St. Michael and All Angels

An order for family prayer, primarily to be used in the morning

Together: OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Collect (Prayer) for St. Michael and All Angels Day

O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Psalm to be read together, Psalm 91

WHOSO dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, * shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

    2 I will say unto the LORD, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold; * my God, in him will I trust.

    3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, * and from the noisome pestilence.

    4 He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers; * his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

    5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, * nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

    6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, * nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.

    7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; * but it shall not come nigh thee.

    8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, * and see the reward of the ungodly.

    9 For thou, LORD, art my hope; * thou hast set thine house of defence very high.

    10 There shall no evil happen unto thee, * neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

    11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, * to keep thee in all thy ways.

    12 They shall bear thee in their hands, * that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.

    13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: * the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.

    14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; * I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.

    15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; * yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.

    16 With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.

A reading for St. Barnabas Day, John 1:43-end

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

(taken from the English Standard Version.)

A Prayer of Acknowledgment of God’s Mercy and Preservation, especially through the Night past.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being; We, thy needy creatures, render thee our humble praises, for thy preservation of us from the beginning of our lives to this day, and especially for having delivered us from the dangers of the past night. For these thy mercies, we bless and magnify thy glorious Name; humbly beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; for his sake who lay down in the grave, and rose again for us, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A prayer for the dedication of Soul and Body to God’s Service, with a Resolution to be growing daily in Goodness.

AND since it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives; We here dedicate both our souls and our bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, righteous, and godly life: in which resolution, do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that, as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer for Grace to enable us to perform that Resolution.

BUT, O God, who knowest the weakness and corruption of our nature, and the manifold temptations which we daily meet with; We humbly beseech thee to have compassion on our infirmities, and to give us the constant assistance of thy Holy Spirit; that we may be effectually restrained from sin, and incited to our duty. Imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judgments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to offend thee. And, above all, keep in our minds a lively remembrance of that great day, in which we must give a strict account of our thoughts, words, and actions to him whom thou hast appointed the Judge of quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Grace to guide and keep us the following Day, and for God’s Blessing on the business of the Same.

IN particular, we implore thy grace and protection for the ensuing day. Keep us temperate in all things, and diligent in our several callings. Grant us patience under our afflictions. Give us grace to be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good to all men, according to our abilities and opportunities. Direct us in all our ways. Defend us from all dangers and adversities; and be graciously pleased to take us, and all who are dear to us, under thy fatherly care and protection. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see to be necessary and convenient to us, we humbly beg, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.