Liturgy for the Celebration of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
Thanksgiving To God for the Joint Declaration on Justification to be signed at Augsburg, Germany October 31, 1999 by representatives of The Lutheran World Federation and The Roman Catholic Church.
Lutheran Representative:
In the name of the Father and of the Son (x) and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: AMEN
A Reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans (3:21-26)
The Word of the Lord
ALL: Thanks be to God
Lutheran Representative:
"In faith we together hold the conviction that justification is the work of the Triune God. The Father sent his Son into the world to save sinners." JD 15
Roman Catholic Representative:
"The foundation and presupposition of justification is the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ." JD 15
Lutheran Representative:
"Justification thus means that Christ himself is our righteousness in which we share through the Holy Spirit in accord with the will of the Father." JD 15
Roman Catholic Representative:
"We confess together that all persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for salvation." JD 19
Lutheran Representative:
"We confess together that God forgives sin by grace and at the same time frees human beings from sin=s enslaving power and imparts the gift of new life in Christ." JD 22
Roman Catholic Representative:
"We confess together that sinners are justified by the saving action of God in Christ." JD 25
Lutheran Representative:
"We confess together that the faithful can rely on the mercy and promises of God." JD 34
Roman Catholic Representative:
"We confess together that good works (Christian life lived in faith, hope, and love) follow justification and are its fruits." JD 37
Lutheran Representative:
Let us stand and confess together:
ALL We confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.
The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God of patient and tireless love, through Jesus, your Son, you redeemed us by a great sacrifice of love. Renew our hearts by the power of his cross and fill our lives with faith, that we may walk with justice and truth, conformed to the image of your Son, and made one in the Holy Spirit. For you are God, for ever and ever. AMEN (Collect of thanksgiving newly prepared.)
Lord, hear the prayers of your people and bring the hearts of believers together in your praise and in common sorrow for our sins. Heal all divisions among Christians that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of your Church and move together as one to eternal life in your kingdom. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN (Collect for unity from the Roman Sacramentary.)
Roman Catholic Representative:
In the faith we share, let us pray in the words our Savior Christ has taught us:
ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who
trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen
Hymn: "Holy God We Praise Your Name"
Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
All on Earth your scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
Everlasting is your reign.
Hark! The glad celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord;
"Holy, holy, holy Lord!"
Lo, the apostolic train
Join your sacred name to hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain,
And the white-robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun
Through the Church the song goes on.
Holy Father, holy Son,
Holy Spirit, three we name you,
Though in essence only one;
Undivided God we claim you
And, adoring, bend the knee
While we own the mystery.
Text: source unknown; tr. Clarence A. Walworth, 1820-1900, alt. grosser gott
Tune: Maria Theresa, Katholishces Gesangbuch, 1774 78 78 77
Lutheran Representative:
Let us pray for God's blessing.
Roman Catholic Representative:
May almighty God bless us in mercy, and make us always aware of his saving wisdom.
ALL: AMEN
Lutheran Representative:
May God strengthen our faith with proofs of love, so that we may persevere in good works.
ALL: AMEN
Roman Catholic Representative:
May God direct our steps and show us how to walk together in charity and peace.
ALL: AMEN
Lutheran Representative:
Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL: AMEN
Thus it becomes clear that the mutual condemnations of former times do not apply to the Roman Catholic and Lutheran doctrines of justification as they are presented in the joint declaration.
Soli Deo Gloria
August 20, 1999
1999 Churchwide Assembly
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Copyright 1999 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the national Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce for a specific service or for study purposes is hereby granted to any congregation, national unit, synod, diocese, agency or institution associated with one of the copyright holders. The following acknowledgment must appear: Reprinted from "Thanksgiving to God for the Joint Declaration on Justification, copyright 8 1999, by permission.