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Rites for the Lighting of an Advent Wreath
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.
Help us by your great might,
that whatever is hindered by our sins
may be speedily accomplished for your glory;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, Gelasian, 8th Century
Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers
Original in Latin:
Excita, quæsumus, Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: et magna nobis virtute succurre: ut per auxilium gratiæ tuæ quod nostra peccata præpediunt, indulgentia tuæ propitiationis acceleret. Qui vivis…
Lord, hear our prayers,
and lighten the darkness of our hearts
by your gracious appearing;
for you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent, Gregorian, 10th Century
Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers
Original in Latin:
Aurem tuam, quæsumus, Dómine, précibus nostris accómmoda: et mentis nostræ ténebras, grátia tuæ visitatiónis illústra; Qui vivis…
See this article by Bosco Peters.
Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to make ready the way of your only Son,
so that by his coming we may worship you with pure minds;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, Gelasian, 8th Century
Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers
Original in Latin:
Excita, Dómine, corda nostra ad præparándas Unigéniti tui vias: ut per ejus advéntum, purificátis tibi méntibus servíre mereámur. Qui tecum vivit et regnat.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.
Rescue and protect us
from the threatening perils of our sins by your might;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, Gregorian, 10th Century
Source of this version: Newly translated for A Collection of Prayers
Original in Latin:
Excita, quaesumus Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: ut ab imminentibus peccatorum nostrorum periculis, etmereamur protegente eripi, te liberante salvari. Qui vivas et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum.
There are two traditions for the theme of the Last Sunday of the Church Year.
The older tradition is the emphasis of End Time and its transition into Advent. In the Historic Lutheran Lectionary, the Gospel for the Last Sunday of the Church Year was the parable of the ten virgins, with the emphasis on readiness for Christ’s return. Sometimes this was called “Sunday of the Fulfillment.” (See Wikipedia article on Totensonntag, and two articles 1 2 on “Sunday of the Fulfillment” from www.higherthings.org.)
The newer tradition is the observance of Christ the King, which is also fitting. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of all things. Often Christ the King has a passion emphasis, which shows us that Christ as King is not always what we would expect. The passion Gospels are an opportunity to proclaim the Theology of the Cross. Even as King, Christ suffered, and he revealed the glory of his love in his suffering. As his loyal subjects, we can expect suffering in the world, too.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
O God, you have decreed from eternity to do good to us,
you have employed your power, wisdom, and love for our benefit,
moment by moment you bestow new blessings on us,
you have not withdrawn your generous hand from us; have mercy on us.
Because you have made us in your own image,
because you have raised us up to a goal beyond this life,
because you have given us an immortal soul,
because you have made it possible to know you, love you, and enjoy you forever,
because you have given so many creatures for our service,
because you have kept and nourished us to this day in your fatherly goodness,
because you have given us the holy apostles as our guardians and helpers,
because you have redeemed us from the captivity of hell by the Passion of your dear Son,
because you have made us members of your holy Christian Church,
because you have given us the holy Sacraments for our salvation,
because you have given us your means of grace,
because you have not rejected and condemned us for so many past sins,
because you have saved us from innumerable sins of soul and body; we thank you, O Lord.
For all your gifts and blessings, natural and supernatural,
for all our inward and outward sufferings,
for all your fatherly correction and discipline,
for all your gifts and blessings which we have never yet fully known,
for all your gifts and blessings which we have never yet duly treasured up,
for all your gifts and blessings which we have so often sinfully misused,
for all your gifts and blessings which you have bestowed on our relatives, benefactors, friends and enemies,
for all your gifts and blessings which you have bestowed on all the family of mankind; we thank you, O Lord.
In union with the thanksgivings which the Church militant here on earth pays you, and will pay you till the end of the world, we thank you, O Lord.
In union with the thanksgivings which the Church triumphant in heaven pays you, and will pay you forevermore, we thank you, O Lord.
Son of God, we pray, hear us, Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father…
You are my God, and I will thank you.
You are my God, and I will praise you.
All your works praise you, O Lord,
and your saints give thanks to you.
The Lord be with you,
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, you have shown us the riches of your love and generosity in all their greatness. Show us also your priceless grace and blessing, that we may always truly know, treasure and employ them for your honor and our salvation. Through holy use of your Word and grace, and in thankful love for them, bring us at last where with all your saints and elect, we shall praise and bless your boundless goodness and mercy for evermore; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: The Priest’s Prayerbook, 1906, p. 180, freely modified.
