As a commissioning (rather than “ordination”), a

local priest may be commissioned to preside over the

liturgy with the permission of the Bishop.

Liturgy should include: Priest or Bishop to preside,

assisting priest, readers.

All songs, prayers and readings are suggestive as

expressive of the nature of the rite.

+ ENTRANCE RITE +

Gathering: All in rear of church, in circle

formation.

Candidate [C]: (lights white candle from Paschal

Candle, then making the sign of the cross):

+ I bind unto myself today the strong Name

of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the

Three in One and One in Three.

Opening Song: “Come Holy Spirit Ever

One” (acapella, then with piano).

All process toward sanctuary to “Come Holy Spirit,”

(Priests and one of the readers carry: Lectionary,

Paschal Candle, Incense.)

All remain standing in their pews.

Opening Prayer

Priest [P]: + In the name of the Father, and

of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

P: Eternal Light, shining beyond the heavens,

Radiant Sun, illuming all regions, above,

below, across, within. True Light,

enlightening every being coming into the

world, you dispel the darkness of our hearts,

and enlighten us with the splendor of your

glory: Bless, we pray, our worship, that we

may proclaim your Presence and Power.

All: Amen. All are seated

2

+ LITURGY OF THE WORD +

Meditation: “You are Mine,” David Haas

Shema: Chanted in Hebrew and English.

First Reading: Exodus 3:2-15

The angel of YHWH appeared to Moses in a flame blazing

from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; he saw the bush

blazing, but it was not being burnt up. 3 He said, ‘I must go

across and see this strange sight, and why the bush is not

being burnt up.’ 4 When YHWH saw him going across to

look, God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses,

Moses!’ he said. ‘Here I am,’ he answered. 5 ‘Come no

nearer,’ he said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where

you are standing is holy ground. 6 I am the God of your

ancestors,’ he said, ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac

and the God of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, for he

was afraid to look at God.

7 YHWH then said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my

people in Egypt. I have heard them crying for help on

account of their taskmasters. Yes, I am well aware of their

sufferings. 8 And I have come down to rescue them from the

clutches of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that

country, to a country rich and broad, to a country flowing

with milk and honey, to the home of the Canaanites, the

Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the

Jebusites. 9 Yes indeed, the Israelites’ cry for help has

reached me, and I have also seen the cruel way in which the

Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now I am sending you

to Pharaoh, for you to bring my people the Israelites out of

Egypt.’ 11 Moses said to God, ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh

and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ 12 ‘I shall be with you,’

God said, ‘and this is the sign by which you will know that I

was the one who sent you. After you have led the people out

of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’

13 Moses then said to God, ‘Look, if I go to the Israelites and

say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,”

and they say to me, “What is his name?” what am I to tell

them?’ 14 God said to Moses, ‘I am he who is.’ And he said,

‘This is what you are to say to the Israelites, “I am has sent

me to you.”’ 15 God further said to Moses, ‘You are to tell the

Israelites, “YHWH, the God of your ancestors, the God of

Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent

me to you.” This is my name for all time, and thus I am to be

invoked for all generations to come.

Psalm 139: “You are Near,” Dan Schutte

Second Reading

Colossians 3:1-5; 8-15

1

Since you have been raised up to be with Christ, you must

look for the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at

God’s right hand. 2 Let your thoughts be on things above, not

on the things that are on the earth, 3 because you have died,

and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. 4 But

when Christ is revealed—and he is your life—you, too, will

be revealed with him in glory. 5 That is why you must kill

everything in you that is earthly: sexual vice, impurity,

3

uncontrolled passion, evil desires and especially greed, which

is the same thing as worshipping a false god. 8 But now you

also must give up all these things: human anger, hot temper,

malice, abusive language and dirty talk; 9 and do not lie to

each other.

You have stripped off your old behaviour with your old self,

10 and you have put on a new self which will progress

towards true knowledge the more it is renewed in the image

of its Creator; 11and in that image there is no room for

distinction between Greek and Jew, between the circumcised

and uncircumcised, or between barbarian and Scythian, slave

and free. There is only Christ: he is everything and he is in

everything.

