Friday 27 May 2016

humble access


Detail from the Holy Blood Altar
St. Jakobs Church, Rothenburg
Tilman Riemenschneider (c.1460-1531)

We do not presume to come to this thy Table,
O merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in thy manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy so much as
to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.
But thou art the same Lord,
whose property is always to have mercy:
Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ,
and to drink his blood,
that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,
and our souls washed through his most precious blood,
and that we may evermore dwell in him,
and he in us.
Amen.

Prayer of Humble Access
1662 version

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