Let not your Word, O Lord,
become a judgment upon us,
that we hear it and do it not,
that we know it and love it not,
that we believe it and obey it not:
O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
who lives and reigns world without end.
Amen.
Source: Thomas à Kempis
Source of this version: http://storage.cloversites.com/secondpresbyterianchurch/documents/March%2028%20-%20Maundy%20Thursday%20Service.pdf
Also quoted in The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (March 4)
O God, my heavenly Father,
I confess that I have grievously sinned against you in many ways;
not only by outward transgression,
but also by secret thoughts and desires,
which I cannot fully understand,
but which are all known to you.
I do earnestly repent,
and am truly sorry for these my offences.
In your great goodness
have mercy on me,
and for the sake of your dear Son
Jesus Christ my Lord,
forgive my sins,
and graciously help me overcome my weakness.
Amen.
Source: Modified from The Common Service Book, 1888, 1917
Original in traditional English:
O God, our Heavenly Father,
I confess unto Thee that I have grievously sinned against Thee in many ways;
not only by outward transgression,
but also by secret thoughts and desires,
which I cannot fully understand,
but which are all known unto Thee.
I do earnestly repent,
and am heartily sorry for these my offences,
and I beseech Thee of Thy great goodness
to have mercy upon me,
and for the sake of Thy dear Son
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
to forgive my sins,
and graciously to help my infirmities. Amen.
Almighty God,
grant us grace to hear
Jesus Christ, the heavenly bread,
preached throughout the world
and truly to understand him.
May all evil, heretical
and human doctrines be cut off,
while your Word as the living bread
be distributed. Amen.
Source: Martin Luther [Die Gebete Luthers, shortened from #183]
Source of this version: https://zionlutheranwausau.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/epiphany4-2015-sunday-feb1.pdf
Also quoted in The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (February 28)
Full original prayer in German:
O Himlischer Vatter, dieweil deinen willen niemand leiden mag1 und wir zu schwach sind, das wir unsers willens und alten Adams2 tödung dulden, bitten wir, du wöllest uns speisen, stercken und trösten mit deinem heyligen wort und deine gnade geben, das wir das Himlische Brot Jesum Christum durch die gantze welt hören predigen und hertzlich erkennen mögen, das doch auffhöreten schädliche, ketzerische, Irdische und alle Menschliche lere und also alleyne dein wort, das war lich unser lebendiges Brot ist, außgeteilet werde.
Write your blessed name, O Lord, upon my heart,
there to remain so indelibly engraved,
that no prosperity,
no adversity shall ever move me from your love.
Be to me a strong tower of defense,
a comforter in tribulation,
a deliverer in distress,
a very present help in trouble
and a guide to heaven
through the many temptations
and dangers of this life. Amen.
Source: Thomas à Kempis
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
May none of God’s wonderful works keep silence
night or morning.
Bright stars,
high mountains,
the depths of the seas,
sources of rushing rivers:
may all these break into song as we sing
to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
May all the angels in the heavens reply:
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Power, praise, honor,
eternal glory to God,
the only giver of grace.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Source: Third-century hymn
Source of this version: http://ecen.org/content/may-none-god%E2%80%99s-wonderful-works-keep-silence
Also quoted in The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (February 15)
O Lord Jesus Christ,
you have said that you are the way, the truth, and the life.
Do not let us stray from you
who are the way,
nor to distrust you
who are the truth,
nor to rest in anything other than you,
who are the life.
Teach us by your Holy Spirit,
what to believe,
what to do,
and where to take our rest.
We ask it for your own name’s sake.
Source: Desiderius Erasmus
Source of this version: https://pollypilgrim.wordpress.com/prayer-page/erasmus-prayer/
Also quoted in The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (February 3)
Come, therefore, O Lord Jesus,
divest yourself of your garments
which you have put on for my sake.
Be naked, that you may clothe us with your mercy.
Gird yourself with a towel for our sakes,
that you may gird us with your gift of immortality.
Pour water into the basin; wash not only our feet but also the head,
and not only the footprints of the body, but also of the mind.
I wish to put off all the filth of our fraility,
so that I, too, may say:
“I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on?
I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?”
Source: Ambrose, d. 397
Source of this version: https://magdelene.wordpress.com/category/martin-luther-king/
Also quoted in The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (January 21)
The last two lines quote the Song of Songs 5:3
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.
Source: Richard of Chichester, d. 1253
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
Latin:
Gratias tibi ago, Domine Jesu Christe,
de omnibus beneficiis quae mihi praestitisti;
pro poenis et opprobriis, quae pro me pertulisti;
propter quae planctus ille lamentabilis vere tibi competebat.
Non est dolor similis sicut dolor meus.
We give you thanks upon thanks,
O Lord our God,
Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
by all means, at all times, in all places.
For you have sheltered, assisted,
supported, and led us on
through the past times of our lives,
and brought us to this hour.
O good and loving,
grant that we may pass this holy day,
and all the times of our lives, without sin,
with all joy, health, salvation,
sanctification, and fear of you.
O Lord God, drive away from us
and from your holy Christian and apostolic Church
all envy, all fear, all temptation,
all the working of Satan,
and all conspiracy of wicked men.
Supply us with things good and profitable.
In whatever ways we have sinned against you,
in word, deed, or thought,
pass over in your love and goodness.
Do not forsake us, O God,
for we hope in you.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one
and from his works;
by the grace, compassion, and goodness
of your only Son. Amen.
Source: The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, in Bright’s Ancient Collects, p. 12.1
Shortened version:
We give you thanks, O Lord, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you have sheltered, assisted, supported, and led us on through the past and brought us to this hour. O good and merciful God, grant that we may spend our lives avoiding sin, with all joy, health, salvation, sanctification, and fear of you. Drive away all envy, fear, temptation and the work of the devil from your church, through the grace, compassion, and goodness of your only Son.
Bright’s original translation:
We render Thee thanksgiving upon thanksgiving, Lord our God, Father of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, by all means, at all times, in all places. For Thou hast sheltered, assisted, supported, and led us on through the time past of our life, and brought us to this hour. And we pray and beseech Thee, O Good and Loving, grant us to pass this holy day, and all the time of our life, without sin; with all joy, health, salvation, sanctification, and fear of Thee. But all envy, all fear, all temptation, all the working of Satan, all conspiracy of wicked men, do Thou drive away, O God, from us, and from Thy holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Supply us. with things good and profitable. Whereinsoever we have sinned against Thee, in word, or deed, or thought, be Thou pleased in Thy love and goodness to pass it over; and forsake us not, O God, who hope in Thee, neither lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, and from his works, by the grace, and compassion, and benignity of Thine Only-begotten Son. (Liturgy of St. Mark, in Bright’s Ancient Collects, p. 12.1)
A Collection of Prayers 