherubim and seraphim, hear the Song of Songs among the four and twenty elders, wash its robe in the fountain of light among those who wash their robes, find the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem opened as it knocks among those who knock, see God face to face among those who see him, sing the new song among those who sing it, and hear the heavenly sound among those who hear. Through.

Another. O God, who art ever ready to hear just supplications, and vouchsafest to look upon devout prayers, grant to thy servant N., the day of whose burial we keep, a portion of the blessed reward with thy saints and elect. Through.

Another. O God, the giver of life and the restorer of human bodies, who hast willed to be entreated by sinners, hear the prayers which with special devotion we pour out with tears before thee for the soul of thy servant N.; that thou wouldest vouchsafe to deliver him from the torments of hell and set him among the hosts of thy saints; and bid him be clothed with heavenly raiment and the robe of immortality, and refreshed with the delights of paradise. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Bringing into Church

After the washing the body is to be carried into the church with antiphons and responsories; and when they draw near the church they sing Psalm 51 (Have mercy upon me, O God).

Lord, have mercy. Our Father.

Enter not into judgement. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord. From the gate of hell. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Let us pray. Receive, O Lord, thy servant N. into a good and eternal dwelling, and give him rest and the kingdom, that is, the heavenly Jerusalem; and vouchsafe to set him in the bosom of our patriarchs, that is, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and may he have part in the first resurrection; may he rise among those who rise, and receive his body among those who receive their bodies on the day of resurrection; may he come with the blessed who come to the right hand of the Father, and possess eternal life among those who possess it. Through.

Another. O God, the eternal lover of human souls, make the soul of thy servant N., which while it remained in the body held the true faith, an exile from every torment of hell; that, set apart from the prisons of the underworld, it may be counted worthy to be joined to the fellowship of the saints. Through.

After the Mass

The body of the dead is to rest in the church until Mass has been celebrated for his soul, and an offering made by all who think fit. After Mass the priest stands by the bier where the body is, and says this prayer:

Let us pray. Let us entreat the mercy of almighty God, by whose judgement we are born and come to our end, that eternal rest may receive the spirit of our brother N., whom the Lord in his goodness has bidden pass from his sojourn in this world; and that he may present him at the blessed resurrection, and vouchsafe to set him in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Through.

R. Come to his aid, saints of God; come forth to meet him, angels of the Lord, receiving his soul, offering it in the sight of the Most High. V. Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him. Offering it.

And three times say: Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray. Let us pray to God the judge of all, the God of things in heaven, on earth and under the earth, for the spirit of our dear one N., that the Lord may vouchsafe to set him in rest and raise him up in the part of the first resurrection. Through.

R. Woe is me, O Lord, for I have sinned greatly in my life. What shall I do, wretch that I am? Whither shall I flee but to thee, my God? Have mercy upon me when thou comest at the last day. V. My soul is sore troubled; but thou, O Lord, succour it when thou comest.

And three times Lord, have mercy.

Let us pray. O God, the creator and maker of all things, who art the blessedness of thy saints, grant to us who ask, that thou wouldest cause the spirit of our brother N., loosed from the bonds of the body, to be presented in the first resurrection. Through.

The Procession to the Grave

And so the body is lifted from the church and carried to the place of burial with the antiphon: Open me the gates of righteousness, and I will go into them and give thanks unto the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter into it. Psalm 118 (O give thanks unto the Lord).

Let us pray. Thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, we humbly entreat for the spirit of thy servant N., whom thou hast bidden be summoned to thee from the beginnings of this world; that thou wouldest vouchsafe, O Lord, to give him a place of light, a place of refreshment and rest. May he be allowed to pass the gates of hell and the pains of darkness, and abide in the mansions of the saints and in the holy light which thou didst promise of old to Abraham and to his seed. May his spirit suffer no harm; but when that great day of resurrection and reward shall come, vouchsafe, O Lord, to raise him up together with thy saints and faithful ones. Blot out his offences and sins to the uttermost farthing, and may he attain with thee the life of immortality and the eternal kingdom. Through.

Another antiphon: I will go into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even unto the house of God. Psalm 42 (Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks).

Let us pray. Struck by the freshness of a grievous wound, and as it were wounded in our hearts, we implore thy mercy with weeping voices, O Redeemer of the world, that thou wouldest gently and lightly receive the soul of our dear one returning to thee, its own giver; that if it has contracted any stain from fleshly contagion, thou, O God, of thine inborn goodness, wouldest mercifully blot it out, graciously pardon it, and give it over to oblivion for ever; and bid that same soul, which shall render praise to thee with the rest and shall one day return to its body, be gathered to the companies of thy saints. Through.

At the Grave

And he is laid in the tomb, with the antiphon: This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell, for I have chosen it. Psalm 132 (Lord, remember David).

Let us pray, dearest brethren, to almighty God for the spirit of our dear one N., whom the Lord has vouchsafed to free from the snare of this world, and whose poor body is today committed to burial, that the Lord in his goodness may vouchsafe to set him among his saints and elect, that is, in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that he may have part in the first resurrection which thou wilt bring to pass; at our entreaty. Through.

Antiphon: Of earth thou didst fashion me, and didst clothe me with flesh; my Redeemer, O Lord, raise me up at the last day. Psalm 139 (O Lord, thou hast searched me out).

Let us pray. It is the work of thy mercy, almighty Father, everlasting God, to be entreated for others, we who are not sufficient for ourselves. Receive, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N. returning to thee. May Michael, the angel of thy covenant, be with it. Deliver it, O Lord, from the princes of darkness and from the places of punishment; let not thy servant N. be confounded by the errors of his first birth or of ignorance; may he be acknowledged by thine own, and by the mercy of thy goodness be carried to the place of refreshment and rest in Abraham's bosom. Through.

