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Evening Prayers

Two Evening Prayers from the Antiphonary of Bangor

In the evening

Let our evening prayers ascend to your ears, O divine Majesty, and let your blessing descend over us, O Lord, as we put our hope in you; for you live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

At the beginning of the night

O God, you shine your light on the deep darkness of night. Shine your light on our deep darkness, and guard our hearts in the way of your commandments, O Lord; for you live and reign with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Source: Antiphonary of Bangor, ninth century

Source of this version: Translated and reworked from the Latin text for A Collection of Prayers.

© 2016 Paul C. Stratman

Translation of Prayers “Vespertina oratio nostra ascendat ad aures / Let our evening prayers ascend to your ears” and “Deus qui inextricabiles tenebras / O God, you shine your light on the deep darkness” by Paul C. Stratman are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

31. Ad vespertinam.

Vespertina oratio nostra ascendat ad aures divinae majestatis tuae, et descendat benedic tio tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te, Qui regnas &c

32. Ad initium noctis.

Deus qui inextricabiles tenebras illuminas noctium, densitatem caliginis illustrans, corda nostra in opere mandatorum tuorum te oramus, Domine custodias, Qui regnas &c

The Antiphonary of Bangor and The Divine Offices of Bangor is now available in paperback through Amazon.com. It is also available for Amazon Kindle. This is a new translation of the entire Antiphonary into comtemporary liturgical English.

Evening Prayers

Two Evening Prayers from the Antiphonary of Bangor

FOR PEACE

Antiphon:

We have sinned,
and have acted wickedly. (2 Chronicles 6:37 ESV)

Collect:

You have redeemed us, O Lord, God of truth, by your holy blood. Now help us in all things, Jesus Christ, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Antiphon

Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165 ESV)

Collect

Let your peace, O Lord, heavenly King, always remain in our hearts, that we need not fear the terror of the night, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Antiphonary of Bangor, ninth century

Source of this version: Translated and reworked from the Latin text for A Collection of Prayers.

Translation of Prayers “Redemisti nos, Domine Deus / You have redeemed us, O Lord,” and “Pax tua, Domine, rex caelestis / Let your peace, O Lord, heavenly King” by Paul C. Stratman are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

“You have redeemed us…” is a reference to Psalm 31:5

“Now help us…” may be a reference to Psalm 70:1

“that we need not fear the terror of the night” is a reference to Psalm 91:5

Originals in Latin:

34. Ad pacem Celebrandam

Ant. Injuste egimus, iniquitatem fecimus.

Collectio. Redemisti nos, Domine Deus veritatis, in tuo sancto sanguine, nunc adjuva nos in omnibus, Jesu Christe, Qui regnas, &c

Ant. Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam; et non est illis scandalum.

Collectio. Pax tua, Domine, rex caelestis, permaneat semper in visceribus nostris, ut non timeamus a timore nocturne, Qui regnas &c

For Blessing

Bless all who worship you,
from the rising of the sun until its setting.
Give us your goodness,
inspire us with your love,
guide us by your Spirit,
protect us by your power,
receive us in your mercy,
now and always.
Amen.

Souce: An Ancient Collect.

Prayer Reflecting on Luke 12:32-40

Gracious Father, your Son Jesus told us that you are pleased to give us your kingdom. Let your rule in our hearts transform us from people who live to serve self to obedient subjects of you, our King, ready and willing to serve.

Lord Jesus, you told us to be dressed and ready for service. Clothe us in your righteousness and in your power. Transform our wills so that we are willing, able and ready to do the tasks you have given us, and to fulfill the roles you have given us.

Holy Spirit, with your gift of faith in the Word, promise, and command of God, you make us ready: ready to praise, ready for service, and ready for our Master’s glory. Move us to open this Word before our eyes and hear it with our ears and take it to heart so that our faith may have its food and fuel to trust and to act, to will and to do your good, gracious and perfect will.

