By the shedding of the Blood of Christ our Lord,
peace has been established in heaven and earth.
Truly precious is the Covenant of peace,
which was made by the offering of that holy Blood!
Not with gold,
not with silver,
not with gems or pearls,
but with the blood that poured
from the side of the Savior,
which gladdened heaven,
purified earth,
and terrified hell.
Source: Gallican Sacramentary, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 48#2.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
you came down from heaven to earth
from your Father’s side,
suffered five wounds on the wood of the cross,
and shed your precious blood
for the forgiveness of our sins.
At the day of judgment
set us at your right hand,
speak to us those sweet words,
“Come, you who are blessed,
into my Father’s kingdom;”
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
one God,
now and forever.
Source: Sarum Missal, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 47#3.
O God,
Son of God,
so loving, yet hated,
so patient, yet assaulted to death,
you showed yourself gentle and merciful
even to your persecutors.
You have atoned for our sins
through the wounds of your Passion.
As you humbled yourself and suffered death for us,
now, in your glory,
bestow on us eternal brightness.
Source: Mozarabic, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 46#1.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
for our redemption
you were born and circumcised,
and rejected by the Jews,
betrayed with kiss by Judas,
seized, bound, and led in bonds
to Annas, Caiaphas, Herod, and Pilate,
and you stood before them to be mocked,
smitten with palm and fist,
with the scourge and the reed.
Your face was covered and defiled with spitting,
crowned with thorns,
accused by false witnesses.
You were condemned,
and as an innocent Lamb led to slaughter,
bearing your own cross,
pierced through with nails,
gall and vinegar were given you to drink,
and you were left on the cross
to die the most shameful of deaths,
wounded with a spear.
By these your most sacred pains
you deliver us from all sins and penalties.
By your holy Cross
bring us, miserable sinners,
to that place you brought the repentant thief to yourself;
for you live and with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Source: Sarum Missal, Innocent III, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 45#3.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your hands on the cross
and you redeemed us by your blood.
Forgive me, a sinner,
for none of my thoughts are hidden from you.
Pardon I ask,
pardon I hope for,
pardon I trust to have.
Your heart is full of pity and mercy.
Spare and forgive me.
Source: Ambrosian, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 44#2
Original in traditional English:
Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst stretch out Thine hands on the Cross, and redeem us by Thy blood, forgive me, a sinner, for none of my thoughts are hid from Thee. Pardon I ask, pardon I hope for, pardon I trust to have. Thou Who art pitiful and merciful, spare and forgive me.
It is truly good and right
that we should give thanks to you, Lord God,
through Jesus Christ your Son,
who, being God eternal,
was pleased to become fully human for our salvation.
O single, unequaled Mystery of our Savior!
For he, being one and the same,
God most high, and perfect Man,
both supreme High Priest and most sacred Sacrifice,
according to his divine power created all things,
and according to his human condition delivered man.
By virtue of his Sacrifice he atoned for those stained by sin,
in right of his priesthood he reconciled those alienated from God.
O single, unequaled Mystery of redemption
by which those ancient wounds
were healed by the Lord’s new medicine,
and the judgment passed before on the first man
was lifted by the gifts of our Savior.
In self-indulgence Adam reached his hands to the tree.
In loving patience Christ fixed his hands to the cross.
Therefore the punishment borne by innocence
became the freedom of the debtor,
for debts are remitted to debtors
paid by him who owed nothing.
Source: Ancient Gallican Missal, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright p, 41#1
O Lord,
let your mercy be upon us,
and let the brightness of your Spirit
illumine our inward souls,
that he may kindle our cold hearts
and enlighten our dark minds;
who abides with you in glory forever.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic collect.
Source of this version: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, also in Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953.
O God,
you make all things work together
for good to those who love you.
Fill us with the invincible power of your love
that the holy desires you have put in our hearts
may not be changed by any temptation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Gelasian, from The New Ancient Collects, #253
O Lord God,
Life of mortals,
Light of the faithful,
Strength of those who labor,
and the Rest for your saints,
give us a peaceful night
free of all trouble,
that after quiet sleep
we may enjoy your blessings
at the return of the light,
and be empowered by your Holy Spirit,
and moved to give you thanks.
Source: Mozarabic, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright p. 11#2.
O God,
you promised
that you would be with your Church
to the end of the age,
and that the gates of hell
will never prevail
against the apostolic confession.
Make your strength perfect in our weakness,
and keep your divine promise
and be present with your weakest members.
Give each of us what we ask,
as it pleases you,
guard us from the attacks of all our enemies,
and assure us with your presence.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, Bright’s Ancient Collects, p. 97.2, The New Ancient Collects, #322.
A Collection of Prayers 