I.

Psalm xxiii. Dominus regit me.
[To be sung--all kneeling.]

II.

THE LITANY.

O God, the Father of Heaven:
Have mercy upon us.

O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy upon us.

O God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son:
Have mercy upon us.

O Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity, three Persons and One God:
Have mercy upon us.

[4] Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.

By Thy Holy Nativity, in that Thou vouchsafedst to be born of a woman:
Have mercy upon us.

By Thy Lowly Life on earth; Thy Meek Obedience, and Patience:
Have mercy upon us.

By Thy Thirst and Hunger; by Thy Heaviness, Labour, and Weariness; by Thy Prayer and Watchings:
Have mercy upon us.

By Thy most Holy Rest in the Tomb, and the Rest of All Thy Saints in Thee; and by the expectation of Thy Coming to judge the world:
Have mercy upon us.

Succour us, O Blessed Jesus, in that dreadful Day of Judgment; and grant us, in this transitory life, all things needful to body and soul; and, after this life, to reign with Thee forever.
We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

III.

The Lord's Prayer.

IV.

O Lord, open Thou our lips:
And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.

[All standing up.]

[5] 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.

The Fifth Selection from the Psalter.

VI.

The Lesson. Romans xii.

VII.

Benedic, anima mea.

VIII.

The Nicene Creed.

IX.

The Lord be with you.
And with Thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O Lord, show Thy mercy upon us.
And grant us Thy salvation.
O God, make clean our hearts within us.
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from us.

X.

The Collect for Peace.

Prayer for Clergy and People.

Prayer for all conditions of men.

O Blessed Jesus, our God and Saviour, who didst not refuse the holy offices of the faithful women who followed Thee from Galilee to the Cross on Calvary, ministering unto Thee, be pleased to regard with favor this Thine handmaiden, who cometh desiring to take the vows of a holy life in Thy service. O Thou, who hast promised that Thine angels shall stand in circuit round about them that fear Thee,--look, O Lord, upon her fear. O Thou, who hast prepared for them that love Thee such good things as pass man's understanding, look upon her love. Do Thou sanctify her fear of Thee, and change it into obedience, and carefulness of duty. Increase her love of Thee, and make it to be pure and perfect. Make it to grow up to the perfections of a Christian, and pass into the beauties of holiness. So shall Thy servant feel Thy daily mercies, and no evil come nigh to hurt her; until, at length, she be received into Thine everlasting kingdom, with Thee to dwell forever and ever. Amen.

Almighty and Everliving God, we humbly thank Thee for the mercies and benefits of the past day. We bless Thee for our creation, preservation, and all the mercies of this life. We bless Thee for [6/7] the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ, Our Lord; for all the means of grace vouchsafed us, and for the hope of eternal glory. We bless Thee for Thy purposes of mercy unto Thy People in the evening of this age,--that Thou wilt again gather together the scattered sheep of Thy pasture, and unite them in the One Body of Thy Holy Church.. We bless Thee for the sure hope of the second appearing of Thy Son, who shall come again in the brightness of Thy majesty, and gather unto Himself' His Saints, both living and departed, and reign with them in the glory of the resurrection, in the world to come. And unto Thee, O Father Almighty, with Thine only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, One living and true God, be ascribed all honor, and glory, and dominion, now, henceforth, and forever. Amen.

The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, evermore. Amen.

XI.

Hymn.

XII.

[The candidate, presented by the Superior Sister, and supported by all the Sisters, shall stand before the chancel-rail.]

Dearly Beloved: We are gathered together in the presence of God, and in the face of this company, to admit into the number of the Sisters of S. Catherine, this woman, whose term of probation is ended. If any can show just cause why she ought not thus to be received, let it be declared boldly, and in the fear of God.

XIII.

[To the Candidate.]

I charge you, well-beloved, who art come hither seeking admission into the Society of the Sisters of S. Catherine, that, if you have other motive than the desire of serving your Master Christ in worksof mercy, in thus coming, you do now confess it s for, be well assured that, unless you so come, you come not in the true spirit of self-devotion, which can alone render you acceptable unto God.

XIV.

Before admitting you into the Society of the Sisters of S. Catherine, it is required of you to answer advisedly the following questions:

Q. Will you conform to the rules and discipline of this Society, rendering willing obedience to those who are set over you: thus seeking to uphold the authority of your superiors, and to promote the welfare of the Society, preserving it in peace and harmony?

Ans. I will strive so to do.

Q. Will you diligently perform the duties which may be required of you: with a cheerful spirit [8/9] seeking to serve the Lord in all good works, keeping yourself unspotted from the world?

Ans. I will endeavor so to do, the lord being my helper.

Q. Know this, well-beloved, that "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Will you, therefore, labour only in the Lord--seeking your strength from Him? Will you watch always in the Lord--looking: to Him for deliverance to keep. your feet from falling?' Will you, by constant prayer, seek ever to be guided in your goings, and directed in your duties, as it shall please the Lord?

Ans. I will so do, by the help of God.

XV.

Form of Reception.

We receive thee, thy probation well fulfilled, and admit thee into the fellowship of the Society of the Sisters of S. Catherine, to be henceforth known and called by the name and title of Sister -----.

XVI.

The Blessing. [The Sister kneeling.]

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep thee. The Lord lift up the light of His Countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

[10] XVII . Presentation of Cross.

[Taken from the hand of the Superior Sister.]

Sister----: Take this cross, given thee by thy associate sisters, as a token and a pledge of their acceptance, and an assurance of their love. But value it chiefly as the symbol of that Holy Faith which thou hast chosen to be the rule and measure of thy life.

XVIII.

Let us Pray.

O Lord, save Thy servant:
Who putteth her trust in Thee.

Send her help from Thy holy place:
And evermore mightily defend her.

O Lord, have mercy upon this Thine handmaiden, and keep her memory; that she may always remember Thy gracious benefits. Amen.

O Lord, have mercy upon Thy servant, and guide her understanding; that she may always know Thy holy will, and what is expedient to her calling, and necessary for her salvation. Amen.

O Lord, have mercy upon Thy servant, and govern her will; that she may love the thing which Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, her heart may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found: through. Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[11] O, Almighty God, who hast in all times used faithful women for the blessing of Thy people, and the. effecting of Thy purposes of grace; who didst bestow honor upon Sarah, and blessing upon Jael; and, above all women didst fulfil with thy heavenly grace the Blessed Mary, Mother of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to regard with favor these Thy servants who are joined together for works of mercy and Christian Charity. And especially upon Thy handmaiden, now received into their number, bestow Thy heavenly grace. Grant unto her and them to be followers of all godly women, in blamelessness, and purity, and sobriety. Enable them, by Thy grace, to fulfil the duties which Thou layest upon them; and grant that they may receive a full reward in the day of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. That so, serving Thee faithfully in this life, they may, in the world to come, have life everlasting. For His sake accept us, in this our prayer, and this our service. Whatever we have done according to Thy will, regard; what we have done amiss, forgive: and unto Him, with Thee, O Father, and with the Holy Ghost, be glory forever and ever. Amen.

XIX.

Gloria in Excelsis.

XX.

Blessing of Peace.

S. Michael and All Angels, 1863.

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