Early Hymn Calling God’s Works to Praise

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)

A Prayer Based on John 14:6

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)

A Prayer for Cleansing

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

A Prayer for Closeness to Christ

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.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving and for Strength

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)

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A Table Prayer

Lord, bless this food
for our use
and us for your service,
and help us to remember 
the needs of others.
Amen.

Source: Unknown

Source of this version:  http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/catholic/meals/grace-before-meals.aspx#CrIB8QO2wSvBXykl.99

Variant:

The Lord bless this food for our use and us in his service, and help us to remember the needs of others. Amen.

Source of this version: Modified from A Lutheran Prayer Book, ed. Doberstein, © 1960 Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia PA

A Table Prayer

We look to you, O Lord,
for food to nourish our bodies,
for grace to strengthen our spirits,
for love to enrich our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Unknown

Source of this version: Modified from A Lutheran Prayer Book, ed. Doberstein, © 1960 Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia PA

Also found here in an altered form: http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5260/2632/HTML/21241/Non-denominational_Rotary_Invocations.pdf

A Prayer for Comfort

Almighty God,
Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort:
deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn,
that, casting all their care on you,
they may know the consolation of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Source: http://funeralhelper.org/prayer-almighty-god.html

Also found here: http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/christian/death/prayer-for-those-who-mourn.aspx#hwckbYYCie2SB1v1.99

prayer for the dead in middle ages

prayers for the dead