Commontide

Preparation for Personal Prayer

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Commontide
Blessing
Prayers

The Blessing

The Holy Eucharist — the Bishop when present, or the Priest, gives this or an alternate blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Found in the Prayer Book

This prayer appears in more than one place in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer.

  • Holy Eucharist Anglican Standard Text · as “The Blessing”The Holy Eucharist
  • Communion Of The SickMinistry to the Sick & Dying

Provenance

Cranmer, 1549

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

This blessing is first attested in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer and is commonly attributed to Cranmer's circle; built from Philippians 4:7 and the shape of Paul's Trinitarian closing in 2 Corinthians, its text has remained virtually unchanged in Anglican prayer books for nearly five centuries.