Archbishop Lowell Paul Wadle received this form for the
Celebration of the Holy Eucharist from the Archbishops who
preceded him in what is now known as the Vilatte-Antiochean
Succession. In its present form it can be traced as far back as
Archbishop E.J. Lloyd. The only modification made by Bishop Wadle
was the addition of Roman and Arabic Numerals in the margins of
the pages. The Arabic Numerals up to 22 refer to the letters of
the Hebrew Alphabet, which have mystical significance. The Roman
Numerals refer to the 10 Sephiroth of the Tree of Life, as
understood in the Jewish mystical tradition. Because of Bishop
Wadle's membership in the Masonic Order and its Scottish Rite and
Lodge of Perfection, as well as the Rose Croix Degree, he came to
feel that the Mass fulfilled some of the obligations and ideals of
this tradition. And so he always referred to this Guide to the
Eucharistic Experience as The Rite of Perfection. By reason of
their affection for this great Bishop, the Sons of Wadle, those
whom he ordained, this Rite also came to be known as the Wadle
Mass, the name we have adopted for its official title.
THE
LITURGY
of
the
WADLE
MASS
(The congregation rises at the entrance of the Priest and
Assistants. All make the sign of the Cross as the Priest says:)
The Invocation
1 Aleph
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
All: Amen.
The Preparation
2 Beth
(Receiving the aspergill, the Priest makes the sign of the
cross with it, saying:)
P: May the Lord purify me that I may worthily perform His
service.
(Sprinkling the Altar in the middle; then the chancel to the
left and to the right, and continuing:)
In the strength of the Lord I expel all adversity from this
His holy Altar and sanctuary,
(Turning to the people and sprinkling them with the same
triple motion:)
...and from this House, wherein we worship Him;
(Turning back to the Altar and resigning the aspergill:) And I
pray our heavenly Father that He will send His Holy Angel to
prepare this habitation for His Presence, for the meet celebration
herein of His most Holy Mysteries, and for the pouring forth of
His Strength and Blessing upon His people, through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
All: Amen.
XXIV Psalm
3 Gimel
P: Who shall ascend unto the Hill of the Lord? He that hath
clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto
vanity.
All: He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and
Righteousness from the God of his salvation. Lift up your heads, O
ye gates; and be lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of
Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts,
He is the King of Glory. Lift up your heads, O ye gates: and be
lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come
in. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
The Confession
4 Daleth
(The Priest turning to the people, says:)
P: Hear what the Holy Spirit saith by the Apostle St. John: If
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let us therefore humbly and sincerely confess ours sins.
(All kneel and say:)
All: O Lord, Thou hast created man to be immortal, and made
him to be an image of Thine own eternity; yet often we forget the
glory of our heritage, and wander from the path which leads to
righteousness. But Thou, O Lord, hast made us for Thyself, and our
hearts are ever restless till they find their rest in Thee. Look
with the eyes of Thy love upon our manifold imperfections, and
pardon all our shortcomings, that we may be filled with the
brightness of the everlasting light, and become the unspotted
mirror of Thy power and the image of Thy goodness. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(The Priest says privately:)
P: May the Almighty and Merciful Lord grant me pardon,
absolution, and remission of all my sins, and bring me to His
everlasting Kingdom.
All: Amen.
The Absolution
5 Heh
(Turning to the people, the Priest says:)
P: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless
preserve and sanctify you; the Lord absolve you of all your sins
and grant you the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
(Turning to the Altar, the Priest says or sings:)
P: O Lord, open Thou our lips.
C: And our mouths shall show forth Thy praise.
(The people are seated.)
P: Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
that we may enter with pure minds and hearts unto the Holy of
Holies. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.
(The candles are lighted, each followed by a prayer. All
say:)
All: "O, Lord God, holy and unsearchable, Who didst command
light to shine forth from darkness: make us children of the Light
and of the day and heirs of Thine everlasting Kingdom. Amen."
"O Christ, the true Light, which illumineth and sanctifieth
every man who cometh into the world: let the Light of Thy
countenance shine upon us, that in it we may behold the Light
ineffable. Open the eyes of our understanding to the comprehension
of Thy Gospel. Guide our steps within Thy blessed footprints that
we may keep Thy commandments and attain unto Life eternal. And
blessed Art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen."
