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Our Hope and Our Heart’s Delight

littlemore O God,
you are life, wisdom, truth,
bounty, and blessedness,
the eternal, the only true good,
our God and our Lord,
our hope and our heart’s delight,
we acknowledge with thanksgiving
that you have made us in your image,
and that we may direct our thoughts to you.
Lord, make us to know you aright,
that we may love, enjoy, and possess you
more and more;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Anselm of Canterbury, d. 1109

Source of this version: Freely 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. 70 #3

Joy and Gladness

girolamo_savonarola Let me hear joy and gladness
when I hear what the sinful woman heard.
And what did she hear?
I speak of her who wept at your feet.
What, then, did she hear?
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
And I will hear what the robber heard:
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
I will have joy in the forgiveness of sins;
gladness for the promise of blessings.
And will I not rejoice,
and will I not be glad,
when you grant pardon for all my sins ?
Then I will begin to taste of joy,
for you, Lord, are good.
Then will I learn to dwell in heavenly places.
Then will I say with the prophet,
“How abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you.”
Then will I rejoice and be glad.

Source: Girolamo Savonarola

“Let me hear…” is a reference to Psalm 51:8

“…what the woman heard… go in peace” is a reference to Luke 7:38-50 (Savonarola connects the sinful woman with Mary Magdalene, which is a traditional connection. It is not specifically stated in the Bible that Mary Magdalene is the “sinful woman.”)

“robber… paradise” is a reference to Luke 23:43

“taste of joy” may be a reference to Psalm 34:8

“since you are good…” may be a reference to Psalm 25:7

“How abundant… fear you” is a reference to Psalm 31:19

Deliver Us from Evil

O God of peace and charity,
deliver us from all temptation,
assist us in every conflict,
console us in every trouble.
Give us patience in adversity,
and grace to worship you with a pure conscience,
and to serve you with all our strength.
We bless you, we thank you, day by day we magnify you.
Let our praises be pleasing to you,
and our prayer acceptable.
Amen.

Source: Gallican Missal

Restore to Me the Joy

girolamo_savonarola “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”
I recall what great peace,
what great tranquility of soul I enjoyed
when I rejoiced in the Lord,
and found delight in God my Savior.
Yes, now I grieve even more
because I know what I have lost.
I know what very great benefits I have lost.
Yes, I cry frantically,
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”
Restore what you have taken away from me because of my sins.
Restore what I have lost through my own fault.
Restore through Jesus’ merits,
who always stands at your right hand
and makes intercession for us,
that through him I may know
that you are reconciled to me,
that the seal is set on my heart,
that I may say with the apostle—
“I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live,
but Christ who lives in me.”

Source: Girolamo Savonarola

This prayer quotes Psalm 51:12, Song of Solomon 8:6, Galatians 2:20

Reveal Yourself to Us

johannes-scotus-erigena O God,
you are the everlasting essence of all things,
beyond space and time,
and yet within them.
You transcend and fill all things.
Show yourself to us,
who look for you and seek you
despite the shades of our ignorance.
Stretch forth your hand to help us.
Without you we cannot come to you.
Reveal yourself to us who seek nothing beside you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: John Scotus Eriugena

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. 47 #1

Enlighten Us, Let Us Walk Securely

Almighty God,
by your mercy
do not let our minds be cast down by any troubles of this life,
let no hurtful temptation have dominion over them,
let no darkness of unbelief hold them captive.
But, illuminated by the light of your face shining on us,
may we always walk securely
on the sure ground of the true faith.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Open Wide the Door of My Heart

The Last Chapter Lord God almighty,
open wide the door of my heart
and illumine it with the grace of the Holy Spirit,
that I may seek what is pleasing to your will.
Guide my thoughts and my heart,
and lead my life in the way of your commandments,
that I may always seek to fulfill them,
and that I may grasp the eternal joys of the heavenly life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: The Venerable Bede (672–735)

Create in Me a Clean Heart

girolamo_savonarola Create a clean heart in me, O God:
a humble heart,
a meek heart,
a peaceful heart,
a benevolent heart,
a devout heart
which does evil to no one,
which does not repay evil for evil,
but overcomes evil with good,
which loves you above all things,
thinks always about you,
speaks about you,
gives you thanks,
delights in hymns and spiritual songs,
and has its citizenship in heaven.
Amen.

Source: Girolamo Savonarola

Let Labor for You Be My Delight

Give me, O Lord,
an obedient spirit,
and a teachable mind.
Let me be cheerful without lightness,
sorrowful yet rejoicing,
fearing you without doubting,
and trusting you without tempting you.
Let me be joyful at nothing except what pleases you,
and sorrowful for nothing except what displeases you.
Let labor for you be my delight,
and all my rest be found in you.
Give me a willing spirit, and a diligent soul,
that I may seek to know your will,
and when I know it, that I perform it faithfully,
to the honor and glory of your blessed name.
Amen.

Source: 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. 40 #2

Cleanse Our Hearts, Hear Our Prayers

O Lord, open our lips
that we may bless your holy name.
Cleanse our hearts from all vain, evil,
and wandering thoughts,
that we may worthily and devoutly offer up
our prayers and praises to you,
and be heard in the presence of your divine majesty;
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. 33 #2