Daily Prayer

  General Notes
     
    More detailed notes relating to each order of prayer follow the Introduction to each order. The following general notes are relevant to all the orders.
     
1
   Saying and Singing
    In the rubrics, 'said' and 'sung' are interchangeable.
     
2
   Brackets
    Items in square brackets [   ] may be omitted.
     
3
   Hymns and Songs
    Various points are indicated for the singing of hymns and songs but, if occasion requires, they may also be sung at other points.
The hymns suggested are optional.
     
4
   Silences
    Periods of silence may be kept at different points. Silence may be particularly suitable at the beginning, after the readings and any sermon, and during the prayers.
     
5
   Other Versions
    The readings and psalms may be read from any version which is not prohibited.
     
6
   Psalms
    References to the psalms are for the Common Worship Psalter. When versions of the Psalms other than the Common Worship Psalter are used, such adaptations are made as are necessary.
     
7
   Canticles
    The canticles may be replaced by suitable hymns or songs. Metrical paraphrases may be used in place of the biblical canticles.
     
8
   Refrains
    Refrains (antiphons) have been provided, for optional use, with the canticles and the psalms. Refrains drawn from other passages of Scripture may be used.
     
9
   The Peace
    The Peace may be exchanged at the Conclusion of any Order.
     
        The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
    All   and also with you.
           
        These words may be added
           
        Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
        God's seal on our prayers.
     
10
   Holy Days
    On Principal Feasts and other Principal Holy Days the orders of the season are used, except that on the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary the Christmas orders are used.
     
    On Festivals, the orders for the period from All Saints' Day until the day before the First Sunday of Advent may be used, with the following exceptions:
       
    On the Festivals of Stephen, John and the Holy Innocents, the Christmas orders are used;
    on the Festivals of Joseph, the Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Christmas orders may be used;
    on the Festival of the Birth of John the Baptist, the Advent orders may be used;
    on the Festival of Mary Magdalene, the Easter orders may be used;
    on the Festival of the Transfiguration, the Epiphany orders may be used; and
    on Holy Cross Day, the Passiontide orders may be used.
       
    On Lesser Festivals and Commemorations the orders of the Season
or of Ordinary Time, as the case may be, are used.
     
    Collects, canticles and refrains specified for each Holy Day (texts that are proper to the day) can be found here.
     
    For more detailed seasonal notes, see below.
     
11
   The Collect
    The Collect of the day is usually the prayer proper to the Sunday of the current week. However, the Collect of a Principal Feast, other Principal Holy Day or Festival replaces this as the Collect of the day. When a Lesser Festival falls on a weekday, its Collect may be used in place of the Sunday Collect.
   
     
Seasonal Notes
  
     
    The Sundays of the Year are listed in the Calendar. The following notes explain the duration of each Season and relate them to the celebration of Prayer During the Day, Morning, Evening and Night Prayer.
     
1
   Advent
    Advent begins at Evening Prayer on the Eve of the First Sunday of Advent and ends before Evening Prayer on Christmas Eve (except that the Collect  of Christmas Eve is used throughout the day).
    The Collect  for the First Sunday of Advent may be used each day in Advent.
     
2
   Christmas
    Christmas begins at Evening Prayer on Christmas Eve; except that the Collect  for Christmas Eve remains in use throughout the day. Christmas ends before Evening Prayer on the Eve of the Epiphany.
    If a Festival falls on either of the Sundays of Christmas, it may be observed on the Sunday or be transferred to the first available day.
     
3
    Epiphany
    Epiphany begins at Evening Prayer on the Eve of the Epiphany (which may be celebrated on 6 January or the Sunday between 2 and 8 January) and ends at Evening Prayer (or Night Prayer) on the feast of the Presentation (which may be celebrated on 2 February or the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February).
     
4
   Lent
    Lent begins at Morning Prayer on Ash Wednesday and ends after Evening Prayer (or Night Prayer) on Easter Eve.
    'Alleluia' is not said in Lent.
    The Collect  for Ash Wednesday may be used on any day in Lent.
    Although Passiontide is a part of Lent, material proper to Passiontide is used from Evening Prayer on the Eve of the Fifth Sunday of Lent to the evening of Easter Eve (except where other provision is made, see below).  
    No Principal Feast, Festival or Lesser Festival may be observed in Holy Week.
    From after the evening celebration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday to the Easter Vigil, Morning, Evening or Night Prayer may be said in the following way:
      the Preparation is omitted and the order begins with the psalms;
      all glorias and doxologies are omitted;
      the Responsory is omitted;
      the Prayers consist of the Collect  alone;
      the Conclusion is omitted.
     
5
   Easter
    Easter begins with the Vigil of Easter and ends after Evening Prayer (or Night Prayer) on the Day of Pentecost.
    The nine days after Ascension Day until the Day of Pentecost are days of prayer and preparation for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
    No Principal Feast, Festival or Lesser Festival is celebrated in Easter Week.
    Material proper to Easter is used from the Easter Vigil.
Material proper to the period from Ascension Day until the Day of Pentecost is used from Evening Prayer on the Eve of Ascension Day.
    'Alleluia' may be added to any refrain.
    The Paschal Candle may be lit at all offices until Evening Prayer (or Night Prayer) on the Day of Pentecost.
 
6
   Ordinary Time
    Ordinary Time is the period from the day after the feast of the Presentation of Christ (which may be celebrated on 2 February or the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February) until Shrove Tuesday, and the period between the Day of Pentecost and the First Sunday of Advent.
    During Ordinary Time there is no seasonal emphasis, except that the period between All Saints' Day and the First Sunday of Advent is observed as a time of celebration and reflection on the reign of Christ in earth and in heaven. Appropriate forms and variations for Prayer During the Day, Morning and Evening Prayer and Night Prayer are provided to emphasize this theme in the final weeks of Ordinary Time.