pastorstratman

September 16

God, our souls rest quietly in you alone, for our hope comes from you, and in your love is our highest joy. Lord, if we have you, we have enough. Give peace to our consciences by your gospel of grace and mercy. Preserve in our hearts that peace which passes all understanding and help us grow in holiness. Strengthen all who are sad or perplexed with the comfort of your Holy Spirit, and show us that our momentary, light trouble produces for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond any comparison. For there will come a time when you will bring us to the place of perfect rest, where we will see your face in righteousness, and be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Amen.

Source: Melchior Ritter, 1689, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 15

We give you thanks, almighty God, for the bread we need for the body, and we ask you to give us food for the soul, Jesus Christ, the living bread that came down from heaven, for by eating this bread we will live forever. Strengthen us to endure the troubles and burdens of this life and open our eyes of faith to look forward to eternal life in heaven. Give us a childlike faith to trust even though we do not see, and to follow your path through this world. Give us your peace that surpasses all understanding, that little things in life lose their power to vex us, even in many troubles. Hear us in your loving-kindness and tender mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Adapted from George Dawson (1821–1876), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 14

Remember, most merciful Father, I can bear nothing by myself without fainting, but I can bear all things in you if you strengthen me by your grace. Give me strength, that I may endure. I ask for patience, Lord. My heart is steadfast, O God. My heart is steadfast. I am ready to receive whatever you lay on me. Teach me patience as I look on the face of Christ your Son, that as he suffered such terrible things in the body, I may remember that he suffered these things to bear my sin. I commit my strength to you, Lord, for you are my refuge and strength. Keep me and bring me safely out of this trial when it pleases you. Amen.

Source: Adapted from from Treasury of Devotion, 1869, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 13

Almighty God, there are pleasures at your right hand forever. Fill our faith with your joy and brightness. Drive from our minds all doubt, gloom and despair, and fill us with joy to live as your redeemed and forgiven children. Fill our lips with your praises and our hearts with joy as we wait for the life that knows no ending; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source unknown, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Our Father, in your presence is perfect joy. Make us happy every hour of the day in the joy of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Mary Wilder Tileston (1843-1934), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 12

God, our true Life, in you and by you all things live. You call us to seek you, and you are ready to be found. You tell us to knock, and open when we do so. To know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to enjoy you is a kingdom, to praise you is the joy and happiness of the soul. I praise, and bless, and worship you, I glorify you, I give thanks to you for your great glory. Abide with me, reign in me, make my heart a holy temple, a dwelling prepared for your Divine majesty. Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible! I trust in your mercy alone for safety and protection. Guard me with the power of your grace, here and in all places, now and forevermore. Amen.

Source: St. Augustine (354–430), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (Annotated)

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (Annotated) is now available through Amazon.com.

This collection of prayers for daily use has been gathered from many sources, ancient and modern. It has historical interest, and the literary quality has been carefully considered, but the primary object is to nourish the spiritual life. As the design is to provide a brief selection for every day, in many cases a portion only of a long prayer is given, or it is condensed by omission, but alterations have been made as sparingly as possible. Fourteen centuries of prayer, aspiration, and praise unite here in one harmony of devotion.
Mary Wilder Tileston, from the Preface to Prayers Ancient and Modern

The book Prayers Ancient and Modern was also published under the title Great Souls at Prayer. Mary Wilder Tileston made a revised edition in 1928 in which she removed about a quarter of the prayers from the 1897 edition and added newer prayers. This revision is based on the 1897 edition to give preference to ancient prayers.

All the prayers in this edition have been modified, some more freely than others. Most I revised in such a way that they remain direct quotes of the originals.

In all the revision and overhauling, I tried to keep some of the language and spirit of the originals. Prayers Ancient and Modern is available and downloadable from Google Books and from Archive.org if readers wish to compare this book with the original.

In this annotated edition, a short biography or explanation of the source is given the first time that author or source appears in this book. If no annotation of author or source is given for a prayer, consult the Index of Authors. Biographies and explanations are condensed from Wikipedia, archive.org, and other sources.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (Annotated) now has no substituted prayers. Every prayer from the 1897 edition of Prayers Ancient and Modern is now reproduced in modern English.

Available for Kindle and in paperback through Amazon.com.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Lord God, our heavenly Father,
you are high above all things,
holy beyond all that is holy,
good beyond all that is good.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you often told your disciples, “do not be afraid,”
and you also tell us, “Do not let your heart be troubled.”

Holy Spirit,
you create and strenghten faith
with Word and Sacrament,
communicating your promise
of life, peace, and forgiveness
to give us hope.

Today we remember the terrorist attacks on our country
twenty-five years ago.

Teach us to remember your goodness,
your consolation,
your promise,
that even in a broken world,
where people try to use fear and destruction
to bring about change,
we trust you,
and find our refuge,
peace,
and security
in you alone.

You live and reign, now and forever.
Amen.

Paul C. Stratman
September 11, 2026

September 11

My God, you are always new, even though you are most ancient. You alone are my food for eternity. I am to live forever; not for a time—and I have no power over my being. I must live on, with intellect and consciousness forever, despite myself. Without you, eternity would be another name for eternal misery. In you alone I have something to sustain me forever; you alone are the food of my soul. You alone are inexhaustible, and you always offer me something new to know, something new to love. And so, for eternity I will ever be like a little child starting to learn the basics of your infinite Divine nature. For you yourself are the seat and center of all good, and the only substance in this universe of shadows, and the heaven in which blessed spirits live and rejoice. Amen.

Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–1890), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 10

Lord, I lay before you all sins and offences I have committed against you, from the day I first could sin to this very hour. Consume and burn them all with the fire of your love. Do away with all the stains of my sins, cleanse my conscience from all offences, restore to me your grace, fully forgiving me all, and mercifully give me your kiss of peace.

I also lay before you all that is good in me, for you have made me right and sanctified me. Make me grateful and accepting of you, always growing more and more. By your grace, bring me also to a good and blessed end. Amen.

Source: Adapted from Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 9

Lord, give us grace to hear and obey your voice which says to every one of us “This is the way, walk in it.” Do not let us hear it behind us, saying, “This is the way,” but rather before us, saying, “Follow me.” When you lead us, go before us. When the way is too difficult for us, carry us. In the shadow of death, comfort us. In the day of resurrection, satisfy us. Amen.

Source: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, sanctify and shepherd your people, that we who are strengthened by your help may walk with you daily, and serve you with a quiet spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.