Elizabethan Prayer Book (1559)

Title and Preface

¶ CONFIRMACION,

WHEREIN IS CONTEINED ACATECHISME FOR CHILDREN.

The Order of Confirmation, or laying

on of hands upon children baptised, and able

to render an account of their Faith, according

to the Catechisme following.

TO thende that confirmacion may be ministred to the more edifying of suche, as shal receive it (according unto S. Paules doctrine, who teacheth that al things should he doen in ye Church, to the edification of the same) it is thought good that none hereafter shalbe confyrmed but suche as can saie in their mother tongue the articles of the faith, the Lordes praier, and the x Commaundementes: And can also answere to suche questions of this short Catechisme, as the Bishop (or suche as he shal appoinct) shal by hys discretion appose [=examine] theim in. And this order is most convenient to be observed for divers consideracions.

First, because that when children come to the yeres of discrecion, and have learned what their godfathers and godmothers promised for them in Baptisme, they may then themselves wyth their owne mouthe, and wyth their awne consent, openly before the Churche, ratifie and confyrme the same, and also promise that by the grace of God, they shall evermore endevour themselfes faithfully to observe and kepe suche thynges, as they by theyr owne mouth and confession have assented unto.

Secondly, forasmuche as Confirmacion is ministred to theym that be Baptised, that by imposition of handes and prayer, they may receive strengthe and defence agaynst all temptacions to synne, and the assaultes of the worlde and the Devill: it is most mete to be ministred when children come to that age, that partely by the frailtye of their awne fleshe, partely by the assaultes of the worlde and the Devil, thei begyn to be in daunger to fal into sondry kyndes of synne.

Thirdly, for that it is agreable wyth the usage of the Churche, in times paste, wherby it was ordeined that Confirmacion shoulde he ministred to them that were of perfecte [=proper, appropriate] age, that they, beyng instructed in Christes religion, should openly professe their awne faithe, and promise to be obedient unto the wyl of God.

And that no man shal thyncke that any detryment shall come to children by diferring [deferring] of their Confirmacion; he shal knowe for truth, that it is certeine by Goddes worde, that children beyng baptised, have all thynges necessarie for their salvacion, and be undoubtedly saved.

[The Catechism follows here: see the Catechism page.]

¶ And the Bishoppe shal confirme them on this wise.

CONFIRMATION.

Confirmation, or laying

on of hands.

Versicles

OUR helpe is in the name of the Lorde.

Aunswere. Whiche hath made bothe* heaven and earth.

Minister. Blessed is the name of the Lorde.

Aunswere. Hencefurthe worlde without ende.

Minister. Lorde heare our prayer.†

Aunswere. And let our crie come to the.

¶ Let us pray.

The Prayer for the Sevenfold Spirit

ALMIGHTYE and everlivyng God, whyche hast vouchedsaufe to regenerate these thy servauntes by water and the holy Ghost; and hast geven unto them forgevenes of al theyr synnes: strengthen them we beseche the (O Lorde) with the holy Ghoste the comforter, and daiely encrease in them thy manifolde giftes of grace, the spirite of wisedome and understanding: the spirite of counsail and ghostly strength, the spirite of knowledge and true godlinesse, and fulfyll them (O Lord) with the spirite of thy holy feare. Amen.

The Laying on of Hands

¶ Then the Bishop shal laye hys hande upon every childe severally, saying,

DEFENDE, O Lorde, this childe with thy heavenly grace that he may continue thine for ever, and daiely encrease in thy holy spirite more and more, untill he come unto thy everlastyng kingdome. Amen.

¶ Then shal the Bishop saye,

Let us praie.

ALMIGHTIE everlyvyng God, whiche makest us bothe to will, and to do those thynges that be good, and acceptable unto thy Majestie, we make our humble supplications unto the for these children, upon whome (after the example of thy holy Apostles) we have laied our handes, to certifie theim (by thys signe) of thy favour, and gracious goodnes toward them, let thy fatherly hande we beseche the ever be over them, let thy holy spirite ever be with them, and so leade them in the knowledge and obedience of thy worde that in the ende they may obtaine the everlasting lyfe: through our Lorde Jesus Christe, who with the and the holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God, worlde without ende. Amen.

The Blessing

¶ Then the Bishop shal blesse the children, thus saying.

THE blessing of God almightye, the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy ghoste, be upon you, and remayne with you for ever. Amen.

¶ The Curate of every paryshe, or some other at his appoinctment, shal diligently upon Sondayes and holy dayes, haulfe an houre before Evenyng prayer, openly in the Churche instruct and examyne so many children of his parish sent unto him, as the time wil serve and as he shal thinke convenient, in some part of this Catechisme.

¶ And al fathers, and mothers, maisters, and dames, shal cause theyr children, servaunts, and prentises (whyche have not learned theyr Catechisme) to come to the Churche at the tyme appoyncted, and obediently to heare, and he ordred by the Curate, untyll suche time as they have learned all that is here appoincted for theim to learne. And whensoever the Byshop shall geve knowledge for chyldren to be brought afore him to any convenyent place, for their confirmation: then sheal the Curate of every Paryshe eyther bryng or sende in wrytyng the names of all those children of hys Paryshe, whiche can say the Articles of their fayth, the Lordes prayer, and the x Commaundementes, and also how many of them can answere to thother questions conteined in this Catechisme.

Final Rubrics

¶ And there shall none be admitted to the holy communion; until suche tyme as he can saye the Catechisme and be confirmed.