Chapter XIV · THE OFFICE WHEN IN EXTREME URGENCY OCCASION ARISETH TO GIVE COMMUNION TO A SICK PERSON.

The priest taketh a particle of the holy mysteries, and placeth it in a chalice, and poureth thereunto a little wine, as much at may be sufficient for the sick person to receive it.

And he beginneth, Blessed be our God, always, now.... Then, Trisagion. After Our Father.... Lord, have mercy, xii. O come, let us worship.... thrice. I believe in one God.... all to the end.

Then he saith,

Of thy mysterious supper, Son of God, me a communicant accept to-day; for I thy mystery to thy foes will not betray, nor give to thee a kiss as Judas did; but, as the thief, I will confess thee: Lord, in thy kingdom O remember me.

Glory.

O heavenly king, O comforter, Spirit of truth who art everywhere and fillest all, treasury of blessings and giver of life; come and abide in us, and cleanse us from all stain, and save our souls, O blessed one.

Both now. Theotokion.

God-bearing Virgin, we have understood the God made flesh from thee, whom do thou pray to save our souls.

Lord, have mercy, xl.

Then this prayer.

Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who alone hast power to forgive sins, as the good and man-loving God, do thou overlook all the iniquities, in knowledge and in ignorance, of thy servant, name, and count him worthy to partake, without condemnation, of thy most pure mysteries, not to torment, nor to the increase of sins, but to the cleansing of soul and body, and as an earnest of thy kingdom; for thou art his assistance, and firm wall, and bulwark against the adversary, and the cleansing of his iniquities. For thou art a merciful and man-loving God, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Second prayer.

Lord, I know that I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof, into the house of my soul; for it is all deserted and in ruins, and thou hast not in me a fitting place where to lay thy head; but since thou wishest to abide with me, trusting in thy compassions, I come unto thee. Bid the doors of mine unworthy lips to open, that I may be satisfied with thee alone; enter into me, and cleanse me from every bodily and spiritual defilement; be thou my helper and defender, and count me worthy to stand at thy right hand, through the prayers and supplications of our most pure Lady, the God-bearing and Ever-virgin Mary, and of all the Saints, who from ages have been acceptable unto thee; for blessed art thou to ages. Amen.

Third prayer.

The Lord God most merciful have compassion upon thee. The Lord Jesus Christ bestow upon thee every good desire. The Lord Almighty deliver thee from every calamity. The Lord teach thee. The Lord give thee understanding. The Lord help thee. The Lord save thee. The Lord protect thee. The Lord keep thee. The Lord cleanse thee. The Lord fill thee with spiritual joy. The Lord be the defender of thy soul and body. The Lord, as the merciful and good lover of mankind, bestow upon thee forgiveness of sins. The Lord God Jesus Christ have mercy upon thee in the day of judgment, and bless thee all the days of thy life. For to him is due all glory, honour, and worship, with his unbeginning Father, and with his most holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

And if the sick person shall have been previously confessed, let him straightway communicate of the holy mysteries. But if not, the priest biddeth them that are there present to retire for a short time, and he interrogateth him concerning offences diverse and of many kinds, being careful that nothing shall be concealed, or unconfessed because of shame. And then, after the confession, the priest saith this prayer.

O Lord our God, who didst forgive sins unto Peter and unto the harlot through their tears, and didst justify the publican who acknowledged his iniquities; do thou accept the confession of thy servant, name, and that wherein he hath sinned against thee, his voluntary and involuntary sins, by word, or deed, or intention, as being good, do thou overlook. For thou alone hast power to forgive sins, for thou art God merciful and compassionate, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

After the communion he saith,

Now dismiss thy servant, O Master.... all to the end. Then, Trisagion. After Our Father.... the troparion of the day.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Through the prayers, O Lord, of all the Saints, and of the God-bearing one, grant us thy peace, and have mercy upon us, as being alone compassionate.

Lord, have mercy, thrice. Bless.

And the dismissal of the day that is.