THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JAMES (9)

Prayer of the veil:

We thank You, O Lord our God, who has given us boldness to enter Your holy dwell-ing, which You have fashioned for us through the veil of the flesh of Your Christ. Therefore, we whom You have counted worthy to enter into the tabernacle of Your glory, to stand within the veil, and to behold the Holy of Holies, now cast ourselves down before Your goodness. Lord, have mercy on us: since we are filled with fear and trembling to stand at Your holy altar, and to offer this holy and bloodless sacrifice for our own sins and for those of the people: Send forth, O God, Your good grace, and sanctify our souls, and bodies, and spirits; and turn our thoughts to holiness, that with a pure conscience we may bring to You a peace offering, the sacrifice of praise:

(Aloud) By the mercy and loving kindness of Your only begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, together with Your allholy, and good, and life giving Spirit, now and always.

People: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with all.

Deacon: Let us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with contrition: let us attend to this holy service, to receive peace from God.

People: The offering of peace, the sacrifice of praise.

Priest: [The veil is now with drawn from the oblation of bread and wine]: Uncovering now the veil that darkly invests in symbol this sacred ceremonial, do You reveal it clearly to us: fill the vision of our intellect with heavenly light, and having purified our poverty from every defilement of flesh and spirit, make us worthy of this holy and awefilled approach: for You are the all merciful and gracious God, and we send up praise and thanksgiving to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now, and always, and forever.