12 As the chosen of God, then, the holy people whom he loves,

you are to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity

and humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one

another; forgive each other if one of you has a complaint

against another. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must

do the same. 14 Over all these clothes, put on love, the perfect

bond. 15 And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts,

because it is for this that you were called together in one

body. Always be thankful.

All stand.

Gospel Acclamation: Glory to you O Lord Jesus Christ,

(Priest incenses the gospel while the Acclamation is

being sung, stands at pulpit during proclamation).

Gospel

Luke 4:14-24

14 Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to

Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the

countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues and everyone

glorified him. 16He came to Nazara, where he had been

brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day

as he usually did. He stood up to read, 17 and they handed

him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he

found the place where it is written:

18 The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to

bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to heal

the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, to give

sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 and to

proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant

and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on

him. 21 Then he began to speak to them, ‘Today this scripture

has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ 22 And he won the

approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious

words that came from his lips. They said, ‘This is Joseph’s

son, surely?’ 23 But he replied, ‘No doubt you will quote me

the saying, “Physician, heal yourself,” and tell me, “We have

heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in

your own country.”’ 24 And he went on, ‘In truth I tell you, no

prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

4

Homily: by Preside Priest (general theme):

Friends, the office of cleric the first step in answering God’s

call to service in the church, the beginning of the alchemy of

priesthood, the mediation of God’s presence through all

levels of being. Those who are called to the order of cleric

offer their bodies for the manifestation of the Christ, just

as Mary offered her body for the birth of Jesus in the

world.

Clerics devote themselves to obedience to God in all aspects

of their everyday lives in an inward surrender which

discloses their true nature and vocation. The period of

service as a cleric is a time of opportunity: a time to step aside

from the plans of the world, and turn our attention to the

plans of God; a time to wage inner battle with the false self,

and offer our time, energy, and whole being to God. It is a

time to remember that our physical bodies are temples of the

Holy Spirit, and that we must care for these temples wisely,

so they may be vessels of service, in purity, harmony, and

beauty and Love.

Silent Pause: All sit in silence for a few minutes

after the homily. Then…

General Intercessions

P: Let us Pray. Holy God, who is Father and

Mother of us all. Help us to see one another

as you see us: without distinction between

race or creed or gender. Awaken us to see

only your Image and Likeness in all whom we

encounter. We pray…

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,

hear our prayer.

P: Lord Jesus, Holy and Incarnate One,

transform us into yourself: Let us see with

your eyes, speak with your lips, listen with

your ears, and love with your heart, so that

we too may incarnate the love of God to all

whom we encounter. We pray…

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,

hear our prayer.

P: Holy and Immortal Spirit, breathe within

us, that we may become your icons in the

world. Consume us in the fire of your love

that all whom we encounter may know that

they are loved without condition.

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,

hear our prayer.

5

P: Holy Triune God, awaken us to your

eternal indwelling, that we might reverence

You in one another and in all Creation. We

pray…

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal,

hear our prayer.

P: O Lord of Love, Life-Giver of the

Universe, under whose Providence the

cosmos has evolved into being: You have

created the sea and sky; have placed the stars

in the heavens, and still You choose to dwell

within our very hearts—closer to us then we

are to ourselves. We pray you then, Lord,

listen to our cries, and give us the courage to

be icons of your love in the world.

All: Amen.

Interlude: “Here I Am, Lord,” Dan Schutte

+ RITE OF COMMISSIONING: ORDER OF CLERIC +

Presider Stands, moves to front of altar, facing

congregation. Candidate, clad in black cassock is

seated in the front row of the congregation with the

lighted candle. Candidate discretely removes shoes

before the commissioning begins.

P: Let he whom the Lord now calls to embark

upon the ancient path to priesthood stand as

your name is called and answer, "Adsum,

Domine." I am here, Lord.

(Candidate’s name is called; s/he stands, walks back

several rows amidst the congregation, turns to face

Altar.)

C: (bowing) + Adsum Domine.

P: As in ancient days, you are now being

summoned in your own way to follow the

Master who taught us to be in the world, but

not of it.

