--- 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: 139 of 148 url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/139/ cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions, section 139. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/139/" --- # 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. ## 139. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, The Disciple of the Holy Peter · 7 of 9 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/139/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-lactantius-didache-apostolic-constitutions/139/#p-N [¶0] Deacons, come down. [¶1] The Priest (aloud). [¶2] That to all of us who partake thereof they may tend unto faith, sobriety, healing, temperance, sanctification, the renewal of soul, body, and spirit, participation in the blessedness of eternal life and immortality, the glory of Thy most holy name, and the remission of sins, that Thy most holy, precious, and glorious name may be praised and glorified in this as in all things. [¶3] The People. [¶4] As it was and is. [¶5] The Priest. [¶6] XVIII. Peace be to all. [¶7] The Deacon. [¶8] Pray. [¶9] The Priest prays in secret. [¶10] O God of light, Father of life, Author of grace, Creator of worlds, Founder of knowledge, Giver of wisdom, Treasure of holiness, Teacher of pure prayers, Benefactor of our souls, who givest to the faint-hearted who put their trust in Thee those things into which the angels desire to look: O Sovereign Lord, who hast brought us up from the depths of darkness to light, who hast given us life from death, who hast graciously bestowed upon us freedom from slavery, who hast scattered the darkness of sin within us, through the presence of Thine only-begotten Son, do Thou now also, through the visitation of Thy all-holy Spirit, enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may partake without fear of condemnation of this heavenly and immortal food, and sanctify us wholly in soul, body, and spirit, that with Thy holy disciples and apostles we may say this prayer to Thee: Our Father who art in heaven, etc. [¶11] (Aloud.) [¶12] And grant, O Sovereign Lord, in Thy mercy, that we with freedom of speech, without fear of condemnation, with pure heart and enlightened soul, with face that is not ashamed, and with hollowed lips, may venture to call upon Thee, the holy God who art in heaven, as our Father, and say:— [¶13] The People. [¶14] Our Father who art in heaven, etc. [¶15] The Priest prays:— [¶16] Verily, Lord, Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thy abundant mercy showeth that we through our great infirmity are unable to resist it. Grant that we may find a way whereby we may be able to withstand temptation; for Thou hast given us power to tread upon serpents, and scorpions, and all the power of the enemy. [¶17] (Aloud.) [¶18] For Thine is the kingdom and power. [¶19] The People. [¶20] Amen. [¶21] The Priest. [¶22] XIX. Peace be to all. [¶23] The Deacon. [¶24] Bow your heads to Jesus. [¶25] The People. [¶26] Thou, Lord. [¶27] The Priest prays. [¶28] O Sovereign and Almighty Lord, who sittest upon the cherubim, and art glorified by the seraphim; who hast made the heaven out of waters, and adorned it with choirs of stars; who hast placed an unbodied host of angels in the highest heavens to sing Thy praise for ever; before Thee have we bowed our souls and bodies in token of our bondage. We beseech Thee to repel the dark assaults of sin from our understanding, and to gladden our minds with the divine radiance of Thy Holy Spirit, that, filled with the knowledge of Thee, we may worthily partake of the mercies set before us, the pure body and precious blood of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Pardon all our sins in Thy abundant and unsearchable goodness, through the grace, mercy, and love of Thine only-begotten Son: [¶29] (Aloud.) [¶30] Through whom and with whom be glory and power to Thee, with the all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit. [¶31] The Priest. [¶32] XX. Peace be to all. [¶33] The Deacon. [¶34] With the fear of God. [¶35] The Priest prays. [¶36] O holy, highest, awe-inspiring God, who dwellest among the saints, sanctify us by the word of Thy grace and by the inspiration of Thy all-holy Spirit; for Thou hast said, O Lord our God, Be ye holy; for I am holy. O Word of God, past finding out, consubstantial and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and sharer of their sovereignty, accept the pure song which cherubim and seraphim, and the unworthy lips of Thy sinful and unworthy servant, sing aloud. [¶37] The People. [¶38] Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. [¶39] The Priest (aloud). [¶40] Holy things for the holy. [¶41] The People. [¶42] One Father holy, one Son holy, one Spirit holy, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. [¶43] The Deacon. [¶44] For salvation and help.