The First Censing
6 Vau
(The incense is blessed; the Priest censes the Altar and is
then censed, in due and ancient form, and turning to the people,
says or sings:)
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with Thy spirit.
The Introit
7 Zain
(All stand and sing:)
All: Blessed be the Holy Trinity, the undivided Unity,
eternal, immortal, invisible, to Whom be honor and glory forever
and ever. Amen. O Lord our God, how excellent is Thy Name in all
the world. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen. Blessed be the Holy Trinity, the
Undivided Unity, eternal, immortal, invisible, to Whom be honor
and glory forever and ever. Amen.
(All stand and sing. The head is bowed at the words "we
worship thee," "we give thanks to thee" and "receive our
prayers":)
All: Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of
good will. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we give
thanks to Thee for Thy great Glory, O Lord God, Heavenly King, God
the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that taketh away the
sins of the world, receive our prayers. Thou that sittest at the
right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only
art holy; Thou only art the Lord: Thou only, O Christ, with the
Holy Spirit art most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with thy spirit.
P: Let us pray.
The Collects
10 Yod
(The Priest recites the collect for the day and other
collects, if any, and then the following:)
P: O God, Holy Spirit, sanctifier of the faithful, visit Thou
us, we pray Thee, with Thy love and favor; enlighten our minds
more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel; establish
in our hearts a love of the truth; increase in us true religion;
nourish us with all goodness; and in Thy great love keep us, O
Blessed Spirit, Whom with the Father and the Son together, we
worship and glorify as one God, world without end.
C: Amen.
The Epistle
11 Kaph
(The people are seated. At high celebration the epistle is
read by the subdeacon or a separate epistoler may be
appointed.)
(After the epistle is read, all sing:)
All: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
The Gradual
12 Lamed
All sing or say the gradual, after the Priest alone has
chanted the first half)
P: The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters:
C: And God said, Let there be Light; and there was Light. Know
ye not that ye are the Temple of God: and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? The Spirit is Life, because of righteousness and
as many as are led by the Spirit, they are the Sons of God: and
unto them are given the strength, the wisdom, the power, the
honor, the blessing, the glory and riches as unto the Lamb.
The Purification
13 Mem
(The incense is now blessed and the Priest, standing before
the center of the Altar, says:)
P: Cleanse my heart and my lips, O God, who by the hand of Thy
Seraph didst cleanse the lips of Thy Prophet Isaiah with a burning
coal from Thine Altar and in Thy loving kindness so purify me that
I may worthily proclaim Thy Holy Gospel, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen. (If the deacon or separate gospeller reads the gospel
then the celebrant blesses him/her in the following words,
substituting "thy" for "my.") May the Lord be in my heart and on
my lips, that through my heart the Love of God may shine forth,
and through my lips His power be made manifest. Amen.
(The people stand as the Gospeller turns and says or
sings:)
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with Thy spirit.
The Gospel
14 Nun
(As the Gospel is announced, all make the cross with the right
thumb upon the forehead, lips and breast, successively, and
sing:)
All: Glory be to Thee, O Lord. (The gospel ended, all say or
sing:)
All: Glory be to Thee, O Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia! (The people are seated.)
The Sermon
15 Samekh
(If there be a sermon, it follows here, preceded by the
invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit)
R/. Amen. and followed by this ascription of glory to the
Blessed Trinity: And now to God the Father, God the Son and God
the Holy Spirit, three Persons in one God, be ascribed all honor,
might, majesty, power and dominion, now and for evermore.
R/. Amen.
(The people are seated for the sermon.)
The Creed
16 Ayin
(All stand and say this or an alternative creed.)
All: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in
one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of
His Father before all worlds. God of God, Light of Light, very God
of very God; begotten, not made; being of one substance with the
Father, by Whom all things were made. Who for us, and for our
Salvation came down from heaven.
(All kneel in reverence for the mystery of the
Incarnation.)
And became incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary;
and was made man.
(All rise.)
He was also crucified for us. suffered under Pontius Pilate,
and was buried. And on the third day He rose again, according to
the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right
hand of the Father. And He shall come again, with glory, to judge
both the living and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no
end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of
Life; who proceedeth from the Father: Who, with the Father and the
Son together, is worshipped and glorified: Who spake by the
Prophets. And we believe in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And
we look for the resurrection of the dead. And in life, of the
world to come. Amen.
(The people are seated.)
The Offertory
17 Peh
(The collection is now taken, after which, the Priest offers
the host saying:)
P: Accept, O Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God, maker and
giver of all good things, this bread which we offer unto Thee, as
a symbol of Thy bounty, and as a token of our sacrifice of praise
and thanksgiving unto Thee. May it become to us, Thy most precious
gift, the Body of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and avail Thy
children, both living and departed, unto life everlasting.
C: Amen.
(The Priest pours wine and a little water into the chalice,
saying:)
P: As we now mix water with this wine in token of the union of
the divine and human natures in Christ, Jesus, we pray that we may
evermore dwell in Him and He in us.
C: Amen.(The Priest offers the chalice:)
P: May this Chalice of joy and gladness which we offer unto
Thee with thankful hearts become to us the Blood of Thy Son, Jesus
Christ, our Lord, that taketh away the sins of the World.
The Second Censing
18 Sadhe
(The Priest blesses the incense and censes the oblations and
altar in due and ancient form. The Priest holds up the censer
before the center of the altar, saying:)
P: Let our prayer be set forth thus in Thy sight, O Lord, and
may the worship which we offer ascend before Thy Great White
Throne as a sacrifice pure and acceptable unto Thee. Through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
(Returning the thurible, the Priest says:)
P: May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of His Love, and
the flame of His everlasting Charity.(The Priest is censed, then
the Thurifer, afterwards the Priests, Servers, and People, who
stand for this ceremony, bowing before and after. Meanwhile the
fingers of the Priest are cleansed, as the Lavabo is
recited:)
P: I wash my hands of the impurities of the world that I may
worthily perform this Eternal Sacrifice of the Life of God into
the limitations of matter. I will praise Thee, O Lord, till the
end of days, that the Glory of Thy Gift may resound throughout all
the worlds. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit.
C: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
Exhorts The Brethren
19 Qoph
(Turning towards the people, the Priest says:)
P: Brothers and Sisters, pray that my sacrifice and yours may
be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.
C: May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy hands to the
praise and glory of His Holy Name.(Turning towards the Altar the
Priest says:)
P: Receive, O Heavenly Father, This Oblation prepared for the
glory of Thy Holy Name, and in union with which we offer, and
present unto Thy Divine Majesty, ourselves, our souls and bodies,
to be a reasonable, holy and living sacrifice unto Thee; And
humbly do we pray that worthily receiving these Holy Mysteries we
may be filled with Thy Grace and heavenly benendiction.
C: Amen. The Canon
(Turning toward the people, the Priest sings:)
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with thy spirit
Sursum Corda
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them up unto the Lord.
(Facing the Altar, the Priest sings:)
P: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
C: It is meet and right so to do.
The Preface
20 Resh
P: It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we
should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee, O
Lord, Holy Father, Almighty everlasting God.(Here follows the
proper Preface, if any.)
P: Therefore, with Virtues, Angels and Archangels,
Principalities, Powers, Dominions, Thrones, with Cherubim and
Seraphim, and with all the Company of Heaven, we laud and magnify
Thy glorious Name, evermore praising Thee, and saying:
The Trisagion
21 Shin
(The people kneel and all sing:)
All: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are
full of Thy Glory; Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high. Blessed is
He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the
Highest.
Anaphora
22 Tau
P: Likewise, we Thy servants do pray Thee Through Jesus Christ
Thy Son, our Lord, to accept, to purify, and to hallow this
Oblation which we make unto Thee. We desire to offer this Holy
Sacrifice, O Heavenly Father, in praise and adoration of Thy Holy
Name, and that it may help to lift the heavy burdens and sorrows
of this world, and knit Thy children closer unto Thee. Especially
do we pray for Thy Holy Universal Church, The Church of Antioch,
for our Matriarch Meri Louise, for all Bishops, Priests, and other
Ministers: and for all who love, seek, and know Thee throughout
the world. For the President, Vice President, Judiciary and
Congress of the United States, and all the people of our land, and
for the whole world: for those here present, and for all who in
this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, sickness, need or any
other adversity,
especially.........
