O Lord,
help us always
to seek your kingdom and righteousness.
Give us all other things we need as well;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 89 #1
Also found here: Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 114 #2
Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com
It is good for us to hold on to you, O Lord,
but increase in us our desire for your good,
that our hope in you may not be shaken
by any wavering of faith,
but may endure in steadfastness of love.
Source: Mozarabic Rite
Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 76 #2
Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.
O Lord,
may all who contend for the faith
never injure it by discord and impatience,
but speaking your precious truth in love,
present it that it may be loved,
and that people may see your truth
as goodness and beauty. Amen.
Source: William Bright
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 107 #2
Abba, Father,
be a tender father toward us your servants.
Govern, protect, preserve,
sanctify, guide, and console us.
Let us be so warmed with love for you,
that we may never forget you,
O most merciful Lord, most tender Father;
for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Source: Old Gallican Sacramentary
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)
Also found here: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 78 #2
“Abba, Father” is a reference to Romans 8:15
“Let us be so warmed with love…” in the original is “Let us be so warmed with love for you, that we may not be despised by you,”
O loving Master,
shine into our hearts
by the pure light of knowing you,
open the eyes of our minds to reflect on your teaching,
and put into us the holy respect of your blessed commandments.
Lead us to set aside all that is worldly
that we may follow a spiritual life,
thinking and doing all things as it pleases you.
For you are our sanctification
and our illumination,
and to you we give all glory,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Eastern Church Liturgy.
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.), also in Ancient Collects, William Bright, p. 6#1.
This prayer may be the origin of verses from Luther’s hymn, “We now implore God the Holy Ghost”:
Shine in our hearts, O most precious Light,
That we Jesus Christ may know aright,
Clinging to our Savior, whose blood has bought us,
Who again to our homeland has brought us.
Lord, have mercy!
In the evening and morning and noonday
we praise you, we thank you, and we pray:
Master of all,
let our prayers rise before you as incense.
Do not let our hearts turn away
to words or thoughts of wickedness,
but keep us from all things that might hurt us;
for our eyes look to you, O Lord,
and our hope is in you.
Do not let us be ashamed, O our God;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Eastern Church Vespers
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)
Also found in Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 9 #1
“Let our prayers rise before you as incense ” is a reference to Psalm 141:2
“Our hope is in you” is a reference to Psalm 25:5
“Do not let us be ashamed” is a reference to Psalm 25:20
O God, you are the bottomless well of peace,
the heavenly sea of love,
the fountain of blessings,
and the giver of affection,
and you send peace to those who receive it.
Open to us this day the sea of your love,
and water us with the flowing streams of your grace.
Make us children of quietness, and heirs of peace.
Enkindle the fire of your love in us;
plant holy reverence for you in us;
strengthen our weakness by your power;
bind us closely to you and to each other
in one firm bond of unity;
for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Source: Syrian Clementine Liturgy, (attributed to Clement of Rome, c. 96)
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)
Also found here: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 80 #2
“plant holy reverence for you in us” in the original is “plant your fear in us”
O Lord,
let your forgiveness come from above.
May it comfort us in our misery,
may it cleanse us from our offences,
may it be granted to the penitent,
may it plead for mourners,
may it bring back those who wander from the faith,
may it raise up those who are fallen into sins,
may it reconcile us to the Father,
may it confirm us with the grace of Christ,
may it conform us to the Holy Spirit.
Source: Mozarabic Rite
Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 40 #4
In the original this is part of a Good Friday litany.
Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.
We have been satisfied, O Lord,
with your gifts and blessings.
Fill us with your mercy.
You are blessed,
and with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign, one God, now and forever.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 175 #3
Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com
Bless, O Lord, your gifts
which we are about to receive
from your goodness.
May your gifts, O Lord,
be our refreshment,
and your grace our comfort;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Gelasian Sacramentary
Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 175 #2
Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com
A Collection of Prayers 
