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Degradation from Holy Orders

North American Old Roman Catholic Church

Imprimatur

+ Edward James Novat

 

Archbishop of Nova-Terra and Metropolitan-Primate

North American Old Roman Catholic Church

 

Given this 1st day of June in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

at Our Primatial Chancery

in Springvale, Maine

 

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Form of Degradation from Holy Orders

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¶   No deprivation of any person in Holy Orders shall take place save for grave errors in doctrine or practice, which (if not confessed by the delinquent) must be duly proved by open trial in the Church Courts, and even after conviction in such Courts, the assent of the Diocesan Synod or the General Synod, shall be necessary in the case of any Priest or Deacon and other clerics, and that of the College of Bishops or the General Synod in the case of any Bishop (and of Priests, Deacons and other clerics whose case is referred to them), before degradation from Holy Orders can be proceeded with.

 

¶   The Archbishop, attended by the Church officials, shall stand in front of the High Altar, facing the people, and shall say:

 

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

R:           Amen

 

Forasmuch as NN._________ (Bishop, Priest, Deacon, Subdeacon, Acolyte, Exorcist, Lector, Porter, or Cleric) hath grievously offended against the Law of God and the laws and ordinances of the Holy Catholic Church, by open and notorious sin, whereof he hath been fully convicted (by his own confession, or by open trial), we therefore, by the counsel and with the assent of the (College of Bishops, Primatial Tribunal, or General Synod), have met here in the presence of God and this congregation, to depose him from the Office and Orders he hath misused, to take from him the trust which he hath violated, to deprive him of the privileges he hath forfeited; and that publicly, that others may be warned in time neither to receive his ministrations nor to follow his example. And that ye may know that this our act is justly and rightly done, the sentence shall now be read in your hearing.

 

¶   Here, the Secretary, the Clerk of Synod, the Chancellor shall read aloud the sentence of the Court.

 

¶   Then shall be said the following Antiphon and Psalms following:

 

 

Ant.       Thou shalt be no priest to Me, seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God.

 

Psalm 50: 14-23   Deus deorum

Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest.

And call upon me in the time of trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

But unto the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and hast cast my words behind thee?

When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoreth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the salvation of 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.

 

Psalm 73   Quam bonus Israel

TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.

Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.

And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.

For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.

They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.

And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.

They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.

For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.

Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.

Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?   

Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:

And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.

All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.

Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.

Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,

Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;

Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.

O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!

Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.

Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.

Nevertheless, I am always by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.

But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

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.

 

Psalm 101   Misericoriam et judicium

MY song shall be of mercy and judgment; * unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

O let me have understanding * in the way of godliness!

When wilt thou come unto me? * I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.

I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness; * there shall no such cleave unto me.

A froward heart shall depart from me; * I will not know a wicked person.

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, * him will I destroy.

Whoso hath also a haughty look and a proud heart, * I will not suffer him.

Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land, * that they may dwell with me.

Whoso leadeth a godly life, * he shall be my servant.

There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house; * he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land; * that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

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.

 

Ant.       Thou shalt be no priest to Me, seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God.

 

¶   Then shall the following selection from the Book of Malachi be read aloud by the cleric thus appointed for the purpose.

 

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF MALACHI

(Malachi 2: 1-9)

 

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

 

¶   The archbishop and the assembled clergy make the following versicles and responses, followed by the prayers.

 

 

V:           But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

R:           Thanks be to God

V:           The Lord be with you.

R:           And with thy spirit.

V:           Let us pray.

V:           Lord have mercy upon us.

R:           Christ have mercy upon us.

V:           Lord have mercy upon us.

 

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.  Amen.

 

V:           O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face.

R:           For we have sinned against Thee.

V:           We have sinned, we have done amiss.

R:           And have dealt wickedly.

V:           Arise, O God, and maintain Thine own cause.

R:           Remember how the foolish man blasphemeth Thee daily.

V:           Deliver us, O Lord, from the evil man.

R:           And preserve us from the wicked man.

V:           Break Thou the power of the ungodly and malicious.

R:           Take away his ungodliness and Thou shalt find none.

V:           Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts.

R:           Show the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

V:           O Lord, hear our prayer.

R:           And let our cry come unto Thee.

V:           Let us pray.

 

O  Lord God, Who by Thy Prophet hast said: Be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord; Who showest Nadab and Abihu when they offered strange fire unto Thee; and sentest the sword upon the house of Eli, taking the priesthood from it for the guilt of Hophni and Phinehas; mercifully look upon Thy Church, and impute not unto her the sins of her rebellious children, but raise up in her faithful priests who shall do according to that which is in Thine heart and in Thy mind; build them a sure house, and cause them to walk before Thine Anointed forever. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, throughout all ages, world without end.

