A Collection of Prayers

In the midst of life we are in death.
To whom may we look for help,
but from you, Lord,
who for our sins
are justly displeased?

Yet, Lord God most holy,
Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.

Source: Attributed to Notker the Stammerer, battle song from the year A. D. 912, based on the English translation in the Book of Common Prayer.

Most versions render the last line, “deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.”

Original in Latin:

Media vita in morte sumus
quem quaerimus adjutorem
nisi te, Domine,
qui pro peccatis nostris
juste irasceris?

Sancte Deus,
sancte fortis,
sancte et misericors Salvator:
amarae morti ne tradas nos.

Book of Common Prayer 1559 text in traditional English:

In the midst of life we be in death: of whom may we seek for succor but…

O God,
you are as rich in pity as you are in power,
merciful and mighty.
See your whole creation,
as it has been groaning
in the pains of childbirth until now.
As you have broken the power of evil
by the cross of Christ
and by his endless sacrifice
you take away the sin of the world,
hasten the time
when the last enemy of humanity
shall be completely defeated
and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore,
and you will wipe away every tear from our eyes;
through your redeeming love
in Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

Source: The Order of Divine Service for Public Worship … Compiled by W.E. Orchard, Etc. London, 1921, p. 115 (Litany of the Sick)

Also found here: Collects and Prayers for use in Church,  United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #244

“hasten the time” may…

Into your hands, O God,
we commend ourselves
and all who are dear to us this day.
Let your presence be with us even to its close.
Let us never lose sight of you
all the day long,
but let us worship and pray to you,
that at evening we may again give you thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Original Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of This Version: The Catholic Prayer Book © 1984, Servant Books, Cincinnati OH

Also found at: http://www.woodfordvalleyparish.org.uk/prayers.html

Variant:

Into your hands, O Lord,
we commend ourselves this day.
Let your presence be with us to its close.
Strengthen us to remember
that in whatever good work we do we are serving you.
Give us a diligent and watchful spirit,
that we may seek to know your will in all things,
and in knowing it, gladly to perform it,
to the honor and glory of your…

The Litany of Chrysostom may be read or may be sung to this tune. Sometimes it is sung in a way that the word “Lord” overlaps between the cantor and congregation: “In peace, let us pray to the Lord, have mercy.” Graphics for use in service folders, with or without harmony, are provided below, along with a Word file.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the holy Churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our…

O most loving Father,
you want us to give thanks for all things,
to dread nothing but losing you,
and to cast all our anxiety on you
because you care for us.
Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties
and grant that no clouds of this mortal life
may hide from us the light of that love
which is immortal,
and which you have shown us
in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Source: William Bright

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 46 #2

“cast all our anxiety on you” is a reference to 1 Peter 5:7

“Lorica” was originally the word for a breastplate that a Roman soldier would wear. Loricas were prayers for protection—sometimes praying for protection from every angle, or protection for every part of the body. St. Patrick’s Breastplate is also known as “The Lorica.”

I arise today
through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
through belief in the Threeness,
through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
through the strength of Christ’s birth and his baptism,
through the strength of his crucifixion and his burial,
through the strength of his resurrection and his ascension,
through the strength of his descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
through the strength of the love of cherubim,
in the obedience of angels,
in the service of archangels,
in the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
in the prayers of patriarchs,
in the predictions of prophets,