Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

to the liturgy under this name in 1 Cor. xiv, 16, where he says:-" When thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks (i.e. at thy eucharist, ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ εὐχαριστία), seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?" The reason of its adoption is given in the following extract from the Homilies :-" We must shew outward testimony, in following the signification of Christ's death; amongst the which this is not esteemed least, to render thanks to Almighty God for all His benefits, briefly comprised in the death, passion, and resurrection of His dearly beloved Son. The which thing, because we ought chiefly at this table to solemnize, the godly fathers named it eucharistia, that is, thanksgiving: as if they should have said, now above all other times ye ought to laud and praise God. Now if you slack, ye shew yourselves most unthankful, and that no other benefit can ever stir you to thank God, who so little regard here so many, so wonderful, and so profitable benefits."

THE CELEBRANT.

The Eucharist being of a truly sacrificial character, none may presume to celebrate it who is not in sacerdotal orders. A deacon is allowed only "to assist the priest when he ministereth the Holy Communion, and to help him in the distribution thereof".'

WHEN THE EUCHARIST SHOULD BE
CELEBRATED.

Our Church, in that she directs the Communion Service to be said every day throughout the year,2 contemplates the daily celebration of the Lord's Supper, being, as it is, the daily sacrifice, as well as our daily bread. It must not take place, however, unless there be three at least to communicate with the priest, that, as we learn in King Edward VI's First Book, he may thus "solemnize so high and holy mysteries, with all the suffrages

1 See Communion and Ordination Services.

2 "The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed for the Sunday, shall serve all the week after, where it is not in this Book otherwise ordered."-The order how the rest of the Holy Scripture is appointed to be read.

and due order appointed for the same, agreeable to the institution thereof, and to the usage of the primitive Church." By the Rubric and Canons, every lay person, who has been confirmed, and is otherwise sufficiently prepared, is bound to receive the Holy Communion three times in the year, whereof the feast of Easter to be one. But who that really feels his need of a Saviour, will not embrace every opportunity of meeting Him at His table?

The usual hour for the celebration of the Eucharist was anciently, and should be now, nine o'clock in the morning. This is the canonical hour, thence probably called the holy hour. One reason which is given for it is, because at this hour our Saviour's passion began. Another reason is, that at this hour the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles. Lastly, because it is the most convenient hour for all to meet, and finish the service before noon, that, inasmuch as men ought to communicate fasting, they might then be free to eat.

TWHO MAY NOT COMMUNICATE.

I. "There shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed."1

II. "No minister shall in any wise admit to the receiving of the Holy Communion, any of his cure or flock, which be openly known to live in sin notorious, without repentance; nor any who have maliciously and openly contended with their neighbours, until they shall be reconciled"; nor any churchwardens or sidesmen who may willingly neglect or refuse to present such public offences to their ordinaries, with a view to their reformation.-Canon xxvi.

III. No minister, when he celebrates the Communion, shall wittingly administer the same to any but to such as kneel; nor to any that refuse to be present at public prayers; nor to any that are common and notorious depravers of the Book of Common Prayer; nor to any that speak against the King's sovereign authority in causes eccle

1 Rubric at the end of the Order of Confirmation.

siastical, except every such person shall first acknowledge to the minister, before the churchwardens, his repentance for the same, and promise that he will do so no more.-Canon xxvii.

IV. Strangers are to be forbidden, and sent home to their own parish churches and ministers, there to receive the Communion with the rest of their own neighbours.1Canon xxviii.

1 "Let no one inhuman, no one rough and unmerciful, least of all any one unclean, approach here. This I say not only to you, who seek to receive the Communion, but also to you, whose ministry it is to give it. For there is need to say the same thing to you also, in order that ye may use great care and diligent examination, before distributing these gifts. No slight torment is that which awaits you, if ye knowingly admit any one, who is still held in his iniquities, to approach to the communion of this table; for His blood shall be required at your hands. Though any ruler, though the prince himself seek to approach unworthily, forbid him; admit him not: thy power here is greater than his. If thou hadst been set to guard some clean spring of water for the flock, and sawest that swine covered with stinking mud were running into that clean water, doubtless thou wouldst not suffer them with their mud to defile it. Here, then, where it is not a spring of water, but of Blood, and of the Holy Ghost, that is given to thy keeping, if thou seest any one defiled with sin, more putrid than mud, approach without penitence, art thou not troubled? Dost thou not forbid him? And what pardon canst thou ever have for such negligence? It is for this that God has been pleased to honour you with the great dignity of the priesthood, that ye should with the utmost diligence guard these myste

« ElőzőTovább »