HOLY COMMUNION
from the Reserved Sacrament

     When the Eucharist is brought to you from the church you are in communion with Jesus Christ and with your fellow-Christians, just as if you were at the service in church. When we obey Christ's command to 'do this', Christ's perfect sacrifice made for the sins of the world is made present on the altar. Some of the sacrament is kept in church after the service and taken round the parish, so even at home or in hospital you are worshipping at the same altar with the other communicants, sharing the same sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood. You are still a member of the congregation.
     The Eucharist which you receive is food for your earthly pilgrimage, given to preserve your body and soul to everlasting life. It is reserved in one kind only, the consecrated bread, but it is still the complete sacrament of the Body and Blood.

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Preparation
     Prepare carefully to receive the sacrament but do not be discouraged if you cannot manage long prayers.
     Jesus said, 'Do this in remembrance of me' - so you are obeying the Lord's command.
     Before the priest gives you communion he will pronounce God's forgiveness of your sins. So some time before the service you should examine your conscience and tell God what wrong things you have done and what you have failed to do, so the words of the Confession and Absolution will really apply to you. If you are not sure that God has forgiven you, or if you are too easily sure, ask the priest for advice.
     Try to be quiet for some time before communion, avoiding distraction and chatter.
     If you feel well enough read the Collect, Epistle and Gospel for the day from your Prayer Book, and perhaps also the psalms appointed for the day.
     Pray for sick and suffering people, for your fellow-communicants in other places, and for those who have died.

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A Prayer of Preparation
     I believe, O Lord, and I confess, that thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am first. Again I believe that this verily is thy pure Body, and that this verily is thy precious Blood. Therefore I pray to thee: Have mercy upon me, and pardon my trespasses, wittingly or unwittingly committed, in word, in deed, in knowledge, or in ignorance; and make me worthy to partake uncondemned of thy pure Mysteries, unto remission of sins and unto life eternal. Amen.
     Of thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, today admit me a partaker: for I will not tell the Mystery to thine enemies, nor give thee a kiss like Judas, but like the thief I will confess thee: Remember me, O Lord, when thou comest in thy kingdom.
     Not unto judgement nor unto condemnation be the partaking of thy Holy Mysteries to me, O Lord, but unto the healing of my soul and body.

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ORDER OF HOLY COMMUNION

     In the Na+me of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
               The Lord be with you.
               And with thy spirit.
               Let us pray.

Collect for Purity
     Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no 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. Amen.

             (The priest may read the Collect for the day.)

The Confession
     Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, against thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.

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We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us, the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy blame; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Absolution
     Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him: have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Comfortable Words
     Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn unto him.
     Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
     So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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     Hear also what St Paul saith.
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
     Hear also what St John saith.
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Fatber, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.

               Lift up your hearts.
               We lift them up unto the Lord.
               Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
               It is meet and right so to do.
     It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God.
               (A proper preface may be inserted here.)
     Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evernore praising thee, and saying:
     Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Amen.

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Prayer of Humble Access
     We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

     Behold the Lamb of God; behold him that taketh away the sins of the world.
     Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed.

Lord's Prayer
     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 trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Blessing
     The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the bless+ing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

After Communion
     Be quiet for a little and thank God, and thank him again in your evening prayers.
     Let thy sacred Body, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, preserve me unto everlasting life, and thy precious Blood be given unto me for remission of sins; let this gift of grace be my source of joy, health, and gladness; and in thy dread second coming count me worthy, though a sinner, to stand on the right hand of thy glory: by the prayers of thy most pure Mother and of all thy saints. Amen.

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