Also, for those about to enter earth-life through the portal
of birth; and for their mothers-to-be; Likewise do we offer it for
all those Thy children whom it hath pleased Thee to deliver from
the earthly body of flesh,
especially...............
that freed from earthly toil and care, they may enjoy the
fullness of Thy Presence, evermore praising Thee, in word and
deed, O God, everlasting, worthy and true. For these and all
others for whom we ought to pray, may this sacrifice which we
offer unto Thee, O God, be efficacious in Thy sight, according to
the need of each.
The Epiklesis
23 I
(With hands spread over the offerings, the Priest
continues:)
P: Wherefore, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, we pray Thee, to
look upon and accept these offerings which we make unto Thee.
Which offerings do Thou, O Father, deign with Thy Holy Spirit to
bless, approve, and ratify, that they may become for us, His most
precious Body and Blood. (Softly) And make this Bread the precious
Body of Thy Christ (thrice). And make the wine and water in this
Chalice the precious Blood of Thy Christ (thrice). Changing them
by the Holy Spirit.
The Institution
24 II
P: Who, in the night in which He was betrayed took bread into
His holy and spotless hands, and with His eyes lifted up towards
heaven, He gave thanks unto Thee, Almighty God, His Father, He
blessed It, brake It, and gave It to His disciples saying: Take
and eat ye all of this, for This is My Body Which is broken for
you. Do this in remembrance of me.
(All chant, as Host is elevated:)
All: Thou didst give us bread from heaven, containing in
itself all sweetness. O Hidden Dweller in the Human Spirit, open
our eyes that we may see.
P: In Like manner, after He had supped, He took the cup, and
when He had given thanks He blessed It, and gave It to His
disciples saying: Drink ye all of It, for This is My Blood Of the
New Testament which is shed for you and for many for the remission
of sins, do this as oft as ye drink It in remembrance of me.
(All chant, as the Chalice is elevated:)
All: Thee we adore, O Hidden Splendor, Thee, Who in Thy
sacrament dost deign to be. We worship Thee beneath this earthly
veil; And here Thy presence we devoutly hail!
The Great Oblation
25 III
P: Wherefore, O Lord and Heavenly Father, we, Thy humble
servants, bearing in mind the ineffable sacrifice of Thy Son, the
Mystery of His wondrous Incarnation, His blessed passion, and
precious death, His mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, do
offer unto Thee this, the most precious Gift which Thou hast
bestowed upon us; this pure Host, this glorious Host, this Holy
Host, the Holy Bread of life everlasting and the Chalice of
eternal salvation, humbly praying Thee that Thou wouldst command
Thy holy Angel to bear our Oblation to Thine Altar on high, there
to be offered by Him, Who, as the Eternal High Priest, forever
offers Himself as the eternal sacrifice for the salvation of the
world.(The people may be seated.) And we do pray for Thy servant
who ministers at this altar, that meetly celebrating the mysteries
of Thy most holy Body and Blood of Thy Son, he/she may be filled
with Thy mighty power and blessing. (The Priest makes the last
cross upon him/herself.) Likewise we pray Thee to sanctify Thy
people here present with these, Thy heavenly gifts, and through
these mysteries do Thou hallow, quicken, and bless them, that both
in their hearts and in their lives they may show forth Thy praise
and glorify Thy holy Name. (The Priest makes with the Host the
sign of the cross three times over the chalice, saying:) All these
things do we ask, O Father, in the Name and through the mediation
of Thy Most Blessed Son, for we acknowledge and confess with our
hearts and lips that by Him were all things made, yea, all things
both in heaven and earth; with Him as indwelling Life, do all
things exist, and in Him as the transcendent Glory all things live
and move and have their being:(Then horizontally twice between the
chalice and his/her heart.) To Whom with Thee, O Mighty Father, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, be ascribed all honor and glory,
throughout the ages of ages.
C: Amen.
(The Priest here holds the Host directly over the chalice and
raises both to eye level.)
P: Let us pray. In obedience to the command of our blessed
Lord, and following the universal practice of His Holy Church, let
us say:
All: 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 let us enter not into
temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the
power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Commemoration of the Saints
26 IV
(Here the Priest makes the sign of the cross with the
paten.)