Most Holy Trinity, we live in a world where we see self-service, self-indulgence, and anger everywhere, even within our own hearts. Remind us daily that you have called us out and set us apart to be your own to live, love, and serve as your servants and your children. Make us heralds and witnesses of your Word and instruments of your peace.

Special petitions and intercessions may be prayed here.

With your promise and with your calling, renew faith, hope and love in us. Renew our devotion and our desire to serve you as our gracious Master and King, for all kingdom, power and glory are yours, even as you have taught us to pray:

C: Our Father in heaven….

“Prayer Reflecting on Luke 12:32-40” by Paul C. Stratman licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Lord Jesus…

Lord Jesus, be my rest.
Lord Jesus, be my pardon.
Lord Jesus, be my peace.
Lord Jesus, be my comfort.
Lord Jesus, be my assurance.
Lord Jesus, be my hope.
Lord Jesus, be my power.
Lord Jesus, be my life.

Source: Paul C. Stratman

This prayer reflects on Matthew 11:28 (“rest”), Matthew 9:2 (“pardon”), John 14:27 (“peace”), Matthew 5:4 (“comfort”), Acts 17:31 (“assurance”), Romans 12:12 (“hope”), Luke 24:49 (“power”), Matthew 10:39 (“life”)

“Lord Jesus” prayer by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

A Morning Praise

Praise to you, O Lord!
You have brought us
through the darkness of the night
to the light of another day.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and forevermore.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 1 #1

Watch, Lord, with Us

Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into temptation and despair
in the darkness of this world.
Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into any kind of danger
in the darkness of this night.
Let your Word be the lamp to our feet
and the light for our path,
our guide through the darkness
and our hope in the midst of despair.
Keep the lamp of your Word
shining brightly in our hearts
in the dark night of the world.
You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome,
and you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2016

“Watch, Lord, with us” is a reference to Matthew 26:41

“Let your Word be the lamp to our feet” is a reference to Psalm 119:105

“You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome” is a reference to John 1:5

This prayer is inspired in part by the poetic prayers of Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822-1901) and some elements of prayers from the Antiphonary of Bangor (9th Century).

Latin version:

Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in desperationem
in tentationem et tenebrarum mundi.
Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in aliquam periculo noctis
huius caliginem destruendam.
Verbum tuum lux pedibus nostris
verbum tuum et lumen semitis nostris,
lux in medio tenebras,
spes in medio desperatio.
Effulgens custodi verbum tuum in cordibus nostris
lucerna mundi tenebris noctis excitabatur.
Tu, Jesu sis lux tenebrae non conprehendit,
etcum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus,
per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

As Watchmen Wait for the Morning

As watchmen wait for the morning,
so do our souls long for you, O Christ.
Come with the dawning of the day,
and make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread;
for you are our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: https://attentiontothemoment.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/the-mozarabic-sacramentary/

Also found here: http://1stholistic.com/Spl_prayers/prayer_mozarabic-morning-prayer.htm

“As watchmen wait for the morning,” is a reference to Psalm 130:6

“make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread” is a reference to Luke 24:35

The Lord is Your Strong Tower

The almighty Lord,
who is a strong tower
for those who put their trust in him,
to whom all things in heaven and earth
and under the earth bow and obey,
be our defense, now and always.
There is no other name under heaven, given to men,
in whom and through whom
we receive health and salvation,
but only in the name
of our Lord + Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Visitatio Infirmorum

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers of the Ages, ed. Caroline Snowden Whitmarsh, 1868, p. 255

“Strong tower” is a reference to Psalm 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10

“in heaven and earth and under the earth…” is a reference to Philippians 2:10

“no other name under heaven…” is a reference to Acts 4:12

By Your Command the Day Arises

Almighty and everlasting God,
by your command the day arises
and the world is adorned with the splendor of light.
Receive our prayers
and show us the light of your countenance
that walking in the way of your salvation
we may follow you as our ruler and guide;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 3 #3