6

Indeed the attire which you wear today, and

the tonsure you are about to receive signify a

death to the world as you put on the mantle of

love—the True Self—which will progress

towards true knowledge the more you are

renewed in the image of your Creator.

You are summoned then, to prefer nothing to

Christ, and to seek him in all things.

May the Holy One empower you to become

another Christ in the world, so that you may

become in the Spirit, what he is from Ages

Eternal: the Presence and Love of God to all.

Do you desire to embark on this path?

C: I do. In the presence of God and all the

Holy Ones, I abandon my whole self to God

who is Love, and entrust the Spirit to grant

all that I need to be faithful.

P: Then come forward on the sacred path

toward priesthood.

(Candidate removes shoes, approaches altar, stands

before Priest and offers up candle, which is handed

to Assistant Priest [A] and placed on altar.)

P: N., in entering the order of Cleric, you set

yourself a great and glorious ideal: to become

an emissary of Christ, an instrument in God’s

plan in the transformation of Creation.

The order of Cleric demands mastery of the

physical, learning to control and rightly

express yourself through your physical body,

so that all whom you encounter will see, not

you, but only Christ living in you.

To do this you must learn self-mastery and

discipline, keeping vigilance over your body

so that all you do will be in the service of

Love. You must endeavor to live for things of

the Spirit, and come to know your true self as

flesh-inspirited. In your gesture, your

manner, and your speech, strive to show forth

the ideal of beauty, never forgetting that our

physical bodies are sacred: Temples of the

Holy Spirit.

7

Likewise, you must strive for order and

cleanliness, practicing the Presence of God in

all that you do, so that every task and

action—no matter how trivial or menial—

must become an act of devotion, through

single-mindedness and by seeking out the

hidden beauty in all things.

(pause)

Therefore, as a priest of Christ’s Church,

commissioned on behalf of N., our bishop, I

ask you: Will you strive to use worthily the

gifts that shall be entrusted to you as you are

admitted into the clerical state?

C: I will.

P: Will you ever strive to increase in the

knowledge of the Light, and to uphold in

thought, word, and deed the Truth that makes

us free?

C: I will.

P: I pray, then, that the Lord of Light keep

you in your knowledge and determination,

beloved son, and strengthen you in the Love

of God.

C: Amen.

P: Amen! (addressing congregation): Let us ask

God to bestow upon N. the Holy Spirit, in

ever greater fullness. May the Spirit keep

her/him in constant remembrance of God, and

give her/him perfect guidance in his service

within the world.

(Candidate kneels before Priest. Priest extends

both hands over Candidate, flanked by Assistant

who holds ritual book)

P: O Christ, our indwelling Lord, You Who

are One with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

You Who are ever ready to receive and

strengthen the earnest aspirations of Your

people, look down in Your love upon this,

Your servant N., who desires to become

8

worthy to serve You as a Cleric in Your holy

sanctuary.

P: Sanctify + her/him, O Lord, In the power

of your Spirit, that growing continually in

Your Light, s/he may rightly practice the

duties of his office and so be found acceptable

in Your sight, O great King of Love and

Wisdom, to Whom be glory for ever and ever.

C: Amen.

P: As the Spirit breathed upon the waters of

creation, so I stir within your soul the

movement of the Holy Spirit, that you too

may become a new creation in Christ.

(Priest breathes upon Candidate in form a Cross.)

P: The blessing of almighty God, Father +,

the Son +, and the Holy Spirit +, descend

upon you, and abide always with you that you

may rightly fulfill that which today you are

undertaking.

C: Amen.

Instrumental Music begins quietly and lasts

throughout anointing.

Tonsuring

P: As you cross the threshold into the order of

cleric, receive the tonsure—giving your whole

self unto God, beginning now with your

physical body.

Priest makes five small clips of Candidate’s hair, in

the shape of a cross, with the central point at the

crown of the head. While the tonsure is given,

candidate may pray silently. Priest then prays

aloud:

Holy Triune God, stir in N. an ever-greater

awareness of your indwelling Presence. In

the silence of your eternal Love awaken him

to know you as unknowable, and guide him in

the way of love and oneness with You.

