O God of Light, Father of Life,
Author of grace, Creator of worlds,
Giver of Wisdom, Benefactor of our souls,
Treasure of holiness, Teacher of pure prayers,
you give the fainthearted who put their trust in you
things into which angels long to look.
O Sovereign Lord,
you have brought us up from the depths of darkness to light,
you have given us life from death,
you have graciously given us freedom from slavery,
and you have scattered the darkness of sin within us.
Enlighten the eyes of our understanding,
that we may partake of this heavenly and immortal food
without fear of condemnation,
and sanctify us completely in soul, body, and spirit,
that with your holy disciples and apostles
we may say this prayer to you:
Our Father… Amen.
Source: Liturgy of St. Mark, third century.
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
A Collection of Prayers 