P: We praise and thank Thee, Thou, Who art the Ancient of
Ancients for the wonderful grace and virtue
declared in Holy Mary the Ever-Virgin Mother of our Lord and
God, Jesus Christ, and for all the just men
made perfect, the Watchers, Saints and Holy Ones, who rest not
day or night but say: Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
The Breaking of Bread
27 V
P: O Son of God, Who showeth Thyself this day upon countless
altars and yet art one and indivisible, in
token of Thy great Sacrifice, we break this Thy Body:(The
Priest breaks the host in half over the chalice and with a small
particle thereof makes the sign of the cross thrice over the
chalice and finally at the words "we unite" drops the particle
into the chalice.) And in token of Thy triumph over death, the
reuniting of Thy Soul and Body, and Thy glorious resurrection, we
unite this Thy Body with this Thy Blood; Praying that we being
dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto righteousness, may be one
with Thee even as Thou art one with the Father; and that this
action ordained from of old, may be to us and to all the world a
means of grace everlasting.
All: O Light of God, Who takest away the darkness of the
world, Illumine us! O Light of God, Who takest
away the darkness of the world, Illumine us! O Light of God,
Who takest away the darkness of the world,
Grant us Thy peace.
Salutation of Peace
28 VI
P: O Lord, Jesus Christ, who didst say to Thine apostles;
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto
you;" regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church and
grant Her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy holy
will; Thou who livest and reignest God, forever and ever.
C: Amen.
(The Priest faces the people and, with outstretched arms, says
or sings:)
P: The peace of the Lord be with you.
C: And with Thy spirit
The Communion
29 VII
P: May Almighty God Grant you pardon, absolution and remission
of all your sins, and bring you to life
eternal. Behold: The Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of
the world.
(The Priest communicates, then administers to the clergy and
servers. After the Priest and those in the
sanctuary have received holy communion, the Priest turns to
the people and says:)
P: All are invited to share in this communion for the Lord's
Supper belongs to All his people. Receive the
Divine Light which lighteth everyone who cometh into the
world, draw nigh and receive this most Precious Gift. May the
communion of these most Holy Mysteries be to the healing of both
Soul and body.(The people come forward to the communion rail and
kneel.)(As the Priest administers the holy communion to each,
he/she says:) The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep
thee unto life eternal.
Prayer of the Veil
30 VIII
(The communion being ended, the Priest says:)
P: Under the veil of earthly things now have we communion with
our Lord Jesus Christ; soon with open face shall we behold him.
And rejoicing in His glory be made like unto Him. Then shall His
true disciples be brought by Him with exceeding joy before the
presence of His Father's glory.
Thanksgiving
31 IX
(The people stand and all sing:)
All: Amen, Blessing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honor, and power, and might, be unto
our God forever and ever. Amen
P: Let us pray.(The people kneel.)
All: We, who have been refreshed with Thy heavenly gifts, do
pray Thee, O Lord, that Thy grace may be so grafted inwardly in
our hearts, that it may continually be made manifest in our lives.
Through Christ our
Lord.
C: Amen.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And with thy spirit.
P: Bless we the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
P: Ite Messa Est.
C: Deo Gratias!
The Benediction
32 X
P: The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep
your hearts and minds in the knowledge and
love of God, and of His Son, Christ our Lord; and the blessing
of God Almighty, the Father the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be
amongst you and remain with you always
C: Amen.
An Alternative Creed
P: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is One True Church,
Apostolic and Universal, whose Holy Faith let us now reverently
and sincerely declare:
All: We believe in the One God, Maker and Ruler of all things,
Father of all humankind, the Source of all goodness, love, beauty,
and truth. We believe in Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh,
our Example, Teacher, Redeemer, and Liberator. We believe in the
Holy Spirit, the Holy Saint Sophia, God present with us for
guidance, comfort, purification, and strength. We believe in the
forgiveness of sins, our forgiveness of others being the measure
of God's forgiveness of ours. We believe in the life of prayer and
love, grace for every need, and in a generous response to our
Christian obligations as a measure of our sincerity. We believe in
the Word of God as a sufficient rule both of faith and practice.
We believe in the Church as the fellowship of the sons and the
daughters of God as a center for worship, service, and growth in
perfection. We believe in the Kingdom of God as the Divine Rule in
human life, and the Brotherhood of humanity under the Fatherhood
of God. We believe in the final triumph of righteousness and in a
dynamic quality of life, beginning on Earth and continuing through
eternities. Amen
Presented as a gift and legacy to the Autumn 1979 Cathedral
Class of Ordinands for the Priesthood by the Ordaining Archbishop
Herman Adrian Spruit.