Prayers after the Body is Buried

Fulfilling, after the manner of the faithful, the due office of burying a human body, let us faithfully pray to God, to whom all things live, that he may raise in power and in the order of the saints this body of our dear one N., buried by us in weakness; and bid his spirit be gathered with the saints and faithful; grant him mercy in the judgement; and that, redeemed by death, freed from his debts, reconciled to the Father, carried home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd, and protected by the Holy Spirit, he may be granted to enjoy everlasting gladness in the company of the eternal King and the fellowship of the saints. Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, God, for ever and ever.

Another. Almighty, everlasting God, who didst vouchsafe of thyself to breathe a soul into the human body: while, at thy bidding, dust is given back again to dust, do thou command thine image to be joined with thy saints and elect in the eternal seats. Through.

Another. O God, with whom the spirits of the dead live, and in whom the souls of the elect, the burden of the flesh laid down, rejoice in blessedness: grant to us who pray, that the soul of thy servant N., which through the body has been deprived of the sight of this present light, may enjoy the comfort of that eternal light. Let not the torment of death touch him; let not the grief of a dreadful vision afflict him; let not the fear of punishment torture him; let not the chain of the guilty bind him close; but, pardon of all his offences being granted him, may he attain the longed-for joys of the rest that has been promised. Through.

Another. We beseech thy mercy, almighty, everlasting God, who didst vouchsafe to create man in thine own image, that thou wouldest gently and mercifully receive the spirit and soul of thy servant N., whom on this day thou hast bidden be taken from human affairs and summoned to thee. Let not the shadows of death have dominion over him; let not the chaos and gloom of darkness cover him; but, stripped of the stain of all his sins and set in Abraham's bosom, may he rejoice that he has reached the place of light and refreshment; that when the day of judgement comes, thou mayest bid him be raised up with thy saints and elect. Through.

Another. O God, to whom alone it belongs to give healing after death, grant, we beseech thee, that the soul of thy servant N., stripped of earthly contagion, may be numbered in the portion of thy redeemed. Through our Lord.

Another. O God, to whom all things live, and for whom our bodies do not perish by dying but are changed for the better: we humbly beseech thee that whatever the soul of thy servant N. has contracted of vice and of what is contrary to thy will, through the deceit of the devil and its own iniquity and frailty, thou, merciful and kind, wouldest wash away by pardoning; and bid it be received by the hands of thy holy angels, to be led into the bosom of thy patriarchs, namely of Abraham thy friend, Isaac thy chosen, and Jacob thy beloved, whence grief and sadness and sighing have fled away, and where the souls of the faithful rejoice in happy gladness; and on the last day of the great judgement cause it to receive among thy saints and elect a portion of everlasting glory, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, which thou hast prepared for them that love thee. Through.

Another. It is indeed rashness, O Lord, that man should dare to commend man, a mortal a mortal, ashes ashes, to thee the Lord our God. But because earth receives earth, and dust is turned to dust, until all flesh is brought back to its origin, therefore, O God, most loving Father, we tearfully beseech thy goodness, that thou wouldest receive in the bosom of Abraham thy friend the soul of this thy servant, which thou art leading from the muddy whirlpool of this world to its homeland, and bathe it with the dew of refreshment. May it be set apart from the fierce burning of seething Gehenna, and joined, by thy gift, to blessed rest. And if there be in it, O Lord, faults worthy of torment, do thou pardon them by the grace of thy most gentle mildness; let it not receive the requital of sin, but feel the tender goodness of thy forgiveness. And when, at the appointed end of the world, the kingdom on high shall shine upon all, may he, a new man joined to the company of all the saints, rise with thine elect on the right hand to be crowned. Through.

Then the priest asks them to pray for him. Our Father. Rest eternal.

His soul shall dwell at ease, O Lord. Deliver not the soul unto the beasts. In everlasting remembrance. Turn again unto thy rest, O my soul. Arise, O Lord, into thy resting-place. Enter not into judgement. The Lord shall redeem the souls. From the gate of hell deliver. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Let us pray. May he obtain a part in the blessed resurrection, and be counted worthy to have eternal life in heaven, through thee, O Christ Jesus, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 51 (Have mercy upon me, O God).

Then follows the prayer: Absolve, we beseech thee, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N. from every bond of sin, that in the glory of the resurrection he may be raised up and breathe again among thy saints. Through. Here it ends.

The Commendation of the Soul

Unto thee, O Lord, we commend the soul of thy servant N., that, being dead to the world, he may live to thee; and whatever sins he has committed through the frailty of his worldly life, do thou wipe away by the pardon of thy most merciful goodness. Through.

Another. We are constrained, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, by loving affection to ask thy mercy for others, though we are in no way sufficient to pray for our own sins; yet trusting in thy free goodness and inborn kindness, we beseech thy clemency, that thou wouldest receive with mercy the soul of thy servant N. returning to thee. May Michael, the angel of thy covenant, be with it; and vouchsafe by the hands of thy holy angels to set it among thy saints and elect in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, thy patriarchs; so that, delivered from the princes of darkness and from the places of punishment, it may be confounded no more by any errors of its first birth, or of ignorance, or of its own iniquity or frailty, but rather be acknowledged by thine own and enjoy the rest of holy blessedness. And when the day of the great judgement comes, may he be raised up among thy saints and elect, and be satisfied for ever with the glory of the open vision of thee. Through.

Another. We commend to thee, O Lord, the soul of our brother N., and we pray that thou, for whose sake in thy goodness thou didst come down to earth, wouldest not refuse to bring it into the bosom of thy patriarchs. Have mercy, who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.