Author: pastorstratman

Lutheran pastor and musician serving St. Stephen's in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

Thanks

Almighty, most holy, most high and supreme God,
holy and just Father,
Lord, king of heaven and earth,
we give thanks to you because by your holy will,
and by your only Son
you created all things spiritual and corporal in the Holy Spirit,
made us in your image and likeness and placed us in paradise,
where we fell by our own fault.
We give you thanks
that just as you created us by your Son,
so by your true and holy love,
you sent him as true God and true man,
to be born….
And we give you thanks because your Son himself
will come again in the glory of his Majesty
… to say to all who have known you and adored you,
and served you in repentance:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Since we wretches and sinners are not worthy to name you,
we humbly pray
that our Lord Jesus Christ,
your beloved Son
in whom you are well pleased,
together with the Holy Spirit,
the Counselor,
may give thanks to you as it is pleasing to you. 
Amen.

Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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For Knowledge of God’s Will

God,
almighty, eternal, righteous, and merciful,
help us poor sinners do all that we know of your will,
and to will always what pleases you,
so that inwardly purified, enlightened, and kindled
by the fire of the Holy Spirit,
we may follow in the footprints of your well-beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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Praise

Now to God,
who has suffered so much for us,
who at once has given us so many good things,
and will yet give so much more,
to this God let every creature who is in heaven or on the earth,
in the sea or in the depth of the abyss,
render praise, glory, honor and blessing.
He is himself our virtue and our strength.
He alone is good, lofty, almighty, admirable, and glorious;
the only holy One, worthy of praise and blessed through ages of ages. Amen.

Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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Daily Prayer of St. Francis

My God and my all,
who are you,
sweetest Lord, my God?
And who am I,
a poor worm,
your servant?
Holiest Lord, I would love you!
Sweetest Lord, I would love you!
Lord, my God,
I give you all my heart and body,
and earnestly desire,
to know how to do more for your love. Amen.

Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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For Grace

O Lord Jesus,
grant us your grace and give us time for repentance.
We want to keep your commandments and do your bidding,
choose the better part and no longer follow evil.
Give us your strength to do this,
O loving Savior,
for your own name’s sake. Amen.

Source: Dan Jeremy, 12th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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For the Prisoner

O God,
hear the sighing of the prisoner,
and by your almighty power
deliver us all from the bonds and chains of sin,
whether in our bodies or in our souls;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, 11th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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For Strength

O Lord,
be our Sanctifier and the Shepherd.
Strengthen and help us,
that in our daily life walk with you,
we serve you in all quietness of spirit;
through Jesus Christ our Master. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, 11th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

For Purified Lives

O God,
let the fire of your love burn up in us all things that displease you,
and prepare us for your heavenly Kingdom;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, 11th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

For Loyal Service

Almighty and eternal God,
make our wills always subject to your will,
and our hearts always ready to serve you;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, 11th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

For Protection

O God,
Shepherd of all your people,
deliver us from all sins which assail us,
that so we may always be pleasing in your sight,
and safe under your shelter;
for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, 11th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.