Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of Easter
But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was offered for us, and has taken away the sin of the world; who by his death has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again has won for us everlasting life.
Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.
One of Cranmer's own English compositions, this collect was written for the 1549 Prayer Book as the proper prayer for the Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James, weaving together Christ's self-disclosure in John 14 with his high-priestly prayer in John 17. In 1979 it was reassigned to the Fifth Sunday of Easter, its apostolic references removed, so the whole season could meditate on resurrection life as the knowledge of Christ.