Anselm
Anselm was born in Aosta, northern Italy, in 1033. As a young man, he left home and travelled north, visiting many monasteries and other centres of learning. One such visit was to the abbey of Bec, where he met Lanfranc who advised him to embrace monastic life. Anselm had a powerful and original mind and, during his 34 years at Bec (as monk, prior and finally abbot), he taught many others and wrote theological, philosophical and devotional works. When Lanfranc died Anselm was made Archbishop of Canterbury and had to subordinate his scholarly work to the needs of the diocese and nation. Twice he endured exile for championing the rights of the Church against the authority of the king; but despite his stubbornness, intellectual rigour, and personal austerity he was admired by the Norman nobility as well as loved by his monks. He died in 1109. EH
Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/4xb5hd95
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the light of life. John 8
O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you,
where and how to find you.
You are my God and You are my all and I have never seen you.
You have made me and remade me,
You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess,
Still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek you.
I cannot seek you unless You teach me
or find you unless You show Yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
let me love you when I find you. Amen. Anselm
Music: https://tinyurl.com/mb6h9xfa
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia!
HYMN: Anselm of Canterbury; trans. Gerald Moultrie
Tune: Herstmonceaux https://tinyurl.com/26nk7vth
1 Come thou, oh, come:
Sweetest and kindliest,
Giver of tranquil rest
Unto the weary soul;
In all anxiety
With power from heaven on high.
2 Come thou, oh, come:
Help in the hour of need,
Strength of the broken reed,
Guide of each lonely one;
Orphans’ and widows’ stay,
Who tread in life’s hard way.
3 Come thou, oh, come:
Glorious and shadow-free,
Star of the stormy sea,
Light of the tempest-tost;
Harbor our souls to save
When hope upon the wave
Is lost.
4 Come thou, oh, come:
Joy in life’s narrow path,
Hope in the hour of death,
Come, Blessed Spirit, come;
Lead thou us tenderly,
Till we shall find with thee
Our home.
PSALMS
PSALMS
Psalm 106 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd2cn3x8)
1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
and his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Who can express the noble acts of the Lord *
or shew forth all his praise?
3 Blessed are they that alway keep judgement *
and do righteousness.
4 Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour
that thou bearest unto thy people *
O visit me with thy salvation;
5 That I may see the felicity of thy chosen *
and rejoice in the gladness of thy people,
and give thanks with thine inheritance.
6 We have sinned with our fathers *
we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.
7 Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egypt,
neither kept they thy great goodness in remembrance *
but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8 Nevertheless, he helped them for his Name’s sake *
that he might make his power to be known.
9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up *
so he led them through the deep, as through a wilderness.
10 And he saved them from the adversary’s hand *
and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them *
there was not one of them left.
12 Then believed they his words *
and sang praise unto him.
13 But within a while they forgat his works *
and would not abide his counsel.
14 But lust came upon them in the wilderness *
and they tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their desire *
and sent leanness withal into their soul.
16 They angered Moses also in the tents *
and Aaron the saint of the Lord.
17 So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan *
and covered the congregation of Abiram.
18 And the fire was kindled in their company *
the flame burnt up the ungodly.
19 They made a calf in Horeb *
and worshipped the molten image.
20 Thus they turned their glory *
into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.
21 And they forgat God their Saviour *
who had done so great things in Egypt;
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham *
and fearful things by the Red sea.
23 So he said, he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap *
to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.
24 Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land *
and gave no credence unto his word;
25 But murmured in their tents *
and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26 Then lift he up his hand against them *
to overthrow them in the wilderness;
27 To cast out their seed among the nations *
and to scatter them in the lands.
28 They joined themselves unto Baalpeor *
and ate the offerings of the dead.
29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions *
and the plague was great among them.
30 Then stood up Phinees and prayed *
and so the plague ceased.
31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness *
among all posterities for evermore.
32 They angered him also at the waters of strife *
so that he punished Moses for their sakes;
33 Because they provoked his spirit *
so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34 Neither destroyed they the heathen *
as the Lord commanded them;
35 But were mingled among the heathen *
and learned their works.
36 Insomuch that they worshipped their idols,
which turned to their own decay *
yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils;
37 And shed innocent blood,
even the blood of their sons and of their daughters *
whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan;
and the land was defiled with blood.
38 Thus were they stained with their own works *
and went a whoring with their own inventions.
39 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people *
insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
40 And he gave them over into the hand of the heathen *
and they that hated them were lords over them.
41 Their enemies oppressed them *
and had them in subjection.
42 Many a time did he deliver them *
but they rebelled against him with their own inventions,
and were brought down in their wickedness.
43 Nevertheless, when he saw their adversity *
he heard their complaint.
44 He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them,
according unto the multitude of his mercies *
yea, he made all those that led them away captive to pity them.
45 Deliver us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen *
that we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, and make our boast of thy praise.
46 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and world without end *
and let all the people say, Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Psalm 106 (Old 22nd https://tinyurl.com/4nja9dwy)
1 O praise the LORD, for He is good;
give thanks and bless His name;
His loving-kindness changes not,
from age to age the same.
