Leofric Missal: Canon of the Mass (Anglo-Saxon) (10th century)

The Sursum Corda, Preface and Sanctus

¶ The Canon of the Mass.

World without end. R. Amen.

V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up unto the Lord.

V. Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God. R. It is meet and right.

It is very meet and right, just and availing unto salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord: through whom the Angels praise thy majesty, the Dominions adore, the Powers tremble; the heavens and the heavenly Hosts and the blessed Seraphim celebrate it together with united exultation. With whom we pray thee bid our voices also be admitted, saying with lowly confession:

Holy, holy, holy.

The Canon

Therefore, most merciful Father, we humbly pray and beseech thee, through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, that thou wouldest accept and bless + these gifts, + these offerings, + these holy and unblemished sacrifices; which we offer unto thee, first, for thy holy catholic Church, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to give it peace, to keep, unite and govern it throughout the whole world; together with thy most blessed servant N., and N. our bishop, and all the orthodox who hold the catholic and apostolic faith.

Remember, O Lord, thy servants and handmaids, N. and N., and all here standing round, whose faith is known and devotion noted unto thee; for whom we offer, or who offer unto thee, this sacrifice of praise for themselves and all theirs, for the redemption of their souls, for the hope of their salvation and safety, and pay their vows unto thee, the eternal God, living and true.

In communion with, and venerating the memory, first, of the glorious ever-virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ; and also of thy blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter, Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Laurence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all thy Saints: by whose merits and prayers grant that in all things we may be defended by the help of thy protection; through Christ our Lord.

This oblation therefore of our service, and of all thy household, we beseech thee, O Lord, graciously to accept; and to order our days in thy peace, and bid us be delivered from eternal damnation and numbered in the flock of thine elect; through Christ our Lord.

Which oblation do thou, O God, we beseech thee, vouchsafe to make in all things blessed +, approved +, ratified +, reasonable and acceptable; that it may become for us the Body + and Blood + of thy most dearly beloved Son, our Lord God Jesus Christ.

Who the day before he suffered took bread into his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes lifted up to heaven unto thee, God, his almighty Father, giving thanks to thee, he bles+sed, brake, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat ye all of this: for this is my Body.

Likewise after supper, taking also this excellent cup into his holy and venerable hands, again giving thanks to thee, he blessed it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and drink ye all of it: for this is the cup of my Blood, of the new and everlasting testament, the mystery of faith, which shall be shed for you and for many for the remission of sins. As often as ye shall do these things, ye shall do them in remembrance of me.

Wherefore, O Lord, we thy servants, and thy holy people also, mindful of the blessed passion of the same Christ thy Son our Lord God, and of his resurrection from the dead, and of his glorious ascension into heaven, offer unto thine excellent majesty, of thine own gifts and bounty, a pure + victim, a holy + victim, a spotless + victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Cup of everlasting salvation.

Upon which vouchsafe to look with a favourable and gracious countenance, and to accept them, as thou didst vouchsafe to accept the gifts of thy righteous servant Abel, and the sacrifice of our patriarch Abraham, and that which thy high priest Melchisedech offered unto thee, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.

We humbly beseech thee, almighty God, command these to be carried by the hands of thy holy Angel to thine altar on high, in the sight of thy divine majesty; that as many of us as shall receive the most sacred Body and Blood of thy Son by this partaking of the altar may be filled with all heavenly blessing and grace; through the same Christ.

Remember also, O Lord, thy servants and handmaids, N. and N., who have gone before us with the sign of faith, and sleep in the sleep of peace. To them, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech thee, a place of refreshment, light and peace; through the same Christ.

To us sinners also, thy servants, who hope in the multitude of thy mercies, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with thy holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and with all thy Saints; into whose company admit us, we beseech thee, not weighing our merit but granting pardon; through Christ.

Through whom, O Lord, thou dost ever create, sanctify +, quicken +, bless +, and bestow upon us all these good things. Through him, and with him, and in him, be unto thee, God the Father almighty, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory, world without end. R. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer, the Peace and the Agnus Dei

Let us pray. Admonished by saving precepts, and formed by divine instruction, we are bold to say: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present and to come; and at the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever-virgin Mary, Mother of God, and of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and Andrew, and all the Saints, graciously give peace in our days; that, aided by the help of thy mercy, we may be ever free from sin and safe from all disquiet; through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. R. Amen.

V. The peace of the Lord be always with you. R. And with thy spirit.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.