O God,
you make us glad
with the yearly expectation
of the birthday of Christ,
your only Son.
Grant that we,
who hail him with joy
as our Redeemer,
may also behold him without fear
when he comes to be our Judge;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Gelasian
Source of this version: Freely modified from A Century of Collects, [4] selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.
Almighty God,
fulfill our desire
and kindle our hearts by your Spirit,
that being filled with the oil of your grace,
we may shine as bright lights
at the coming of your Son Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Gelasian
Source of this version: Freely modified from A Century of Collects, [3] selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
you were put to death
so that you would become the Author of life,
and you were buried
so that you would rise from the grave.
You set the dead free by your death,
and you abolished the penalty of sin
by your crucifixion.
With that same compassion
that moved you to suffer all for us,
hear our prayers,
and put an end to our misery
with your heavenly joy.
As we confess
that we have sinned against you in the past,
but now have returned to your mercy once again,
we pray that we may enjoy
your favor and goodness
all the days of our life;
through your mercy, O our God.
Source: Mozarabic
Source of this version: Freely modified from A Century of Collects, [38] selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.
Original in Latin:
Domine Jesu Christe, qui vivificaturus occideris, qui resurrecturus sepeliris, dum morte mortuos solvis, dum poenam superas crucifixus : tu ad preces nostras ilia, qua totum pateris, pietate convertere, et nostris jam calamitatibus finem pone. [Sicque reddita nobis indulgentia miserere.] Ut qui adversum te gravium culparum impressione nos egisse sentimus, iterum ad te nos misericordia. parcente conversi, redeunte quietis statu, et melioribus in rerum commodis potiamur. Per misericordiam tuam, Deus noster.
Translation in traditional English from A Century of Collects:
O Lord Jesu Christ, who wast but slain that thou mightest be the Author of life, and buried that thou mightest rise from the grave; setting free the dead by thy death, and abolishing the penalty of sin by thy crucifixion: bow down thine ear to our prayers with that same compassion that moved thee to suffer all for us, and put now a full end to our misery. And whereas we acknowledge ourselves to have sinned grievously against thee in time past, yet now by thy mercy turning unto thee once again, we pray thee that we may enjoy thy favour and goodness all the days of our life. Through thy mercy, O our God.
O God,
you lay bare our sins
when we cloak them with empty excuses,
and in your compassionate wisdom
you remove all doubt
from things uncertain,
and bring forth to light
what was hidden.
When our evil
has been brought home to our conscience,
sprinkle on us the dew of your mercy
and make us white as snow.
Help us amend our lives,
turn your face from our sins,
blot out all our iniquities
and renew our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that rejoicing in his indwelling,
we may continually open our lips
to declare your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Mozarabic
Source of this version: Freely modified from A Century of Collects, [27] selected and translated by Atwell M. Y. Baylay, 1913.
A Collection of Prayers 