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Open and Enlighten Our Minds

Lucas_Cranach_(I)_-_Johannes_Bugenhagen[1].jpg Almighty and eternal God,
Lord, heavenly Father,
your Word is a lamp to our feet
and a light for our path.
Open and enlighten our minds
that we may have a pure, clear
and holy understanding of your Word,
and then, afterward,
that we have a right understanding
of ourselves and our lives,
so that we may never displease
your divine majesty;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our dear Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever.
Amen.

Source: Johannes Bugenhagen, 1485-1558

Source of this version: Translated for A Collection of Prayers. German source: Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #34.

“Sprechend: Vater u. s. w.“ indicates that this prayer would be followed by the Lord’s Prayer.

Allmächtiger, ewiger Gott, Herr, himmlischer Vater, deß Wort eine Kerze ist unsern Füßen und ein Licht unsern Wegen, thu auf und erleuchte unser Gemüth, daß wir dein Wort rein, lauter und heiliglich verstehen und dann nach dem, das wir recht verstanden haben, unser Leben gestalten, auf daß wir deiner Majestät nimmer mißfallen, durch Jesum Christum, deinen Sohn, unsern lieben Herrn, der mit dir in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes lebt und regiert, Gott in Ewigkeit, sprechend: Vater u. s. w.

Guide Us by Your Word and Spirit

cathedra-holyspirit1 O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of almighty God,
send your Holy Spirit
into our hearts
through your Word,
that he may govern and guide us
according to your will,
comfort us in all afflictions and misfortunes,
lead and uphold us in your truth against all error,
so that we may stand firm in your love
and offer ourselves to do good works,
and through the certain hope of your free grace
be blessed forever;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 291

Original in German:

Herr Jesu Christe, du Sohn des allmächtigen Gottes, wir bitten dich, du wollest durch dein Wort deinen heiligen Geist in Herzen geben, daß derselbe uns regiere und führe nach deinem Willen, in allerlei Anfechtung und Unglück tröste, in deiner Wahrheit wider allen Irrthum leite und erhalte, auf daß wir im feststehen mögen, in der Liebe und guten Werken zunehmen, und durch gewisse Hoffnung deiner erworbenen und geschenkten Gnade ewig selig werden, der du mit dem Vater und dem heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen. Pommersche Agende.

You Hear and Direct–Help Us Wait

Johannes-Mathesius[1] O God, our Father,
you graciously hear all who call on you,
and your wisdom directs your saints.
In your good time you rescue us,
even though your help
seems to be withheld for a time.
Graciously open your ears to our prayers
and lead us by your Spirit,
that without doubting
we may persevere in prayer
and await your promised help in faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Johannes Mathesius, (1504–1565)

Source of this version: Freely modified from Collects and Prayers for Use in Church, United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #368.

Instead of “wisdom,” Collects and Prayers had “providence.”

Instead of “and await your promised help in faith,” Collects and Prayers had “and believingly await thy promised help.”

St. Patrick’s Creed (from ‘The Confession of St. Patrick’)

Blessed St. Patrick’s Day!

A Collection of Prayers

saint_patrick_28window29 There is no other God, nor ever was, nor will be,
than God the Father unbegotten,
without beginning, from whom is all beginning,
the Lord of the universe, as we have been taught.

And his Son Jesus Christ, whom we declare to have always
been with the Father, spiritually and ineffably begotten by the Father
before the beginning of the world, before all beginning;
and by him are made all things visible and invisible.
He was made man, and, having defeated death,
was received into heaven by the Father;
and he has given him all power over all names in heaven,
on earth, and under the earth,
and every tongue shall confess to him that Jesus Christ is Lord and God,
in whom we believe, and whose advent we expect soon to be,
judge of the living and of the dead,
who will render to every man according to his deeds.

