BIDDING PRAYER. A form of Christian prayer in which the people are " bidden " to prayer for certain persons. It is no longer in common use; but may be heard sometimes in Cathedrals, Inns of Court, and the Universities. Canon 55 of 1603 orders that " before all sermons, lectures, and homilies, the preachers and ministers shall move the people to join with them in prayer, in this form or to this effect as briefly as con veniently they may." The form then in use ran : " Ye shall pray for Christ's holy Catholic Church, that is, for the whole congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world, and especially for the Churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland : and herein I require you most especially to pray for the King's most excellent Majesty our Sovereign Lord James, King of England. Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor hi these his realms. and all other his dominions and countries, over all persons. in all causes, as well Ecclesiastical as Tem poral : ye shall also pray for our gracious Queen Anne. the noble Prince Henry, and the rest of the King and Queen's royal issue: ye shall also pray for the Ministers of God's holy Word and Sacraments, as well Archbishops and Bishops, as other Pastors and Curates: ye shall also pray for the King's most honourable Council, and for all the Nobility and Magistrates of this realm; that all and every of these, in their several callings, may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God, and the edifying and well governing of his people, remembering the account that they most make: also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this realm, that they may dive in the true faith and fear of God in humble obedience to the King and brotherly charity one to another.
Finally, let us praise God for all those which are departed out of this life in the faith of Christ, and pray unto God that we may have grace to direct our lives after their good example; that, this life ended, we may be made partakers with them of the glorious resurrection in the life everlasting; always concluding with the Lord's Prayer." See Prot. Dict.