(Priest places both hands on Candidates head,

Assisting priest holds book.)

9

In the Name of our Lord and High Priest,

Jesus Christ, I admit you to the Order of

Cleric.

(Assistant helps Candidate to rise).

Vesting

P: May you be clothed in heartfelt

compassion, in generosity and humility,

gentleness and patience. For with this vesture

I admonish you to seek evermore to be

renewed in the image of the Creator, so that

this white garment may truly reflect the inner

purity of your spirit.

(candidate faces community and is vested in

surplice).

Anointing

(Priest kneels before candidate and anoints each foot

with chrism in the sign of the cross.)

P: Blessed are the feet of those who walk in

the gospel of peace. As you begin this sacred

path, may your feet be anointed, that in the

walking thereof you will remain steadfast in

Christ, who is your Way, your Truth and

your Life.

C: Amen.

(Priest rises).

Completion

P: N, you have received both the holy

charisms and sacred responsibilities of the

office of cleric. May your whole body radiate

the gospel of peace and love to all whom you

encounter. As the burning bush on Sinai

illumined the path and calling of Moses, take

care always to help others discover their own

path to God, even as encountering them, you

continue to discern your own path. May God

give you strength, endurance, but most of all

a deep and abiding joy on the journey you

10

have begun. We ask this in the name of our

Lord, Jesus Christ.

C: Amen.

P: As your first act of service as Cleric we call

upon you to lead us in our closing prayer, so

dear to the Celtic Christian tradition.

(Priest ceremoniously passes ritual book to the new

Cleric, s/he turns to Assembly and explains the

prayer. Then leads the Assembly in the Prayer of

St. Pádraig)

Prayer of St. Pádraig's Breastplate:

C: I bind unto myself today the strong Name

of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the

Three in One and One in Three.

ALL: I bind this day to me for ever, by power

of faith, Christ's incarnation; His baptism in

the Jordan River; His death on cross for my

salvation; His bursting from the spiced tomb;

His riding up the heavenly way; His coming

on the day of doom; I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today, the great love of the

Cherubim; the sweet "Well done" in judgment

hour; the service of the Seraphim, Confessor’s

faith, Apostle’s word, the Patriarch’s prayers,

the Prophet’s scrolls; all good deeds unto the

Lord, and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today the virtues of the

starlit heaven, the glorious sun's life-giving

ray, the whiteness of the moon at even, the

flashing of the lightning free, the whirling

wind's tempestuous shocks, the stable earth,

the deep salt sea, around the old eternal

rocks.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to

hold and lead, his eye to watch, his might to

stay, his ear to hearken to my need. The

wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to

guide, his shield to ward; the Word of God to

give me speech, his heavenly host to be my

guard.

Against the demon snares of sin, the vice that

gives temptation force, the natural lusts that

11

war within, the hostile ones that mar my

course; or few or many, far or nigh, in every

place, and in all hours, against their fierce

hostility, I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles, against

false words of heresy, against the knowledge

that defiles, against the heart's idolatry,

against the wizard's evil craft, against the

death wound and the burning, the choking

wave and poisoned shaft, protect me Christ,

till your returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ

behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside

me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and

restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above

me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in

hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of

friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name, the strong

Name of the Trinity; by invocation of the

same: The Three in One and One in Three, of

whom all nature has creation: Eternal Father,

Spirit, Word, praise to the Lord of my

salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Amen.

C: With confidence then, in God’s presence

within, among and around us, let us reverence

that Divine Presence in each other, by

offering one another a kiss of peace.

Music begins

(All share a kiss of peace, celebrants join and greet

congregation).

