---
title: "Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions"
author: "Various Church Fathers"
translator: "A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Church Fathers"
section: 125 of 148
url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/125/
cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions, section 125. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/125/"
---

# Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions

*Various Church Fathers, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)*

Lactantius, the Didache, the Apostolic Constitutions and early liturgies.

## 125. The Divine Liturgy of James the Holy Apostle and Brother of the Lord · 4 of 11

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/125/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/125/#p-N

[¶0] Let us salute one another with an holy kiss. Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

[¶1] The Priest bows, saying this prayer:—

[¶2] XXI. Only Lord and merciful God, on those who are bowing their necks before Thy holy altar, and seeking the spiritual gifts that come from Thee, send forth Thy good grace; and bless us all with every spiritual blessing, that cannot be taken from us, Thou, who dwellest on high, and hast regard unto things that are lowly.

[¶3] (Aloud.)

[¶4] For worthy of praise and worship and most glorious is Thy all-holy name, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and always, and to all eternity.

[¶5] The Deacon.

[¶6] Sir, pronounce the blessing.

[¶7] The Priest.

[¶8] The Lord will bless us, and minister with us all by His grace and loving-kindness.

[¶9] And again.

[¶10] The Lord will bless us, and make us worthy to stand at His holy altar, at all times, now and always, and for ever.

[¶11] And again.

[¶12] Blessed be God, who blesseth and sanctifieth us all in our attendance upon, and service of, His pure mysteries, now and always, and for ever.

[¶13] The Deacon makes the Universal Litany.

[¶14] XXII In peace let us pray to the Lord.

[¶15] The People.

[¶16] O Lord, have mercy.

[¶17] The Deacon.

[¶18] Save us, have mercy upon us, pity and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.

[¶19] For the peace that is from above, and the loving-kindness of God, and the salvation of our souls;

[¶20] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶21] For the peace of the whole world, and the unity of all the holy churches of God;

[¶22] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶23] For those who bear fruit, and labour honourably in the holy churches of God; for those who remember the poor, the widows and the orphans, the strangers and needy ones; and for those who have requested us to mention them in our prayers;

[¶24] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶25] For those who are in old age and infirmity, for the sick and suffering, and those who are troubled by unclean spirits, for their speedy cure from God and their salvation;

[¶26] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶27] For those who are passing their days in virginity, and celibacy, and discipline, and for those in holy matrimony; and for the holy fathers and brethren agonizing in mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth;

[¶28] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶29] For Christians sailing, travelling, living among strangers, and for our brethren in captivity, in exile, in prison, and in bitter slavery, their peaceful return;

[¶30] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶31] For the remission of our sins, and forgiveness of our transgressions, and for our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and constraint, and uprising against us of enemies;

[¶32] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶33] For favourable weather, peaceful showers, beneficent dews, abundance of fruits, the perfect close of a good season, and for the crown of the year;

[¶34] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶35] For our fathers and brethren present, and praying with us in this holy hour, and at every season, their zeal, labour, and earnestness;

[¶36] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶37] For every Christian soul in tribulation and distress, and needing the mercy and succour of God; for the return of the erring, the health of the sick, the deliverance of the captives, the rest of the fathers and brethren that have fallen asleep aforetime;

[¶38] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶39] For the hearing and acceptance of our prayer before God, and the sending down on us His rich mercies and compassion.

[¶40] Let us beseech the Lord.

[¶41] And for the offered, precious, heavenly, unutterable, pure, glorious, dread, awful, divine gifts, and the salvation of the priest who stands by and offers them;

[¶42] Let us offer supplication to God the Lord.

[¶43] The People.

[¶44] O Lord, have mercy.