The Eucharist

Leo the Great Tuesday 10 November 2026 12.45pm

Welcome to Southwark Cathedral.

When it comes to the time of Communion please form a single line down the centre of the nave. Communion is in one kind only and will be given in silence. You may come for a blessing, which will also be given in silence. After receiving the host please return to your seat via the side aisles.

You are most welcome and thank you for joining us.

The words in bold are said by all.

The Greeting

The President says

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit All: Amen.

The Lord be with you All: and also with you.

Prayers of Penitence

The President invites the congregation to call to mind their sins and their need of God's forgiveness with these or other words

Let us confess our sins to Almighty God in penitence and in faith

All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault.

We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

Kyrie Eleison

May be said.

Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy All: Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy

The Absolution

The President declares God's forgiveness.

The Gloria

Said on major feast days.

All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect

The President collects together the intentions of the people with a special prayer for the day or the week.

The Liturgy of the Word

The First Reading: Ecclesiasticus 39.6-10

If the great Lord is willing, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own and give thanks to the Lord in prayer. The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge, as he meditates on his mysteries. He will show the wisdom of what he has learned, and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant. Many will praise his understanding; it will never be blotted out. His memory will not disappear, and his name will live through all generations. Nations will speak of his wisdom, and the congregation will proclaim his praise.

At the end, the reader says

This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel: Matthew 16.13-19

The Lord be with you All: and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’

At the end, the reader says

This is the Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, O Christ.

Prayers of Intercession

Each section of the prayers ends with

Lord, in your mercy All: hear our prayer.

Lord, hear us. All: Lord, graciously hear us.

The President concludes the prayers with these or other words

Merciful Father, All: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

The President introduces the peace and then says

The peace of the Lord be always with you All: and also with you.

The Preparation of the Table

As bread and wine are placed on the altar, the President may use prayers which conclude with the following response

All: Blessed be God for ever.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you All: and also with you. Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise.

The President prays the preface, after which we all say

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Eucharistic Prayer continues. One of the following Acclamations may be used

Great is the mystery of faith: All: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus: All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life: Lord Jesus, come in glory.

At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, the congregation says

All: Amen.

All: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.

All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. All: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Agnus Dei

May be said.

All: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

All: Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

The Invitation to Communion

The President invites the congregation to make their communion using these words

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Prayer after Communion

A brief silence is kept. The President then prays a Post Communion prayer, after which the following prayer may be said

All: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

The Dismissal

The President pronounces God's blessing and the congregation replies