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.