We also with firm faith retaining both the ceremony and its signification, humbly beseech thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, that we whom thou hast made his members, gaining by him and in him victory over the kingdom of death, may be counted worthy to be partakers of his glorious resurrection; who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. R. Amen.

Let us pray.

GOD, who didst command the dove to proclaim peace to the earth by means of an olive branch, grant, we beseech thee, that these olive branches may be hallowed by thy heavenly blessing, that they may avail for the salvation of all thy people; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Let us pray.

LEISS, O Lord, these branches, and grant that what thy people this day perform bodily in thine honour, they may also accomplish spiritually with constant devotion, by gaining the victory over their enemy, and by mightily loving works of mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Then the Celebrant, after putting incense into the Censer thrice sprinkles the boughs with Holy Water, saying as he does so, the Antiphon, Thou shalt purge, without the psalm, and then censes them. Then he says: V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The Collect.

O our sa

GOD, who for our salvation didst send thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, into this world, that by humbling himself unto us, he might bring us back to thee; before whom on his way to Jerusalem, to fulfil the scriptures, the multitude of them that believed, strawed their garments and the branches of palm trees in confident devotion; grant, we beseech thee, that we may prepare before him the way of faith, and that there, every stone of stumbling and rock of offence being put far away, our works may offer to thee living branches of righteousness; and that we may be counted worthy to follow in his steps; who ever liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God world without end. R. Amen.

The blessing being completed, the cleric of greater dignity goes up to the Altar and offers a blessed branch to the Celebrant, who does not genuflect, nor kiss the hand of him who

gives it. Then the Celebrant, standing before the Altar, turns to the people and distributes the branches first to the senior priest from whom he has received his, then to the Deacon and Sub-deacon, and to the other clergy in order, last of all to the Laity; all genuflecting and kissing the branch and the hand of the Celebrant (except Prelates, if they are present). And when he begins to distribute the branches the following Antiphons are sung by the Choir or Cantor:

HE children of the Hebrews*

Terrying palms and olive branches,

went forth to meet the Lord. And as they went they cried saying, Hosanna in the highest.

TH

(Another Antiphon.)

HE children of the Hebrews* spread their garments in the way, and cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

If these are not sufficient, they are repeated until the distribution is finished. Then the Celebrant says or sings:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, and evur

who didst cause our Lord Jesus Christ to sit upon a colt, the foal of an ass, and didst teach the throngs of

people to spread their garments or branches of trees in the way, and to sing Hosanna in his praise: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may follow the example of their innocency, and be deemed worthy to partake of their merit. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Then the Procession is formed. And first the Celebrant puts incense into the censer; and the Deacon, turning to the people, says or sings:

V. Let us go forth in peace.
R. In the Name of Christ.

Amen.

The Thurifer goes first with the smoking censer ; then the Sub-deacon vested, carrying the cross, between two Acolytes with lighted candles. The clergy follow in order, and last of all the Celebrant with the Deacon on his left, all carrying palm branches; and the following Antiphons are sung, either all, or as many as the length of the procession require.

This or some other hymn is sung during the procession:

HE Son of God goes forth to

THER

war,

A kingly crown to gain:

His blood-red banner streams afar :
Who follows in His train?

Who best can drink his cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain;

Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.

The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.

Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,

He prayed for them that did the wrong;

Who follows in His train ?

A glorious band, the chosen few
Ön whom the Spirit came:

Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,

And mocked the cross and flame.

They met the tyrant's brandished steel, The lion's gory mane;

They bowed their necks the death to feel:

Who follows in their train ?

A noble army: men and boys,
The matron and the maid;
Around the Saviour's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.

They climbed the steep ascent of heaven

Through peril, toil, and pain:

O God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train.

While the Choir is singing outside the church, the Cantor in the Choir, sings the following Antiphons :