R:           Amen.

 

O Almighty God, Who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose Thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the Twelve Apostles; grant that Thy Church, being always preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Pastors; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

R:           Amen.

 

N. ____________, because thou hast violated God’s Law, and profaned His holy things, hast put no difference between the holy and the profane, neither showed it between the unclean and the clean, so that God is profaned amongst us; know that thou shalt bear thine iniquity and not come near unto Him, nor come near to any of His Holy Things in His Holy Places, but shalt bear thy shame, and the abomination thou hast committed.

 

¶   Here note: The deponend shall be degraded successively from each Office and Order in the ministry to which he has attained beginning with the highest.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

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From the Episcopate

 

Because thou hast been a hireling, and not a shepherd; because the diseased hast thou not strengthened, neither hast thou healed that which was sick; neither hast thou bound up that which was broken; neither hast thou brought again that which was driven away; neither hast thou sought that which was lost, but hast ruled with force and cruelty; therefore the Lord refuses His flock to thine hand, and causes thee to cease from feeding the flock, and we, in token thereof take from thee the Office and Order of a Bishop in His Church.

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¶     If the man to be degraded is an Archbishop, the degrading Bishop removes the pallium from him, saying:

 

We strip thee of the prerogative of pontifical dignity, which is signified in the pallium, for thou hast used it poorly.

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¶     Then, if the degraded man is only a Bishop, the degrading Bishop removes the mitre from him, saying:

 

We remove from thy head the mitre, the adornment of pontifical dignity, for thou hast defiled it by governing badly.

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¶     Then one of the ministers hands the book of the Gospels to the man to be degraded, which book the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying:

 

Give back the Gospel; for we justly deprive thee of the office of preaching, of which thou hast made thyself unworthy by disdaining the grace of God.

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¶     Then the degrading Bishop removes the ring from the finger of the man to be degraded, thus saying:

 

Rightly do we take from thee the ring, the token of fidelity, for thou hast rashly raped the Church, God's very spouse.

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¶     Then one of the ministers hands the man to be degraded the Crozier, which the degrading Bishop soon takes from his hands, saying:

 

We remove the Crozier from thee that thou mayest no longer exercise the office of correction, which thou hast disturbed.

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¶     Then, once the ministers have removed the degraded bishop's gloves, the degrading Bishop lightly scrapes his thumbs and hands with a knife or piece of glass, saying:

 

Thus, insofar as we can, we deprive thee of the grace of spiritual blessing and mystical unction, that thou mayest lose the office and effect of sacrificing and blessing.

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¶     After this, the Bishop, with the same knife or glass, lightly scrapes the head of the man to be degraded, saying:

 

By scraping, we wipe out the consecration, blessing, and anointing given thee, and we depose thee from the Order of Bishops, which thou hast been rendered unable to exercise.

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¶     Then the pontifical slippers are removed by the ministers.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

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From the Presbyterate

 

Because thou hast despised the easy yoke and light burden of Christ; hast refused to drink of His Cup; and hast counted the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith thou wast sanctified to be an unholy thing, we take from thee the Office and Order of the Priesthood, and the right to minister at the altar of God.

 

¶     The ministers give a Chalice with wine and water and a Paten and Host to the man to be degraded; which things the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying:

 

We remove from thee -- nay, rather, we show to have been removed -- the power of offering sacrifice to God, and of celebrating Mass for the living and the dead.

 

¶     Then the degrading Bishop lightly scrapes with a knife or piece of glass the thumbs and index fingers of the man to be degraded, saying:

 

By this scraping, we remove from thee the power of sacrificing, consecrating, and blessing, which thou didst received in the anointing of thine hands and thumbs.

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¶     That having been said, the degrading Bishop takes the chasuble by the back part of the collar and removes it from the man to be degraded, saying:

 

Rightly do we strip thee of the priestly vestment that signifies charity, for thou hast set aside charity and all innocence.

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¶     Then the degrading Bishop removes the stole from the man to be degraded, saying:

 

Thou hast basely rejected the Lord's sign through this stole, and so we take it away from thee, whom we have rendered unable to exercise the whole priestly office.

 

¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

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From the Diaconate

 

Because thou hast not obeyed the Gospel of Christ, whereof the dispensation was committed unto thee, we take from thee the Office and Order of Deacon, and the authority to read that Gospel in the Church.

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¶     The ministers hand the man to be degraded a Book of the Gospels, which the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying:

 

We remove from thee the power of reading the Gospel in the Church of God, for this duty falls to none but the worthy.

