Excerpts from The Avalonian Mass

Opening Hymn:
How Strange and Wondrous Is This Place

by +Jon Ryner

1) How strange and wondrous is this place,
filled with a weird, yet glorious grace,
where we are in God's Presence.
With gargoyles' glares and greenfolk's gleams,
with candles' flares and stained glass beams,
earth is merged with the heavens.

R/ Mary! Jesus! From the dark of our souls' sins and fears, release us!
Unto the Great Sun, please lead us!

2) With might that great Saint Michael brings,
and healing in Raphael's wings,
a heav'nly host surrounds us.
With Gabriel's trump and clarion call,
the ministering angels fall:
Humility astounds us. R/

3) The Lamb rules from the altar high,
where throngs of faithful servants cry,
"Most Holy, Holy Holy!"
There is no need for lamp or sun:
Alpha-Omega has begun
to fill us with His glory. R/

4) 'Round us sev'n flaming Spirits stand,
which are by God sent through the land
to demonstrate true power.
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come
feast now in New Jerusalem,
for late has grown the hour." R/

5) From labor lasting sev'ral years,
through sweat and blood and many tears,
this beauteous temple now stands.
May this first fruit sprout many more,
and many blessings bright outpour
from God's gracious and strong hands. R/

The Invocation

Priest. In the name of the Great Sun, Prophet of True Righteousness, Holy Ghost, Who winnows all.

R/ Amen.

The Canticle

1) I shall ascend the altar,

2) I invoke for protection
where earth doth touch the sky.

the relics of my God;
There jeweled rays ne'er falter,

from holy Glastonbury,
and angels dwelleth nigh.

where His son's feet once trod.

Optional Refrain
Encircled, I
with confidence do cry,
"The sacred Mystery now draweth nigh!"

3) The crystal cross of blessing,

4) Excalibur, the great sword;
the thorn which ever grows,

two waters, red and white;
the cruets of Christ's Passion,

tall stones encircling the Tor,
whence blood and sweat didst flow;

which gleam like full moon's light.

5) the ever-changing Chalice,

6) I ascend now the altar
known as the Holy Graal--

where earth doth touch the sky.
Its Cup gives greatest blessings,

There jeweled rays ne'er falter,
renewing those who fall.

and angels dwelleth nigh.

7) My wand'ring, fainting spirit
shall soon be restored there:
In that celestial city,
precious Sarras (or Jerusalem) most fair.

Confiteor

Holy God, Thou hast created humanity to be immortal and made each of us 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 God, hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are ever restless 'til 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 Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Absolution

Priest: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve and sanctify you; the Lord in his lovingkindness look down upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord (+) cleanse you from all unrighteousness and grant you the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, that you might kneel before the Hallows, your faces full with radiance, and your hearts exuberant in the expectation of great holiness.

R/ Amen.

The Scribing of the Caim

The Quarter Calls

The Introit

1) Great and mighty Trinity,

2) Godhead's splend'rous apogee,
reigning through eternity,

we before Thee bend the knee.
Three-in-One, and One-in-Three,

With the angels, saints and sidhe,
we praise Thy bright majesty!

praise we Him, Who from the Tree
Sov'reign over land, sky, sea:

rose shining, triumphantly.
Before Thee all evils flee.

Holy Master, hear our plea:
Praise and honor be to Thee,

Shine on us infinitely,
high and holy Trinity!

high and holy Trinity!

3) Sophia, the Mystery,
giver of true Wisdom's key,
the Father and Son agree
with Thy counsel, giv'n freely.
Sages and sinners are blest
by Thy nurt'ring at Thy breast.
Overwhelmed in wonder, we
praise Thee, holy Trinity!

The Asperging and First Censing

1) O holy God, we seek Thy grace,

2) Thy precious, mighty artifacts
as we assemble in this space.

buttress us when evil attacks. R/

R/ O holy God! O holy God!

3) With fire, water, earth and air

4) Thy water wash; Thy salt avert
we invoke Thy protective care.

all which might mislead, hate or hurt. R/

5) This incense smoke shall strongly trace

6) Signs and wonders stream from Thy hand
its mystic charge throughout this place. R/

to nourish now this thirsty Land. R/

7) The Hidden Dream supreme unfolds,

8) which glitters more than any gold,
that time and moth never corrode. R/

while we prepare Thy grand abode. R/

9) Then as a tear falls from Thine eye,
we're cleansed again as Thou draw'th nigh. R/

Caim

1) Creator, encircle us!
Eye of Sun, encircle us!
Holy Ghost, encircle us!

2) Sophia, encircle us!
Logos Lord, encircle us!
Shekhinah, encircle us!

3) Creator, encircle us!
Eye of Sun, encircle us!
Holy Ghost, encircle us!

Gloria in Excelsis

The Collects

The Epistle

Thanks be to God!

