The following traditional prayers for priests are gathered here for the benefit of those preparing for ordination.  They were edited by Archdeacon Michael Averyt.

Vesting Prayers

At the washing of hands:

Give virtue to my hands, O Lord, that every stain may be removed; so that I may be enabled to serve thee without defilement of mind or body.

As the amice is placed over the head:

Place, O Lord, the helmet of salvation upon my head, that all the assaults of the devil may be overcome.

While putting on the alb:

Cleanse me, O Lord, and purify my heart: that being made white in the blood of the Lamb I may have the fruition of everlasting joys.

While putting on the girdle:

Gird me about with the girdle of purity, O Lord, and extinguish in my loins the desire of lust: so that the virtue of continency and chastity may ever abide within me.

While placing the maniple upon the left arm:

Enable me, O Lord, so to wear this maniple of tears and sorrow, that I may with joy receive the reward of my labour.

As the stole is placed upon the neck:

Restore to me, O Lord, the robe of immortality lost by the transgression of my first parents: and although I am not worthy to approach thy holy mysteries, yet grant me to obtain life everlasting.

On putting on the chasuble:

O Lord, who saidst: my yoke is easy and my burden light: make me so to bear it that I may attain unto thy grace.

As the Deacon puts on the dalmatic:

Clothe me, O Lord, with the garment of salvation and the vestment of gladness, and ever surround me with the dalmatic of righteousness.

As the Sub-Deacon putts on the tunicle:

May the Lord clothe me with the tunic of joy and the garment of gladness.

In the Vestry

A Form of Preparation which may be said by the Priest and Server Before the Celebration of Holy Communion

X In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

I will go unto the Altar of God.

Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people: O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.

For Thou art the God of my strength, why hast Thou put me from thee? And why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

O send out Thy light and Thy truth, that they may lead me and bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy dwelling.

And that I may go unto the Altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness, and upon the harp will I give thanks unto Thee, O God, my God.

Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? And why art thou so disquieted within me?

O put thy trust in God, for I will yet give Him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

I will go unto the Altar of God.

Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

Our help X is in the Name of the Lord;

Who hath made heaven and earth.

I confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, before the whole company of heaven, and you, my brother, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God to have mercy upon me and forgive me my sins, and you, brother, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May Almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life.

Amen.

I confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, before the whole company of heaven, and you, my father, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God to have mercy upon me and forgive me my sins, and you, father, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May Almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life.

Amen.

The Almighty and most merciful Lord grant us pardon, X absolution, and remission of all our sins.

Amen.

Wilt Thou not turn again and quicken us, O Lord?

That Thy people may rejoice in Thee.

O Lord, shew Thy mercy upon us.

And grant us Thy salvation.

Lord, hear our prayer.

And let our cry come unto Thee.

The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray: Put away from us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, our iniquities: that we may be accounted worthy to enter with pure hearts and minds into the Holy of holies; through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

An alternate form of the Confiteor:

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my own most grievous fault. Therefore I beg blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Other Vestry Prayers

Cleanse us, O Lord, and keep us undefiled, that we may be numbered among those blessed ones, who, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, shall stand before thy throne, and serve thee day and night in thy holy temple; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sanctify, O Lord, our hearts and minds, and inspire our praise; and give us grace to glorify thee alike in our worship and in our work; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

O Lord our God, we humbly beseech thee to purify our hearts from all vain and sinful thoughts, and so to prepare us to worship thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Heavenly Father, who hast called us to thy service in the ministry of praise: Grant us grace to serve thee faithfully, that both in our hearts and with our lips we may magnify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Cleanse our consciences, we beseech thee, O Lord, by thy visitation; that with pure hearts and minds we may worship thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Lord, open thou our lips, and purify our hearts, that we may worthily praise and magnify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God, who hast given us minds to know thee, hearts to love thee, and voices to show forth they praise: Help us to worship thee with understanding, with reverence, and with joy: for the glory of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Most gracious God, incline thy merciful ears to our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of thy Holy Spirit; that we may worthily approach thy holy mysteries, and love thee with an everlasting love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Before the Gospel

Cleanse my heart and my lips, O thou Almighty God, who didst purge the lips of the prophet Isaiah with a live coal; and do thou vouchsafe, of thy gracious mercy, so to purify me, that I may worthily declare thy holy Gospel; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Cleanse my heart and my lips, O Almighty God, as thou didst cleanse the lips of the Prophet Isaiah with a burning coal, that I may be able worthily to proclaim thy holy Gospel; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bid, Lord, a blessing. The Lord be in my heart, and on my lips, that I may worthily and fitly proclaim his Gospel. Amen.

^* Others read: rightly

At the Offertory

At the offering of the host:

Receive, Holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, this spotless host, which I, thin unworthy servant, offer unto thee, my God, the living and the true, for my innumerable sins, offences and negligences, for all here present, and for all faithful Christians, both quick and dead: that it may be profitable both to me and to them for salvation unto everlasting life. Amen.

or

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all Creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the Bread of Life.

At the offering of the chalice:

We offer unto thee, O Lord, the cup of salvation, humbly beseeching thy mercy, that in the sight of thy divine Majesty it may ascend as a sweet-smelling savour for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen.

or

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all Creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our Spiritual Drink.

