Christ our Passover (Pascha nostrum)
1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
Contemporary
Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 83
Alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.
Christ has been raised from the dead, *
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, *
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.
Traditional
Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 83
Alleluia.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.
Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; *
death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once; *
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, *
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.
Christ is risen from the dead, *
and become the first fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, *
by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.
History
The middle verses, from Romans 6, were sung in procession on Easter morning in the medieval English church. Cranmer’s 1549 prayer book kept them before Morning Prayer on Easter Day and added verses from 1 Corinthians 15. In 1552 they replaced the Venite on Easter Day. The 1662 prayer book added the opening verses, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,” which give the canticle its name.
Today it replaces the invitatory psalm in Easter Week, and you may use it every day until Pentecost.
Sources: Book of Common Prayer (1549), Easter Week; Book of Common Prayer (1662), Easter Day; Book of Common Prayer (1979), Morning Prayer: Rite Two.
When it is sung
- Sunday, March 28, 2027Morning Prayer
- Monday, March 29, 2027Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, March 30, 2027Morning Prayer
- Wednesday, March 31, 2027Morning Prayer
- Thursday, April 1, 2027Morning Prayer
- Friday, April 2, 2027Morning Prayer
- Saturday, April 3, 2027Morning Prayer
- Sunday, April 4, 2027Morning Prayer