Book of Common Prayer · Confirmation (1662) · All versions
Pontifical of Egbert (York): Confirmation (Latin) (MS. 10th century; ascribed to Egbert, archbishop of York 732–766)
English translation by AnglicanGuide from the Latin. Read the Latin edition. Words in [brackets] are supplied or summarise omitted matter.
The oldest English order of episcopal confirmation, in a tenth-century pontifical (Paris, BnF lat. 10575) bearing Egbert's name: the Roman prayer for the sevenfold Spirit, the signing of the forehead with chrism, the binding of the forehead, communion and a solemn blessing. Complete; translated by AnglicanGuide from Greenwell's Latin text.
Source: W. Greenwell (ed.), The Pontifical of Egbert, Archbishop of York, Surtees Society 27 (1853), "Confirmatio hominum", pp. 6–8 (Internet Archive). Public domain (translation © AnglicanGuide).
Confirmatio hominum
The Prayer for the Sevenfold Spirit
Confirmation of persons, to be said by the bishop: how he ought to confirm.
Almighty, everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate this thy servant of water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given him remission of all sins: do thou, O Lord, send into him thy sevenfold Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, from heaven. Amen. Give him the spirit of wisdom and understanding. Amen. The spirit of counsel and might. Amen. The spirit of knowledge and godliness. Amen. Fill him with the spirit of the fear of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of thy favour sign him with the sign of thy holy cross unto life eternal. Through our Lord.
The Signing with Chrism
Here he must put the chrism on the forehead of the person, and say: Receive the sign of the holy cross with the chrism of salvation in Christ Jesus unto life eternal. Amen.
Peace be with thee. And with thy spirit. The peace and blessing of the Lord be always with thee. And with thy spirit.
Afterwards he must recite this prayer: God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit confirm thee, that thou mayest have life eternal, and live for ever and ever. Behold, thus shall every man be blessed that feareth the Lord: the Lord bless thee out of Sion, and mayest thou see the good things that are in Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Peace be with thee unto life eternal. Amen.
The Prayer after the Binding
Now they are to be bound with the band.
O God, who didst give the Holy Spirit to thine apostles, and willedst that through them and their successors he should be given to the rest of the faithful: look favourably on the service of our lowliness, and grant that the Holy Spirit, coming upon the hearts of those, men or women, whose foreheads we have this day anointed and confirmed with the sign of the cross, may by graciously dwelling in them make them a perfect temple of his glory. Through our Lord.
Now they are to communicate of the sacrifice.
The Episcopal Blessing
There follows the episcopal blessing. May almighty God, who created all things out of nothing, grant you in baptism and in confirmation remission of all sins. Amen.
And may he who gave the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire to his disciples shine into your hearts with his light, and kindle them continually in his love. Amen.
That, cleansed from all vices, and defended by his help from all adversities, you may be worthy to be made his temple. Amen.
May he who created you keep you from all evils that threaten, and defend you from all wickedness. Amen.
Which may he himself vouchsafe, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth. Amen. The blessing of God almighty, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you. Amen.