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Pour on Us Your Mercy

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray,
and to give more than we either desire or deserve:
Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask,
except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Book of Common Prayer 1979 (Proper 22).

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

A Personal Blessing

O Lord, open your heavens;
from there may your gifts descend to him.
Put forth your own hand and touch his head.
May he feel the touch of your hand,
and receive the joy of the Holy Spirit,
that he may remain blessed for evermore.
Amen.

Source: Æthelwold of Winchester, c. 908-984

Source of this version: Modified from http://www.dsbc.org.uk/downloads/June_2012_MAGAZINE_seq.pdf

Also found in Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, p. 41

Blessing from the Book of Cerne

bookcerneevangalist God the Father bless me,
Christ guard me,
the Holy Spirit enlighten me,
all the days of my life!
The Lord be the defender and guardian
of my soul and my body, now and ever! Amen.
The right hand of the Lord preserve me always to old age!
The grace of Christ perpetually defend me from the enemy!
Direct, Lord, my heart into the way of peace.
Hasten to save me, O God!
O Lord, come quickly to help me!

Source: The Book of Cerne

Source of this version: Modified from http://assets.newscriptorium.com/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm

“Hasten…” is a reference to Psalm 70:1

Original in Latin:
Benedicat me deus pater
custodiat me christus
inluminet me spiritus sanctus
omnibus diebus vitae meae
Sit dominus defensor
Atttque custus animi mei et corporis mei et nunc et semper
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
dextera me domini conseruet semper ein aevum.
Direge domine cor meum in viam pacis.
…
Domine Deus in adjutorium meum intende domine ad adivuan meum adnuntiavit laudem tuam.

Prayer Book of Aedeluald the Bishop, Commonly Called the Book of Cerne, p. 101-102.

Illustration from the Book of Cerne, Cambridge University Library, wikipedia.com

Blessing from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

saint_patrick_28window29

May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us
against the snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.

May Christ be with us.
Christ before us.
Christ in us.
Christ over us.
May your salvation, O Lord,
be always ours
this day and forever more.

Source: St. Patrick, from “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”

Source of this version: http://www.oursanctuary.net/breastplate.html

Graphic: Saint Patrick stained glass window from Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA, from Wikimedia Commons

Bless Us

old_sarum_cathedral_reconstruction O Lord,
bless us with your heavenly benediction,
that rejoicing in your strength
and trusting in your loving kindness,
we may obtain a blessed immortality.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Rite

Source of this version: Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 275 #2

Similar to A Blessing

Graphic: Model of Old Sarum (Salisbury) Cathedral, Wikipedia.com

More than Conquerors

O God,
you are the strength of all who trust in you.
Grant that we may be more than conquerors
over all who make war on our souls,
so that in the end
we may enter into perfect peace in your presence.
Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 275 #2

“more than conquerors” is a reference to Romans 8:37

Serve You with Willing Spirits

O God,
deliver us from earthly desires,
that no sin may reign in us,
but that with willing spirits we may serve you,
our only Lord;
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 86 #2

“with willing spirits we may serve you” is possibly a reference to Psalm 51:12

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

Give us Grace and Strength to Overcome

O Lord,
give us all grace and strength
to overcome every sin.
Sins of aggression, purpose,
surprise, negligence, omission,
sins against you,
ourselves,
our neighbors,
sins great, small,
remembered, forgotten.
Amen.

Source: Christina G. Rosetti

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 81 #2

“Sins of aggression, purpose,” in the original is “sins of besetment, deliberation”

Wisdom, Strength, Light, Mercy

Give me, O Lord,
purity of lips,
a clean and innocent heart,
humility, fortitude, patience.
Give me the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and godliness,
and of fear of the Lord.
Make me always seek your face with all my heart,
all my soul, all my mind.
Give me a contrite and humble heart in your presence.
Most high, eternal and holy Wisdom,
drive away from me the darkness
of blindness and ignorance.
Most high and eternal Strength, deliver me.
Most high and eternal Light, illuminate me.
Most high and infinite Mercy, have mercy on me.
Amen.

Source: Gallican Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 60 #1

“purity of lips” is a reference to Psalm 24:4 and possibly Psalm 17:1

“clean and innocent heart” is a reference to Psalm 51:10

“Give me the Spirit of wisdom…” is a reference to Isaiah 11:2

“Make me always seek your face with all my heart…” is a reference to Matthew 22:37

“Give me a contrite and humble heart…” is a reference to Psalm 51:17

Our Refuge in Every Storm

O Lord, you are our refuge in every storm.
Hide us in your own presence
from all the violence in the world.
By your holy love and fear,
keep us from sins of temper
and of the tongue.
Amen.

Source: Christina G. Rosetti

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 55 #2

“from all the violence in the world” in the original is “from the provoking of all men.”