Preface: The great Sacrament of Matrimony

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord,

For in him you have made a new covenant with your people,
so that, as you have redeemed man and woman
by the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection,
so in Christ you might make them partakers of divine nature
and joint heirs with him of heavenly glory.

In the union of husband and wife
you give a sign of Christ’s loving gift of grace,
so that the Sacrament we celebrate
might draw us back more deeply
into the wondrous design of your love.

And so, with the Angels and all the Saints,
we praise you, and without end we acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . .

Preface: The Priesthood of Christ and the ministry of Priests

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For by the anointing of the Holy Spirit
you made your Only Begotten Son
High Priest of the new and eternal covenant,
and by your wondrous design were pleased to decree
that his one Priesthood should continue in the Church.

For Christ not only adorns with a royal priesthood
the people he has made his own,
but with a brother’s kindness he also chooses men
to become sharers in his sacred ministry
through the laying on of hands.

They are to renew in His name
the sacrifice of human redemption,
to set before your children the paschal banquet,
to lead your holy people in charity,
to nourish them with the Word
and strengthen them with the Sacraments.

As they give up their lives for you
and for the salvation of their brothers and sisters,
they strive to be conformed to the image of Christ himself
and offer you a constant witness of faith and love.

And so, Lord, with all the Angels and Saints,
we, too, give you thanks, as in exultation we acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . .

Preface: (old) The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks,
for you have revealed to us, in Christ the healer,
your unfailing power and steadfast compassion.

In the splendor of his rising
your Son conquered suffering and death
and bequeathed to us His promise
of a new and glorious world,
where no bodily pain will afflict us
and (there will be) no anguish of spirit.

Through the gift of your Holy Spirit,
you bless us, even now, with comfort and healing,
strength and hope, forgiveness and peace.

In this supreme Sacrament of your love,
you give us the risen body of your Son:
a pattern of what we shall become
when He returns again at the end of time.

In gladness and joy,
we join the great canticle of all creation,
as with the Angels and Saints we acclaim you:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . .