The Commendation

From the Book of Divine Worship - The Burial of the Dead - Rite One.

The Celebrant and other ministers take their places at the body.

This anthem, or some other suitable anthem, or a hymn, may be sung or said.

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant(s) with thy saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Thou only art immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return. For so didst thou ordain when thou createdst me, saying, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." All we go down to the dust; yet even in the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant(s) with thy saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more,
neither sighing, but life everlasting.

The Celebrant, facing the body, says,

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

The Celebrant, or the Bishop if present, may then bless the People, and a Deacon or other Minister may dismiss them, saying:

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People

Thanks be to God.

As the body is borne from the church, a hymn, or one or more of these anthems, may be sung or said:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in the tomb.

The Sun of Righteousness is gloriously risen, giving light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The Lord will guide our feet into the way of peace, having taken away the sin of the world.

Christ will open the kingdom of heaven to all who believe in his Name, saying, Come, O blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you.

Into Paradise may the angels lead thee; and at thy coming may the martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem.

Or one of these Canticles:

The Song of Zechariah, Benedictus, pp. 118, 144
The Song of Simeon, Nunc dimittis, pp. 165, 176
Christ our Passover, Pascha nostrum, pp. 113, 136