12

LIST OF ITEMS NEEDED:

 holy oil for feet anointing

 large white candle to Candidate

procession and presentation

 bowl with sand or candle holder on

alter for candidate to place lit

candle once they are “summoned”

 lighter or matches (in rear of

church to light candle before

procession)

 scissors for tonsure

 cassock (black) to be worn by

candidate from the start of the

liturgy

 surplice to be donned at

appropriate time during liturgy

 alb/stole for Priest(s) and Assistant

 large paschal candle to be lit from

the start of the ceremony

 incense for procession

 charcoal

 incenser

 cushion for Candidate to kneel upon

 entire copies of the full ritual for all

liturgical ministers and musicians

 Sheet music of all songs

(copyrighted)

 A bound copy of the full ritual that

will serve as the primary ritual book

 video camera to record ceremony

On the following Page is a program for the

Assembly that can be printed and used in

conjunction with this liturgy. To do so:

1. Add names of participants where it is

called for;

2. “Cut and Copy” contents into a clean

Word document, with pages oriented in

“Landscape” (sideways) direction.

3. Organize pages in “booklet” format,

back to front (be sure pages do not show

visible page numbers);

4. Print.

13

The Commissioning of

N. N.

to the Order of Cleric

in the Celtic Christian Church

Date

Time

Location

City, State

14

+ ENTRANCE RITE +

Prelude: Instrumental

Gathering: Please gather in rear of the nave, in circle formation.

Welcome: by Presider

Lighting of the Candle, Invocation

Processional: “Come Holy Spirit Ever One,” sung by Cantor.

Come, Holy Spirit, ever One

With God the Father and the Son:

Come swiftly, Font of grace, and pour

Into our hearts your boundless store.

With all our hearts your praises sing

Under the shadow of your wings:

Awaken us to hear your Word

In stillness that you might be heard.

With all our strength, with heart and tongue,

By word and deed your will be done:

Let love light up our mortal frame

Till others catch the living flame.

O Father, this we ask be done

Through Jesus Christ, your only Son,

Who, with the Spirit, reigns above;

Three Persons in one God of love. Amen.

All process into pews. Please remain standing..

15

Opening Prayer

Priest: Eternal Light, shining beyond the heavens, Radiant Sun,

illuming all regions, above, below, across, within. True Light,

enlightening every being coming into the world, you dispel the

darkness of our hearts, and enlighten us with the splendor of your

glory: Bless, we pray, our worship, that we may proclaim your

Presence and Power.

All: Amen.

Please be seated.

+ LITURGY OF THE WORD +

Meditation

In silence, may we seek inner stillness so that we may prepare ourselves to

receive the Word of God and to enter more fully the Divine Presence. We

allow ourselves to be still in body, mind and spirit, letting go of thoughts,

desires and concerns. In this way, we cultivate hearts that are open to the

Divine Mystery and the fullness of the present moment.

“You are Mine,” David Haas

I will come to you in the silence,

I will lift you from all your fear.

You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice

Be still and know I am here.

I am hope for all who are hopeless

I am eyes for all who long to see.

In the shadows of the night

I will be your light,

Come and rest in me.

Refrain:

Do not be afraid, I am with you.

I have called you each by name.

Come and follow me, and I will bring you home,

I love you and you are mine.

I am strength for all the despairing,

Healing for the ones who dwell in shame.

All the blind will see, the lame will all run free

And all will know my name. (Refrain.)

I am the Word that leads to all freedom,

I am the peace the world cannot give.

I will call your name, embracing all your pain,

Stand up, now walk, and live! (Refrain.)

The Shema : chanted by N.

First Reading: Exodus 3:2-15, name of reader

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 139: “You are Near,” Dan Schutte

Refrain:

Yahweh I know you are near, standing always at my side.

You guard me from the foe, and you lead me in ways everlasting.

Lord, you have search my heart,

16

and you know when I sit and when I stand.

Your hand is upon me protecting me from death,

leading me from harm. (Refrain).

Where can I run from your love?

If I climb to the heavens you are there;

if I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea,

still I’d find you there. (Refrain).

You know my heart and its ways,

You who formed me before I was born.

In the secret of darkness before I saw the sun

In my mother’s womb. (Refrain).

Marvelous to me are you works;

How profound are your thoughts, my Lord.

Even if I could count them, they number as the stars,

You would still be there. (Refrain).

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5; 8-15, Name of reader

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Please rise.

Gospel Acclamation

“

Praise to You, O Christ Our Savior,” Bernadette Farrell

Refrain: Praise to you, O Christ our savior Word of the Father,

calling us to life; Son of God who leads us to freedom: glory to

you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Proclamation of the Gospel

Priest: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

All: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Luke 4:14-24, by Name of priest

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Please be seated.

Homily: Name of homilist

Please rise.

Intercessions, Presented by N.

Priest: Let us Pray. Holy God, who is Father and Mother of us all.

Help us to see one another as you see us: without distinction

between race or creed or gender. Awaken us to see only your Image

and Likeness in all whom we encounter. We pray…

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, hear our prayer.

Priest: Lord Jesus, Holy and Incarnate One, transform us into

yourself: Let us see with your eyes, speak with your lips, listen with

your ears, and love with your heart, so that we too may incarnate the

love of God to all whom we encounter. We pray…

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, hear our prayer.

Priest: Holy and Immortal Spirit, breathe within us, that we may

become your icons in the world. Consume us in the fire of your love

that all whom we encounter may know that they are loved without

condition.

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, hear our prayer.

17

Priest: Holy Triune God, awaken us to your eternal indwelling,

that we might reverence You in one another and in all Creation. We

pray…

All: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, hear our prayer.

Priest: O Lord of Love, Life-Giver of the Universe, under whose

Providence the cosmos has evolved into being: You have created the

sea and sky; have placed the stars in the heavens, and still You choose

to dwell within our very hearts—closer to us then we are to ourselves.

We pray you then, Lord, listen to our cries, and give us the courage

to be icons of your love in the world.

All: Amen.

Please be seated.

Interlude

“Here I Am, Lord,” Dan Schutte

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people’s cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain:

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord. If you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.

I have wept for love of them. They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my Word to them. Whom shall I send? (Refrain).

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them, My hand will save.

Finest wheat I will provide, till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? (Refrain).

+ RITE OF COMMISSIONING: ORDER OF CLERIC +

The Calling of the Candidate

The Candidate is called forth from the community and removes his shoes as

he embark on the Sacred path toward priesthood.

The Consent of the Candidate

The Candidate gives full consent to this calling before the witnessing

community.

The Tonsuring

As in keeping with ancient custom, the Candidate’s hair is cut, now in the

shape of the Cross as a physical sign of giving himself over to God in a new

and more radical way.

The Vesting

The Candidate is vested in a white garment called a ‘surplice,’ as both

a reminder of his baptism and as a first vestment of the clerical state.

The Anointing

The feet of the Candidate are anointed with sacred chrism as a sign

of blessing on the sacred path he has now begun to walk.

18

Prayer in the Spirit of St. Pádraig’s Breastplate

Cleric:

I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity,

by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three.

ALL:

I bind this day to me for ever, by power of faith, Christ's incarnation;

His baptism in the Jordan River; His death on cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spiced tomb; His riding up the heavenly way;

His coming on the day of doom; I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today, the great love of the Cherubim;

the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour; the service of the Seraphim,

Confessor’s faith, Apostle’s word, the Patriarch’s prayers,

the Prophet’s scrolls; all good deeds unto the Lord, and purity of

virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today the virtues of the starlit heaven, the glorious

sun's life-giving ray, the whiteness of the moon at even, the flashing of

the lightning free, the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks, the stable

earth, the deep salt sea, around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,

his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to

ward; the Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be

my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin, the vice that gives temptation force,

the natural lusts that war within, the hostile ones that mar my course;

or few or many, far or nigh, in every place, and in all hours,

against their fierce hostility, I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles, against false words of heresy,

against the knowledge that defiles, against the heart's idolatry,

against the wizard's evil craft, against the death wound and the

burning, the choking wave and poisoned shaft, protect me Christ,

till your returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ

before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort

and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet,

Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth

of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name, the strong Name of the Trinity;

by invocation of the same: The Three in One and One in Three,

of whom all nature has creation: Eternal Father, Spirit, Word,

praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Amen.

The Kiss of Peace

All Are invited to share a kiss or embrace of peace.

~ You are cordially invited ~

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