And he has poured forth upon us abundantly the Holy Spirit,
the…

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Forgive and Correct

B_Escorial_93v[1].jpg O Lord our God,
forgive our sins
and correct our mideeds.
Direct our actions
and inspire us
with thoughts
pleasing to you.
Purify our consciences
and sanctify our hearts
that in purity of heart
and gladness of spirit
we may serve you,
our Lord and God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

You Know Our Needs before We Ask

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

Almighty God,
fountain of all wisdom,
you know our needs before we ask,
and our ignorance in asking.
Have compassion on our weaknesses,
and those things we cannot ask for
because of
our unworthiness
and unawareness,
graciously give us
because of the worthiness
of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from the Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Original in traditional English:

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking: We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This prayer also has been set to music.

Guide Us in the Way of Peace

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O God, King eternal,
you divide the day from the night
and turn the shadow of death into morning.
Drive away from us all wrong desires,
incline our hearts to keep your law,
and guide our feet into the way of peace,
so that after we have done your will with cheerfulness while it was day,
we may rejoice when night comes and give you thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: U. S. Book of Common Prayer 1928

Original in traditional English:

GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness, and turnest the shadow of death into the morning; Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Teach and Lead us Nearer to You

Ever loving and eternal God,
source of light that never sets,
and of love that never fails,
Life of our life,
Father of our spirits;
draw near to us,
and by remembering your never failing mercy,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By the good news of your Son our Savior,
by his life and teaching;
by his passion and Cross;
by his heavenly exaltation and the influence of his Spirit:
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By the ministry of your church,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By all our conflicts,
by all our aspirations,
by all our fears,
by all our joys and sorrows,
by life and death itself,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

Original litany:

Almighty and Eternal God, Source of the light that never sets and of the love that never fails, Life of our life. Father of our spirits; hear us as we now beseech Thee, by Thine infinite mercy and goodness, to draw us, Thy weak and erring children, nearer and nearer to Thee in trust and love, in submission and obedience to Thy holy and blessed will.

By all Thy works; by Thy wonders in heaven and on earth; by the order which reigns over all; by the beauty which shines through all; by the bounty which blesses all:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the remembrance of Thine ancient mercies; by the revelation of Thyself to saints of old; by every holy record of wisdom and piety; by every faithful word of Thy servants, and by every good example:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the memory of Thy Son our Saviour, the Brightness of Thy glory and the Image of Thy Person; by His life and teaching; by His passion and Cross; by His heavenly exaltation and the influence of His spirit:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee,

By the Church of Jesus Christ ; by its holy ordinances, offices, and ministries; by its Sunday worship and teaching; by all its seasons of meditation and prayer, and by all the associations of the House of God:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the kindness and love Thou hast shown us from the beginning of our days until now; by the relations of home; by the love of little children; by the affection and fidelity of friends ; by the trials and bereavements which chasten and hallow our earthly love; and by all the memories of our dead:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the conflict of our souls with temptation; by our falls and failures; by our shame and repentance; by every holy aspiration, striving, and victory:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee,

By all the experience and discipline of life; by health and sickness; by success and disappointment; by joy and sorrow; by all the chances and changes of our passing days:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

In all time of our wealth, and in all time of our tribulation ; in every circumstance and in every place; in life and in death, O Most Merciful God, our Father and Redeemer:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee. Amen.

Give Your Living Water to Us Who Thirst

O Jesus, Son of God the Father,
Fount of Life everlasting,
give your living water to us who thirst,
give us eternal life.
Hear us in your mercy, O Christ Jesus.
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
we worship and glorify you,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 23 #1 (Lent 2)

“Fount of Life everlasting, give your living water…” is a reference to John 4:10ff, John 7:37ff

A Litany for Mercy

Turn away, Lord, the fierceness of your anger, and in pity spare your people,
and have mercy.

Grant a favorable and speedy answer to the prayers of all,
and have mercy.

Christ, look on our hardships, loosen the bands of death, and grant us life,
and have mercy.

See our tears, hear our sighs, and in pity forgive our sins,
and have mercy.

Though none of us are worthy to be heard, Christ, for your own sake, help us,
and have mercy.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary