O Lord, our God: In their ignorance and audacity, your own creatures put your only Son to death. But Joseph, in his faith and love, took him down from the cross and buried him in his own tomb. The high priests, true to their suspicious nature, posted their guard. As your eternal word lies in the grave, bathed in the fragrance of these funeral flowers, we bring our praise and spiritual worship to him who receives from all believers hymns and prayers in every tongue. From your infinite treasury of gifts, give us hearts that believe in the face of every doubt, minds that rise above cynicism and despair, and spirits that escape the stranglehold of uncontrolled and selfish inclinations. Pardon all our sins and let us all rejoice in the resurrection of your Christ.

By the grace and mercy and love for us of your only Son, with whom you are blest, together with your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit: now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

(A prayer of Fr. Laurence)