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¶     Then the degrading Bishop removes the dalmatic from the one to be degraded, saying:

 

We deprive thee of the Levitical order, for thou hast not fulfilled thy ministry within it.

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¶     Then the degrading Bishop removes the stole from the shoulders of the man to be degraded and tosses it behind his back, saying:

 

Rightly do we remove from thee the white stole, which thou hadst received as something to be presented immaculate in the sight of the Lord, for, having known the mystery, thou still didst not offer good example of conversation to the faithful so that the people called by the name of Christ might attain to imitation of it; and we forbid thee all exercise of the office of the Diaconate.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

 

 

From the Subdiaconate

 

¶     The ministers hand a book of the Epistles to the man to be degraded, which book the degrading Bishop takes it from his hands, saying:

 

We take from thee the power of reading the Epistle in the Church of God, for thou hast been rendered unworthy of this ministry.

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¶     Then the degrading Bishop removes the tunicle from the man to be degraded, saying:

 

We strip the subdiaconal tunicle from thee, whose heart and body have not been constrained by the fear of the Lord, which is chaste, holy, and abides forever.

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¶     Then the degrading Bishop takes the maniple from the man to be degraded, saying:

 

Lay aside the maniple; for thou didst not fight off the spiritual traps of the Enemy through the fruits of good works, which the maniple signifies.

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¶     Then the Bishop, touching the amice of the man to be degraded, says:

 

Thus we remove the amice from thee, for thou didst not discipline thy voice.

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¶     After this, one of the ministers hands the man to be defrocked the cruets with wine and water, and the lavabo dish with finger towel, and an empty Chalice with a paten. Then the Archdeacon takes away the cruets with wine and water, the dish with finger towel; the Bishop takes the empty Chalice and the paten, saying:

 

We remove from thee the power of entering the sanctuary, of touching palls, vessels, and other sacred instruments, and of exercising the whole ministry of the Subdiaconate.

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¶     Then the ministers strip the man to be degraded of the cincture, alb, and amice.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

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 From the Acolythate

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¶     One of the ministers hands the man to be degraded an empty cruet, which the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying:

 

Unclean one, henceforth do not minister the water and wine for the Eucharist.

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¶     Then one of the ministers hands the man to be degraded a candlestick with a snuffed candle, which the degrading Bishop takes from him, saying:

 

Set aside the office of bearing visible light, for thou hast neglected to offer spiritual light with thy deeds, and here lay down the whole office of the Acolythate.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

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From the Exorcistate

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¶    One of the ministers hands the man to be degraded a book of Exorcisms, which the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying:

 

We deprive thee of the power of imposing hands upon the possessed, and of expelling demons from possessed bodies, and we forbid thee from exercising the whole office of the Exorcistate.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

 

 

From the Lectorate

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¶     One of the ministers hands the man to be degraded a book of Readings, which the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying:

 

Read no more within the Church of God, nor sing; neither bless any bread or new fruits, for thou hast not faithfully and devoutly fulfilled thine office.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

 

 

From the Ostiariate

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¶     One of the ministers hands the man to be degraded the keys of the church, which the degrading Bishop takes from his hands, saying: 

 

Because thou hast abused the care of these keys, we take them from thee; and because thou hast not guarded and locked thine heart against the evil workings of the Devil, we strip thee of the office of the Ostiariate; do not dare to ring the church bells, nor to open the doors of the church, nor the sacristy, nor to open the book for the preacher.

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¶   Then shall the deponend (if he be present) dressed in his ecclesiastical dress, be caused to kneel before the Archbishop seated in front of the altar, who shall say:

 

 

From the First Clerical Tonsure

 

By the authority of Almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and by our own authority, we strip thee of the adornment of religion, and we depose thee, degrade thee, strip thee, and remove from thee every clerical Order, benefice, and privilege; and we reduce thee as one unworthy of clerical profession to the disgrace of secular clothing and status.

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¶     The degrading Bishop removes the surplice from the man to be degraded, saying:

 

Because after escaping the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thou hast been again entangled therein and overcome, defiling thy garments, we take from thee the white robe of the righteousness of the Saints, and therewith all right of ministration in the Church, that others may be warned, and thyself moved to repentance, that thou mayest be washed again from thy sins in the Blood of the Lamb.

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 ¶     Then the degrading Bishop begins to cut his hair with scissors, and, through a barber who is there present, causes his head to be sheared completely, saying:

 

We cast thee out as an ungrateful son from the Lord's portion, to which thou hadst been called, and we take from thee the royal crown of thine head, the sign of Priesthood, because of the wickedness of thy conduct.

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¶     The Bishop's ministers then remove the degraded man's garment and his clerical habit, and they dress him in secular clothing.

 

¶   If the deponend be not present, the degrading Bishop may proceed to the following without observing the above ceremonies.

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- IF THE DEPONEND BE NOT PRESENT -

 

Because NN. _______ hast violated God’s Law, and profaned His holy things, hast put no difference between the holy and the profane, neither showed it between the unclean and the clean, so that God is profaned amongst us; know that he shalt bear his iniquity and not come near unto God, nor come near to any of His holy things in His Holy Place, but shalt bear his shame, and the abomination he hath committed.

 

Whereas our Lord Jesus Christ hath left to the ministers of His Church the power of binding and loosing; and hath declared of His Own mouth that whoso will not hear the Church shall be unto us as a heathen man and a publican, and by His Apostle hath taught us to withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly, and to put away from us wicked persons; we, by His authority committed unto us, hereby deprive NN. ______ of all privileges and powers in the ministry of the Church, and depose him from his Office of _________________.

 

 

¶   In all cases the degrading Bishop shall address the assembled clergy and faithful as follows:

 

 

Dearly Beloved:

 

Forasmuch as NN.___________ is now deposed and thrust out from being a minister unto the Lord, we call on you, brethren, to bear witness unto the fact, and to keep yourselves and others from receiving any ministrations of the Church at his hands, lest ye be partakers of his evil deeds, but to have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

As we do now erase and blot out his name from the register of the clergy of this Church, in token that if he repent not and amend, God will blot out his name from the Book of Life.   Amen.

 

But as God, Who hath taken this unfruitful branch away from His Vine, is able to purge it, that it may bring forth much fruit, and to graft it in again, let us pray to Him that He will, of His great mercy, vouchsafe conversion and amendment  of life, to our sinful brother, and restore him whole to the Church.

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¶   Then, all kneeling, shall be said the prayers following.

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V:           Lord have mercy.

R:           Christ have mercy.

V:           Lord have mercy.

 

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.

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R:           Amen.

V:           I said, Lord, be merciful unto me.

R:           Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.

V:           Turn Thee again, O Lord, at the last.

R:           And be gracious unto Thy servants.

V:           Let Thy merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us.

R:           As we do put out trust in Thee.

V:           We have sinned with our fathers.

R:           We have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.

V:           O Lord, deal not with us after our sins.

R:           Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

V:           Remember not our old sins.

R:           But have mercy upon us, and that soon.

 

Psalm 51   Miserere mei, Deus

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou shalt judge.

Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall show thy praise.

For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

O be favorable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

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.

 

Psalm 130   De profundis

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; * Lord, hear my voice.

O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.

If thou, LORD, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?

For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.

I look for the LORD; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.

My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.

O Israel, trust in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

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.

 

¶   Then shall the Bishop rise, and continue the Office standing at the altar.

 

V:           O Lord, hear our prayer.

R:           And let out cry come unto thee.

V:           Let us pray.

 

O Most Merciful God, Who hast sent Thine Only-begotten Son into the world, to save sinners, to seek the lost sheep, and to purify for Himself an acceptable people, zealous in good works; Who desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; grant Thy grace unto Thy servant NN. _____, that his mind may be enlightened, and that he may come to a knowledge of his sin. Take from him all obstinacy and hardness of heart, give him a new heart and a new spirit, take from him his heart of stone, and give him a heart of flesh, and renew Thy Spirit within him, that denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, he may live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, waiting for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God our Savior Jesus Christ. Who with Thee livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, throughout all ages, world without end.

 

R:           Amen.

 

¶   At the close of the prayers, if the deposed cleric be present (or if he be absent the following may be said in absentia), he shall be conducted out of the Church by two officials, the Bishop saying in a commanding voice:

 

Go out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed!

 

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Psalm 125   Qui confidunt

THEY that put their trust in the LORD shall be even as the mount Sion, * which may not be removed, but standeth fast forever.

The hills stand about Jerusalem; * even so standeth the LORD round about his people, from this time forth for evermore.

For the scepter of the ungodly shall not abide upon the lot of the righteous; * lest the righteous put their hand unto wickedness.

Do well, O LORD, * unto those that are good and true of heart.

As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness, * the LORD shall lead them forth with the evil doers; but peace shall be upon Israel.

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.

 

V:           Stablish the thing, O Lord, that Thou hast wrought in us.

R:           For Thy Temple’s sake at Jerusalem.

V:           Let us depart in peace.

R:           In the Name of Christ.

 

All:        Amen.