What tongue can tell His mighty deeds,
His wondrous works and ways?
O who can show His glory forth,
or utter all His praise?
2 The LORD will bless and prosper those–
yea, blest indeed are they–
whose ways are just, who constantly
His righteous law obey.
O LORD, remember me in grace,
let me salvation see;
the grace You show unto Your saints,
that grace reveal to me.
3 Let me behold Your people’s good
and in their joy rejoice;
with Your triumphant heritage
let me lift up my voice.
In evil we have gone astray,
and sinful is our race;
rebelliously our fathers walked
forgetful of Your grace.
4 Tho’ they rebelled, yet for their help
in saving strength He came
to make His pow’r almighty known
and glorify His name.
He brought them safely thro’ the sea
and overwhelmed their foes;
their faith was stirred, and for the time
their songs of praise arose.
5 Forgetful soon, they tempted God,
nor for His counsel cared;
He sent them leanness in their souls,
While they earth’s bounties shared.
Their God and Savior they forgot,
their helper and their stay,
but Moses sought the promised grace
and turned God’s wrath away.
6 But they despised the pleasant land,
the promised land of God,
and tempted Him to make them fall
and scattered them abroad.
Against His own inheritance
the LORD’s great wrath arose;
His chosen people He condemned
to serve their heathen foes.
7 Save us, O LORD, our gracious God,
from alien lands reclaim,
that we may triumph in Your praise
and bless Your holy name.
Blest be the Lord, our cov’nant God,
all praise to Him accord;
let all the people say, “Amen!”
Forever praise the LORD.
PRAYER
Holy God,
when our memories blot out your kindness
and we ignore your patient love,
remember us, re-make us,
and give us sinners
the rich inheritance of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CW:DP
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Isaiah 44:21-28
Remember these things, O Jacob,
and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you, you are my servant;
O Israel, do not forget me.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob
and will be glorified in Israel.
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who by myself spread out the earth;
who frustrates the omens of soothsayers
and makes fools of diviners;
who turns back the wise
and makes their knowledge foolish;
who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the prediction of his messengers;
who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be inhabited,”
and of the cities of Judah, “They shall be rebuilt,
and I will raise up their ruins”;
who says to the deep, “Be dry—
I will dry up your rivers”;
who says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd,
and he shall carry out all my purpose”;
and who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be rebuilt,”
and of the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”
HYMN: Isaac Watts
Tune: Beatitudo https://tinyurl.com/h2dhm52e
1 Father, how wide Thy glories shines.
How high Thy wonders rise!
Known through the earth by thousand signs,
By thousands through the skies.
2 Those mighty orbs proclaim Thy power;
Their motions speak Thy skill:
And on the wings of every hour
We read Thy patience still.
3 But when we view Thy strange design
To save rebellious worms,
Where vengeance and compassion join
In their divinest forms:
4 Our thoughts are lost in reverent awe;
We love and we adore;
The first archangel never saw
So much of God before.
5 Here the whole Deity is known,
Nor dares a creature guess
Which of the glories brightest shone,
The justice or the grace.
6 Now the full glories of the Lamb
Adorn the heavenly plains;
Bright cherubs learn Immanuel’s name
And try their choicest strains.
7 O may I bear some humble part
In that immortal song!
Wonder and joy shall tune my heart,
And love command my tongue.
READING: 1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
HYMN: Anselm; trans. Johann Heermann; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Herzliebster Jesu https://tinyurl.com/nx9wabr4
O wondrous love! whose depths no heart hath founded,
that brought thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded;
all worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying,
while thou wert dying.
O mighty King! no time can dim thy glory!
How shall I spread abroad thy wondrous stroy?
How shall I find some worthy gift to proffer?
What dare we offer?
I’ll think upon thy mercy hour by by
I’ll love thee so that earth must lose its power;
to do thy will shall be my sole endeavour
henceforth for ever.
READING: John 6:48-58
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
CANTICLE Revelation 4:11, 5:9-10, 13
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/y499lmmp)
Ant. Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;
And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for evermore. Ant.
THE PRAYERS CWC
O Good Shepherd, your world is hurting.
As people flee their homes
because of violence and poverty, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
As governments and corporations
grow in power and wealth, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
As some of your beloved sheep
grow in despair and hopelessness, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
As your children are persecuted
in places near and far, we pray:
Make us your instruments.
Make us your instruments, O God,
so that we may bring your message of hope
and proclaim your loving name
to every household in this world. Amen.
(Traditional chant: http://oremus.org/chant/LP-1940.mp3)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Eternal God,
who gave great gifts to your servant Anselm
as a pastor and teacher:
grant that we, like him, may desire you with our whole heart
and, so desiring, may seek you
and, seeking, may find you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. EH
https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!
Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
The Lord’s Prayer is the traditional chant as set in The Hymnal 1940 and sung by Kathryn Mannyng https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJ2TB9pLbU
EH Exciting Holiness Edited by Brother Tristam SSF, © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997
CWC Connections Worship Companion, ed. David Gambrell © Westminster John Knox Press
The main scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language psalm is adapted from Psalter, 1912.
Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.
Compilation © 2026 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.
Oremus 