Skip Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Oriel College Prayers

The College Prayer

The College Prayer is recited by the Provost (or Senior Fellow present) at the end of Sunday Choral Evensong and certain other services:

“Lord God, the resurrection and the life of all them that believe, who art always to be praised both in the living and in the dead, we give Thee hearty thanks for our memorable Founder Edward II, Adam de Brome our principal Benefactor*, and all other our Benefactors, by whose benefits we are here maintained in godliness and learning; and we beseech Thee that, using Thy gifts rightly, we may be led to the immortal glory of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

*The full list of Benefactors, inserted into the College Prayer after the name Adam de Brome, is customarily read out on Commemoration of Benefactors Sunday, Candlemas, the last Sunday of Trinity Term, and at services before Gaudies.

The College Graces

Ante cibum

Benedicte Deus, qui pascis nos a iuventute nostra et praebes cibum omni carni, reple gaudio et laetitia corda nostra, ut nos, affatim quod satis est habentes, abundemus in omne opus bonum. Per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum, cui tecum et Spiritu Sancto sit omnis honos, laus et imperium in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Translation:

Blessed God, who feeds us from our youth and provides food for all flesh, fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that we, having enough to satisfy us, may abound in every good work. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and Holy Spirit, be all honour, praise and power for all ages. Amen.

Post cibum

After the meal, the Provost, or the presiding Fellow, often recites a short Latin prayer: ‘Benedicto benedicatur, per Jesum Christum, Dominum nostrum. Amen’. This translates into English as ‘Let praise be given to/by the Blessed One, though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen’. Alternatively, he or she may elect to recite the full post cibum grace, which is similar to but not the same as the College Prayer:

Domine Deus, resurrectio et vita credentium, qui semper es laudandus tum in viventibus tum in defunctis, gratias tibi agimus pro Edvardo Secundo Fundatore nostro, pro Adamo de Brome praecipuo Benefactore, caeterisque Benefactoribus nostris, quorum beneficiis hic ad pietatem et ad studia bonarum literarum alimur: rogantes ut nos his donis tuis ad tuam gloriam recte utentes, una cum illis ad Resurrectionis gloriam immortalem perducamur, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Translation:

Lord God, the resurrection and life of all who believe in thee, who art always worthy to be praised by both the living and the dead, we give thee thanks for Edward the Second, our Founder; for Adam de Brome, our principal benefactor; and for all our other benefactors, by whose benefits we are here maintained in godliness and learning; and we beseech thee that, using these thy gifts rightly, we may be led to the immortal glory of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

further information

Oriel Chapel

History of the Chapel

Living at Oriel