The Gradual

R/ Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Allelui
Allelui
Alleluia!

V/ His wondrous Word will precious grace on us bestow,
while angels adore Him in the heav'ns above.
His faithful servants praise Him on the earth below:
He is the Lord of Love! R/

Munda Cor Meum

The Gospel

The Sermon

The Creed

Offertorium

The Second Censing

Priest: As this incense rises before thee, O Lord, so let our prayer be set forth in thy sight. Let thy holy angels encompass thy people and breathe forth upon them the spirit of thy blessing.

May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of his love and the flame of everlasting charity.

Lavabo

Orate Fratres

The Pagan Preface

Rose of Sharon, Lily of the Valley, Your incarnation, passion, death and resurrection teach us the all the importance of our world. You were born as the Son of the Mystical Rose in a cave, and wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. Magi from the East brought unto You precious gifts of this world: gold for glory, frankincense for joyful fragrance, and myrrh for embalmed sorrow. You were the Crucified Savior on the Tree of Life, wrapped in herbal-laden linen, and laid in a dark-caverned tomb. You rose on the third day, as You had rightly prophesied. You ascended through the lofty clouds to become the golden Lord of Glory, the blazing Sun of Righteousness, the hidden Moon of secret Wisdom.

Your command over all the creatures of Nature is absolute. You walked on water, turned water into wine, cast out demons from the possessed, and healed every degree of illness in the sick from all stations of life.

Yet ever do You call us to look to the natural world for our instruction, Teacher of Tintagel, Scholar of Stonehenge, Bard of Avebury. You taught that the flowers were graced with mantles more glorious than any of Solomon's, that the birds are given nests by the loving Hand of our gracious God, that whosoever knocks shall have the door opened unto them, and that whosoever seeks shall find.

Therefore, we have this bread to offer, which Earth has given and human hands have made. It shall become for us the Bread of Heaven, which even angels do endlessly adore and feed upon.

Blessed be God forever.
Celebrant adds a tiny amount of water to the chalice, saying:
As two waters flowed from the riven side
of the precious (Paschal at Eastertide) Lamb of Sacrifice,
so we now mingle waters red and white
in this bright chalice with great gladness:
Make it blameless in Your sight.
In us, O Christ, we pray abide;
and we in Thee, whate'er betide. Amen.

Therefore, also we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It shall become for us the Nectar of Righteousness, to nourish our souls unto life everlasting.
Blessed be God forever.

The Sacring of the King of Glory

O Revelation of Rennes-le-Chateau, in the labyrinth of earthly life, when we had fallen victim to the disease of our prideful sins, you entered into our shattered world as the avatar of Avalon to traverse the maze to find us, teach us, and redeem us. We, your humble servants, seek now your most sacred Blessing to heal us, guide us, and strengthen us, O Lord of Lindisfarne, Logos of Broceliende, Christ of the Celts.

In the night in which he was betrayed, the full moon shone. He gathered with his disciples in a quiet, secluded room. He celebrated with his followers, 'til the hour late had grown. Soon accomplished would be his apparent mortal doom.

He took bread into his holy and spotless hands. He said in a voice exceedingly grand, "This is My Body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."

Deacon or Priest: Behold the Bread of Life, the grain-cloaked King of Glory, the Savior of Creation!

In the same manner, he took the cup when he had supped, and said most eloquently, "This is My Blood, of the new and everlasting testament, the Mystery of Faith, which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins. As oft as ye shall do these things, do them in remembrance of Me."

Deacon or Priest: Behold the White Hart's Blood, the Chalice of the Righteous, the Shrine of Avalon!

The Commemoration of the Saints

Here do we give unto thee, O ever-loving God, most high praise and heartfelt thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in Thy holy Lady Mary, our heavenly Mother, and in all Thy glorious saints from the beginning of the world, who have been the choice vessels of Thy grace and a shining light unto many generations. With all Thy faithful Church throughout the world, through this sublime Sacrifice, we seek that our spirits be united with the Queen of Heaven, Earth and Hell, Eon de l'Etoile, Padruig, Columbkille, Joseph of Arimathea, Padre Pio, Pope Sylvester Magus, Francis of Assissi, Clair, Ormus, Shadwynn, Merlynn, Mary Magdalen, Brighid, Hypatia, Lady Sabrina, Robert Whiting, George, Odile, Therese of Lisieaux, Fraimbault de Lassay, Milla'n, Saturio, Jean d'Arc, Abbe Gillard, Maitre Jacques, Waldo, Arthur, Archbishop Jonathon Pantaleon and Hermalaos, William Sinclair the Seemly, Taliesin, Nicholas of Myra, Eslarmonde, Sar Merodak, Linus, and all our wonder-working ancestors in the holy and undivided Faith, illuminated by their wisdom, strengthened by their ceaseless prayers, and guided by their grace.

Inspired by their example, we + join with them in worship before Thy great white throne, whence flow all love and light and blessing through all the worlds which Thou hast made.

O Son of God, who showest Thyself this day upon a thousand altars and yet art one and indivisible, in token of Thy great sacrifice, we break this, Thy Body, praying that by this action, ordained from of old, Thy + strength, Thy + peace and Thy + blessing, which Thou dost give us in this holy sacrament, may be spread abroad upon Thy world; and as Thou, O Lord Christ, wast made known to Thy disciples in the breaking of bread, so may Thy many children know themselves to be one in Thee, even as Thou art one with the Father. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Jesus, Lamb of God,
You take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
You take away the pride of the world,
With Wisdom fill us.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
You take away the pain of the world,
enshroud us in Your perfect peace.

The Intoxicating Invitation

From the everlasting mists of time returns the healing Lamb, the sacrificed Priest, the loving Lord of Life. Behold Him; receive His most precious Body and Blood. Feed on Him with thanksgiving, and be made whole.

The Communion

The Flesh of Christ, the Grain of Redemption. Amen.
The Blood of Christ in the Grail of Salvation. Amen.

The Post-Communio

Heaven has entertwined with earth.
We have taken the Divine Life into ourselves: bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh, spirit of our spirit. Behold! The Crucified Savior has risen in strength from the tomb triumphant, harrowing hell and death's domain, ascending in the radiance of solar glory.
And so may we in truth now say,
Ascended Christ, we welcome Your abiding presence in the temples of our bodies. We enthrone You upon the Tor in our hearts. We will rise, strengthened by Your abiding presence with us, to perform deeds that are right and honorable in Your sight, becoming Your salt for the earth, Your light for the world.

The Closing Prayer

Lord of all Powers, Light of all Lights, Source of all Wisdom, shine in the hearts of Thy servants, and restore to Thy Church the knowledge of Thy hidden Mysteries of Wisdom. Amen.

Jesus, Thou Light most holy: lead us to the ancient and narrow Path, which was, and is, and will be evermore. Thou, O Christ, art that Path, and we also by the Power of our Life hidden in Thee are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.

Thou art One, and from Thee the many come forth, rooted in Thee. Thou sustainest angels and men. Thou art the Father and Mother of all worlds. By the hidden Way of the Cross, to the glory of the Risen Word, lead us, O Lord, that we and all Thy Church may find Peace and Union with the changeless Source of our souls. Amen.

The Benediction

+ May you be enfolded in the strength of the Uncreated,
blessed by the love of the Only-Begotten,
sainned by the grace of the unseen Spirit. Amen.

Closing Song: The Budded Staff by +Jon Ryner

Click here to play a "Miami Sound Machine version" MIDI of this song.(If you right click & open it in a new window you can alt-tab back to this page to view the lyrics while music is playing. The MIDI isn't the best, but the tune and notes in the chords had to be entered one at a time and the program wouldn't allow us to add the turns that should actually be sung. :( )

1) As mists part now before our eyes, new wonders we behold.
The secrets of the stars of space before us now unfold.
The labyrinthine steps now rise, a challenge to us bold
to travel wise to seize the prize, more precious far than gold.
With God's grace, we'll gladly ever go
on blesse'd Glastonbury's path,
and love on the wond'ring world bestow,
with joy to find the budded staff.

2) With struggling steps, we impatiently traverse up the Tor,
but with Christ's and our Lady's help, the climb won't be too hard.
With ev'ry patterned pace we take, we learn more hidden lore.
With pride we take our place with Him who's scented with spikenard.
With God's grace, we'll gladly ever go
on blesse'd Glastonbury's path,
and love on the wond'ring world bestow,
with joy to see the budded staff.

3) The ages roll ever on, like the Wheel of the Year.
The Wounded World in sorrow waits for light and peace to dawn.
We must in confidence like our great Magdalen now steer
the darkened souls, long stressed, to safe harbor like blesse'd Bran.
With God's grace, we'll gladly ever go
on blesse'd Glastonbury's path,
and love on the wond'ring world bestow,
with joy to bear the budded staff.

4) The hand of God a rainbow sunrise panoply now paints.
The Grail Mass begins as the bell on Michael's Mount rings.
With grace we'll ever sing the chants of ancient Celtic saints.
To hightest heaven we will soar as if on angels' wings.
With God's grace, we'll gladly ever go
on blesse'd Glastonbury's path,
and love on the wond'ring world bestow,
with joy to plant the budded staff.

The chalice on this page appears courtesy of James Wappel Studios. A million thanks!

The gorgeous background and matching bar on this page are courtesy of the creatrix, Gayel. Many thanks! Benediccioun Greal!

All written material in this site is copyrighted by the Most Rev. Jon Ryner, except where noted.

The Avalonian Catholic Church
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