At the Mingling of the Chalice:

O God, who X didst wonderfully create, and yet more wonderfully renew the dignity of human nature; Grant that, by the mystery of this water and wine we may be made partakers of his Divinity who vouchsafed to share our humanity, Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

or

By the mystery of this water X and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

At the Washing of Hands:

I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord, and so will I go to thine altar;

That I may show the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Lord, I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

O take not away my soul with the sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty;’

In whose hands is wickedness, and their right hand is full of bribes.

But as for me, I will walk innocently; O deliver me, and be merciful unto me.

My foot standeth right: I will praise the Lord in the congregations.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

or

Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.

After the bread and chalice have been prepared:

Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, these thy gifts, and sanctify them unto this holy use, that by them we may be fed unto everlasting life of soul and body; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

or

In the spirit of humility, and with a contrite heart, may we be accepted by thee, O Lord; and so let our sacrifice be offered in thy sight this day, that it may be well pleasing unto thee, O Lord God.

Come, O thou the Sanctifier, almighty, everlasting God and bl X ess this sacrifice prepared for thy holy Name.

Receive, O Holy Trinity, this Oblation, which we offer unto thee, in memory of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; and in memory of the Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, of Blessed John the Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all thy Saints: that it may avail them to their honour, and us to our salvation. And may they, whose memory we celebrate on earth, vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the Conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer

Deliver us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present, and to come, and to come, and forasmuch as there is interceding for us thy dearly beloved Son, favourably grant peace in our days, that by the help of thine availing mercy we may ever both be free from sin and safe from all distress; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with the thee and the Holy Spirit, God, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

or

Deliver us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all evils past, present, and to come: and inasmuch as there is interceding for us the blessed, glorious and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, together with thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, Andrew and all thy Saints, favorably grant peace in our time, that we being holpen by thy mercy may ever be kept free from sin, and safe from all disquietude; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

At the Pax:

May this commixture and the consecration of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be for everlasting life unto us who partake thereof. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say unto thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Regard not our sins, but the faith of thy Church, and grant unto it that peace and unity which is agreeable to thy will; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

At the Communion

Before receiving the Host:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who according to the will of the Father, and by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, has by the death given life unto the world: Deliver me, by this thy most holy Body and Blood, from all mine iniquities, and from every evil; and make me ever to cleave unto thy commandments; and suffer me never to be separated from thee, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

O Lord Jesu Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father, and the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, hast through thy death given life unto the world: deliver me by this thy most sacred Body and Blood for all mine iniquities, and from every evil: and make me ever to cleave unto thy commandments, and suffer me never to be separated from thee: who with the same God the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

Let not the partaking of thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, do presume to receive, turn to me for judgement and condemnation; but according to thy loving kindness let it be profitable to me for the receiving of protection and healing, both of body and soul, who with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.

Let the partaking of thy Body, O Lord Jesu Christ, which I, unworthy, presume to receive, turn not to my judgment and condemnation: but of thy goodness let it avail unto me for protection of soul and body, that I may receive thy healing: who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

I will receive the bread of heaven, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my soul shall be healed.

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life.

Before receiving the Chalice:

What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised; so shall I be safe from mine enemies.

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life.

At the Ablutions

Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken outwardly with our lips, we may with a pure heart inwardly receive, and from a temporal gift may it become to us an everlasting remedy.

Grant, O Lord, that what we have received with our lips, we may keep with a pure heart, so that by the gift vouchsafed in this present life, there may be given unto us life everlasting.

May thy Body, O Lord, which I have eaten, and thy Blood which I have drunk, cleave to my being: and grant that no stain of sin may remain in me whom thou hast refreshed with pure and holy sacraments; who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Let the Body, O Lord, which I have taken, and thy Blood which I have drunk, cleave unto my soul; and grant that no spot of sin may remain in me, whom this pure and holy Sacrament hath refreshed, who livest and reignest, world without end.

Before the Benediction

Let this my bounden duty and service be pleasing unto thee, O holy Trinity; and grant that this sacrifice, which I, though unworthy, have offered up before thy divine Majesty, may be acceptable unto thee, and may through thy mercy obtain thy gracious favour for myself, and for all for whom I have offered it. Amen.

After the Service

O Lord, who in this wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

O God, of whom and through whom and unto whom are all things: Let our participation in these holy mysteries be unto us both a foretaste of that heavenly city which thou hast prepared for us, and also a quickening of our zeal to walk worthy of our vocation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, that the words we have said and sung with our lips we may believe in our hearts and show forth in our lives, to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Accept, O Lord, the praise we bring to thee; pardon the imperfections of our worship; write upon our hearts thy holy Word; and give us grace to love and serve and praise thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sanctify, O Lord, both our coming in and our going out; and grant that when we leave thy house we may not leave thy presence, but may abide evermore in thy love; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

O Thou who art the high and holy one that inhabitest eternity, yet dwellest with the humble in heart: Be pleased to accept the worship which we have now offered in thy house, and prepare us for the service of thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heavenly Father, be pleased to accept and bless all that we have offered to thee in this act of worship; and give us grace to show forth thy praise not only with our lips, but in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Accept, O Lord, these our prayers and praises, to the glory of thy great name and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.