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NOTE ON THE SARUM ORDINAL
[Transcriber's note: the following observations are from Lowndes' A Vindication of Anglican Orders (Vol. II, Ch. VII). - Joe]
The following are the main points of difference between the Sarum Ordinal and the present Roman Rite.*
I. ORDINATION OF PRIESTS.
In the Sarum Ordinal, on the withdrawal of the newly ordained Deacons, or if no Deacons are ordained, then after the Litany of the Saints with its special petition, the Bishop, before the silent Imposition of hands, addresses the candidates for the Priesthood, as follows:
It appertains to a Priest to Offer, to Bless, to Preside, to Preach, to Consecrate the Eucharist, and to Baptize.
In the prayer which accompanies the Extension of the hands, "Hear us, we beseech Thee," the words in the Sarum are "the power of spiritual grace," instead of "the power of Priestly grace," as in the present Roman Ordinal.
In the Roman Ordinal, after "Receive power to offer sacrifice," there follow the long and minute directions for the con-celebration by the candidates. These and all provisions for con-celebration are omitted in the Sarum.
Commencing with the commission of the power to offer sacrifice and continuing until the final Imposition of hands, the Sarum Ordinal reads as follows:
"Receive the power to offer sacrifice to God, and to celebrate the Mass, both for the living and the dead. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
R. Thanks be to God.
Then the Bishop shall turn to the Altar and say the Offertory.
V. The Lord be with thee.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Offertory
Rejoice, O daughter of Sion. Cry out, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, thy King cometh to thee, the Holy One, the Saviour.
V. He shall speak peace to the Gentiles, and His power shall be from the sea to the sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
While the Offertory is being sung, as many Hosts as are needed for the Communion of the Priests to be ordained shall be placed on the Paten. Then shall the Bishop say: What shall I restore, etc., as usual. Afterwards he shall rub his thumb with bread, and then wash his hands. Then he shall return to the Altar and continue the Mass.
Secret
Look down, O Lord, we beseech Thee, with merciful countenance on these the hosts of Thy faithful people, and, since we are powerless by our own merits, may we rather by these gifts be commended to Thy presence.
Do Thou, O Lord, we beseech Thee, so work by Thy mysteries, that with worthy minds we may offer Thee these gifts.
The Daily Preface is said.
Then shall the Bishop say the whole of the Mass up to the giving of the blessing. After World without end, Amen, and before Agnus Dei, the Deacon says:
Humble yourselves.
Then having placed the Body of Christ upon the Paten, the Bishop shall turn to the people, and, having taken his pastoral staff, he shall give this blessing, or some other, according to the season:
May Almighty God bless you in His mercy, and pour upon you the sense of His saving wisdom.
R. Amen.
May he feed you with the teachings of the Catholic Faith, and help you to persevere in all good works.
R. Amen.
May He turn away your steps from error, and show you the path of peace and love.
R. Amen.
Which may He vouchsafe to grant you, Whose kingdom and reign endureth forever, world without end.
R. Amen.
May the blessing of Almighty God, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, come down upon you and remain with you always.
R. Amen.
Then the Bishop says:
And His peace [be with you. Amen.]
Then shall be said: Communion.
He hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way. His going out is from the end of heaven, and His circuit is even to the end thereof.
Before the Post-Communion, the Bishop shall lay his hands upon the head of each, saying:
Receive the Holy Ghost: Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose (sins) you shall retain, they are retained.
Then shall the Bishop draw down the chasuble of each over his breast, kissing him, saying:
The peace of the Lord be always with thee.
The ordained shall answer:
Amen.
From which it will be seen that the recitation of the Apostles' Creed as the profession of the faith which the candidate is to preach, and which occurs in the Roman Ordinal, before Accipe Spiritum Sanctum, is omitted in the Sarum Rite.
II. CONSECRATION OF A BISHOP
The lengthy oath in the present Roman Pontifical (see p. xlviii., xlix. and l. of this Appendix) was not found in the Sarum Rite, and the interrogatory was differently worded. According to the Sarum the Bishop-elect promised to "receive, teach, and observe the traditions of the Orthodox Fathers, and the decretals and constitutions of the Holy Apostolic See," and both in answer and by oath "in all things to render subjection and obedience to the Holy Church of Canterbury according to the canonical authority and the Decrees of the Holy Pontiffs." There is no other vow or oath of obedience to Rome.
In the Sarum Rite the Veni Creator was said after the Imposition of hands, just where the Accipe Spiritum Sanctum occurs in the present Roman Ordinal.
The following prayer is not found in the Roman. In the Sarum it succeeds the prayer (given on p. lvii of this Appendix), May this, O Lord, flow plenteously upon his head:
"Holy Father, Almighty God, Who through our Lord Jesus Christ from the beginning didst create all things, and then at the end of ages, according to the promise received by our Patriarch Abraham, didst also found Thy Church, by the gathering together of Thy saints, having ordained the rules and given the laws by which it should be governed and disciplined; Grant that this Thy servant may be found worthy, faithfully to discharge the duties of his office and all the work of Thy service, that he may be able to celebrate the mysteries of the Sacraments instituted of old, and may be by Thee consecrated to the High Priesthood into which he is taken. May Thy blessing be upon him, although by our hand bestowed. Bid him, O Lord, to feed Thy sheep, and grant that he may be a watchful shepherd, and keep the flock entrusted to his care. May Thy Holy Spirit, the Distributor of heavenly gifts, assist him. So that, as the chosen Doctor of the Gentiles has taught us, he may be in justice not wanting, in kindness abounding, and in hospitality overflowing. May he have zeal in exhortation, faith amid persecution, patience in charity, steadfastness in truth. May he know hatred of all heresy and vice, but not in rivalry with others, and grant him to be gracious and beloved in his judgments. Finally, let him learn abundantly from Thee all those things which Thou didst faithfully teach to Thine own. May he esteem Thy Priesthood a work and not a dignity. May the increase of honours turn to his profit, to the increase of his merit, that so, even as he is now joined to us in the Priesthood, he may hereafter be joined to Thee in Thy kingdom."
The blessing of the Sevenfold Spirit:
"May the Sevenfold Holy Spirit come upon thee, and all the blessing which is written in the Holy Scriptures come upon thee. May God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, strengthen thee, that thou mayest have eternal life, and live for ever and ever. Amen.
Here follows the Antiphon:
The precious ointment, etc., as in the present Roman service.
Then the head is again anointed, but this time with chrism only, with the accompanying words:
"May thy head be anointed and consecrated with heavenly blessing in the Episcopal Order by the anointing of sacred chrism and our blessing."
Then follows the unction of the hands and the Benediction of the staff and the Ring.
The Benediction of the Mitre follows immediately after the Benediction of the Ring; and there is no Benediction of the Gloves.
* This NOTE is based on the translation of the Sarum Pontifical, as given in The Popes and the Ordinal, pp. 81-83.