A Collection of Prayers

Featured Prayers: Lent

Scroll through all our Lenten prayers at this link: https://acollectionofprayers.com/tag/lent/

Prayers for Ash Wednesday

Short Devotional Rite for Ash Wednesday

Other Prayers and Collects for Lent

Collects for Lent

Ash Wednesday
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)
Invocavit, Lent 1
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)
Reminiscere, Lent 2
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)
Oculi, Lent 3
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)
Laetare, Lent 4
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)
Judica, Lent 5
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)
Palmarum, Lent 6
- (Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Passion Prayers

Penitential Prayers

Litanies

Holy Week

Palm Sunday

Days of Holy Week

Scriptural Way of the Cross

Includes link to a PDF printable booklet.

Triduum

Holy (Maundy) Thursday

Good Friday

Good Friday Anthems

Holy Saturday / Easter Eve

Next: Featured Prayers: Easter

Lord God, holy lover of my soul! When you are near, I rejoice! You are my glory and the exultation of my heart. You are my hope and refuge in the day of my trouble. Set me free from all evil passions, and heal my heart of all wayward desires. Cure and cleanse me, that I may be ready to love, courageous to suffer, steady to persevere. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more courageous, nothing fuller or better in heaven and earth, because love is born of God, and can only rest in God above all created things. Let me love you more than myself, and love myself because of you, and in you love all. Amen.

Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 12

My Father, I have moments of deep unrest—moments when I do not know what to ask because of the excess of my needs. In these dark hours I have no words for you, no conscious prayers for you. My cry seems purely worldly. “I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find a place to rest.” Yet you always accept my unrest as a prayer. You interpret its cry for a dove’s wings as a cry for you. You receive the nameless longings of my heart as the inexpressible groans of your Spirit. They are not yet the intercessions of my spirit. I do not know what I ask. But you know what I ask, my God. You know that need which lies beneath my groans that are not expressed in words. Because I am made in your image, I can find rest only in what gives rest to you. In your forgiving mercy you have counted my unrest as righteousness and have received my groaning as your Spirit’s prayer; through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

George Matheson (1842-1906). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 11

God, you see all our weaknesses and the troubles we labor under. Have mercy, and hear our prayers, for we need your comfort, your direction, and your help. You alone know what is best for us. Do not let me question your wisdom or your goodness. Lord, prepare my heart that no affliction may ever surprise or overwhelm me. Strengthen me, that I may always be ready to suffer whatever you order or permit. Amen.

Thomas Wilson (1663–1755). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, feed your people with your grace and deliver our souls from the death of sin. Fill us with your mercy and unite us with the joys of the righteous; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sarum Breviary, A.D. 1085. Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 10

Perfect Lord, you are the faith of all who believe, and you sow the good seed of your Word in the hearts of those who need it. Fix our eyes steadfastly on you, that we may run with patience the race that is set before us. Give us grace to show our faith by our deeds. Teach us to walk by faith, to remember your promises, and to wait for your mercy and fulfillment, most gracious Lord God and Savior. Amen.

Adapted from Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, let your holy Word keep alive in us that fire which your Son came to kindle on earth, that we also may be anointed with the Spirit of peace, holiness, and obedience, and dwell in your fellowship forever. Amen.

Rowland Williams (1818-1870). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 9

God, you search all hearts, you know us better than we know ourselves, and you see the sins which our sinfulness hides from us. Our own conscience bears witness against us. We often slumber instead of being watchful. We do not always walk lovingly with each other, or humbly before you. Make known to us your ways, O Lord. Teach us your paths. Lead us in repentance. Lift us up in our weakness and let the day dawn and the Morning Star rise in our hearts, and bring us healing, strength, and joy. Day by day help us grow in faith, in self-denial, in charity, in heavenly mindedness. Bring us at last with your saints to glory everlasting. Amen.

Adapted from James Martineau (1805-1900). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 8

We bless and praise and magnify you, God of our fathers, for you have led us out of the shadows of night once more into the light of day. We appeal to your loving-kindness. Have mercy on us. Hear our prayers in your compassion, for you are our refuge throughout all generations. Merciful and almighty God, let your sun of righteousness shine in our hearts, enlighten our reason, and purify our senses, that we may walk in the light in the way of your commandments, and at last reach life eternal where we will rejoice in your hidden life, for you are the fountain of life, and in your light shall we see light. Amen.

Greek Church. Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 7

Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, act! Hear what I do not speak. Forgive what I speak wrong. Do what I leave undone. Let all things work, not according to my words or my deeds, but according to your mercy and truth, for the glory and the good of your kingdom. Amen.

Maria Hare (1798-1870). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Almighty and eternal God, you reveal your nature in Christ Jesus your Son as love. Give us your Holy Spirit, that we may glorify you as love in our hearts. Move us by your divine power to love you with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves. Fill us with love by your grace, that we may always remain in you and you in us, with all joy, free from fear or distrust; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bunsen’s Collection. Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 6

Lord, you are the portion of our inheritance. Teach us never to aim at or desire anything but you. What we can enjoy in you, give us according to your will. What we cannot, keep from us. Amen.

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord God, grant that we may love one another sincerely, for where love is, there you are. Whoever loves his brothers and sisters is born of you, and dwells in you, and you in him. Where brothers and sisters glorify you together, there you pour out your blessing on them. Love us, Lord, and pour your love into our hearts, that we may love you, and our brothers and sisters in you and for you as your dear children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Christian Prayers, 1578. Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 5

Infinite and Holy One, our Father and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your mercy in creating us from the dust, and for the greater mercy that has created us anew by a heavenly adoption as your children. For the gracious promises in your Word of things not seen, for their satisfaction in yourself, we thank you. We rejoice that you have encouraged our frail and mortal spirits by revealing to us your gracious nature and calling us to follow you. Move us to respond to your loving-kindness with obedience. Strengthen our plans and purposes by making us more aware of your grace, that we may imitate your love in a childlike spirit; through the help of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Adapted from Henry Wilder Foote (1838–1889).[1] Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

[1] Henry Wilder Foote was a Unitarian clergyman and historian.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

March 4

I will say to my God, my Lord, and my King, “How abundant is your goodness, Lord, which you have stored up for those who fear you.” But what are you to those who love you? What are you to those who serve you with their whole heart? In this you have shown me the sweetness of your love; that when I was not, you made me. When I went far astray from you, you brought me back again. Ah, Lord, truly I am your servant. Turn to me and have mercy on me. Give strength to your servant, I pray. Amen.

Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471). Revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.