n Prayer in general, so it may be
concluded especially of the Collect in particular, "that it is the
supplications of many gathered into one by the voice of the Priest
and offered up by him to the Father through our Lord and Mediator
Jesus Christ." {65}

Comfortable Words.--The name given to the short passages of
Scripture read after the Absolution in the Communion service. It
has been pointed out that these are peculiar to our Liturgy and that
"perhaps the object of their introduction was the obvious one
suggested in the title of _Comfortable Words_, of confirming the
words of Absolution with those of Christ and His Apostles; and of
holding forth our Lord and Saviour before the communicants, in the
words of Holy Scripture to prepare them for 'discerning' His Body
in the Sacrament."

Commendatory Prayer.--A beautiful and impressive prayer added to
the Prayer Book in 1661, and which is to be said over a dying
person. This prayer ought to be memorized by every Churchman so
as to use it in any emergency for, as Bishop Coxe suggests in
"Thoughts on the Services," "whether a Clergyman be present or
not, no Christian should be willing to die, or be permitted to die,
without the _Commendatory Prayer_ said by some one present at or
near the moment of departure. Church people are not heathen, that
they should neglect this bounden duty to one who is passing away.
'Father into Thy hands I commend My spirit,' said the Saviour with
His dying breath. So should the sick person in his own behalf; or
those who love him in his behalf, if because of the pain or
unconsciousness of death, he cannot frame the petition for himself."

Commandments, The Ten.--(See DECALOGUE.)

Common Prayer.--Bishop Whitehead has given the following explanation
of this term: "Common Prayer is so called in distinction from
private or {66} special prayer. It comprehends those needs and
expresses those religious feelings which are common to all God's
children who come together to worship. So we make our common
supplications, confess our common sins, and offer our common
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, of alms and devotion." (See
WORSHIP, also PRAYER BOOK.)

Communion, Holy.--(See HOLY COMMUNION.)

Communion of Saints.--An article of the Creed by which is meant
the fellowship with, or union in Christ of all who are one with
Him whether they are among the living in the Church on earth or
the departed in Paradise. The Communion of Saints is specially