Good Friday
people: that acknowledging Christ Jesus, the light of thy truth, they may yet be delivered from the darkness of their ignorance. Through the same. ℟. Amen.
Let us pray likewise for the heathen: that God Almighty may take away the iniquity of their hearts; that they may turn away from their idols to the true and living God and to his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and God. Let us pray. Let us bow the knee. ℟. Arise.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who desirest A not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: mercifully accept our prayers: that the heathen being delivered from the worship of idols may be united to thy holy Church to the honour and glory of thy Name. Through. ℟. Amen.
¶ Having finished the Prayers, the Priest lays aside his chasuble and goes to the Epistle horn of the Altar, where, standing at the back corner, he takes from the Deacon a Cross which has been previously made ready on the Altar. Turning towards the people, he partly uncovers it from the top, and begins alone the Antiphon Behold the wood of the Cross, after which the Ministers join in singing the rest as far as Come, let us worship. And when the Choir sings Come, let us worship, all bow down except the Celebrant. Then he goes to the front corner of the Epistle horn of the Altar: he uncovers the right arm of the Cross, and lifting it up a little, he begins at a slightly higher pitch: Behold the wood of the Cross, the others singing and worshipping as before. Lastly, the Priest goes to the middle of the Altar: and uncovering it entirely and lifting it up, he begins for the third time at a still higher pitch: Behold the wood of the Cross, the others singing and worshipping as before.
