Bright’s Ancient Collects – Page 9 – A Collection of Prayers

What Can We Give You?

What blessing,
what praise,
what thanksgiving
can we give you, O God, lover of all?
For when we were in the darkness of death
and drowning in the depths of sin
you granted us freedom
and gave us this immortal and heavenly food,
and showed us the mystery kept secret for long ages.
Help us understand your supreme mercy
and the greatness of your goodness
and Fatherly care for us.

Source: The Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril

Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 148 #1

“What blessing … can we give you” is be a reference to Psalm 116:12

“For when we were…” is a reference to Romans 5:8

“Mystery kept secret…” is a reference to Romans 16:25

Send Your Holy Angels

Hear us, holy Lord,
Father almighty,
everlasting God,
and send your holy angels from heaven
to guard, cherish, protect, visit
and defend all who dwell in this house;
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. 104 #1

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

You Have Healed Our Wounds

antifonariodelec3b3n1 You have healed our wounds, O Lord,
by the wounds of your only Son.
What then should we do
since we have been bought at so great a price?
How shall we serve such a Lord,
who has promised such liberty
and has offered such an inheritance to us?
Work in us, O Lord, what pleases you.
Possess us so that we may possess you.
We will not perish,
you will let us live,
and we will call upon your name.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 72 #3

“You have healed our wounds” is a reference to Isaiah 53:5

“What then should we do… How shall we serve” may be a reference to Psalm 116:12

“bought at so great a price” is a reference to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“We will not perish” is a reference to Psalm 118:17

“We will not perish” in the original is “We will not go back from you.” Changed to “We will not perish” to broaden the reference to psalm 118.

Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.

Life, Light, Strength, Rest

antifonariodelec3b3n1 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 moved to action
by your Holy Spirit,
and moved to give you thanks.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 11 #2

Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.

Yours is the Day, Yours is the Night

Yours is the day, O Lord,
and yours is the night.
Let your Sun of righteousness
remain in our hearts
to drive away the darkness
of wicked thoughts;
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. 10 #4

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

Lead Us to the True Light

Almighty and everlasting God,
at evening, and morning, and noonday,
we humbly ask,
to drive from our hearts the darkness of sin,
and lead us to the true Light,
which is Christ;
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. 10 #3

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

Scatter the Darkness

O God, by the light of your Word
you scatter the darkness of ignorance.
Increase in our hearts the power of faith
which you have given us,
that no temptations may put out the fire
your grace has caused to burn in our hearts;
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. 7 #3

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

Morning Prayer

After the night our spirits awaken to you, O God,
for your Word is a light to us.
Teach us, O God, your righteousness,
your commandments, and your judgments.
Enlighten the eyes of our minds,
so that we do not sleep in the death of sin.
Drive away all darkness from our hearts.
Give us your Sun of Righteousness.
Guard our lives from all blame by the seal of your Holy Spirit.
Guide our steps into the way of peace.
Let us see the dawn and the day with joy,
that we may offer our prayers to you in the evening.

Source: Daybreak Office of the Eastern Church

Source of this version: Freely modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 5 #1

To Go Forward with Your Help

O God,
set us on fire with your Spirit.
Strengthen us with your power.
Enlighten us with your splendor.
Fill us with your grace.
Draw us forward with your help.
O Lord, give us
a right faith,
perfect love,
true humility.
O Lord, give us
simple affection, brave patience,
persevering obedience,
perpetual peace,
a pure mind,
a right and clean heart,
a good will,
a sharpened conscience,
spiritual strength,
a life unspotted and blameless.
And having finished the course,
enter your kingdom by your grace. Amen.

Source: Gallican Sacramentary

Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects and Other Prayers, Ed. by W. Bright: J.H. & Jas. Parker, London, 1902, p. 93 #3

A Final Commendation of the Dying

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d Depart, Christian soul, out of this world,
in the name of God the Father almighty who created you,
in the name of Jesus + Christ his Son, who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit, who has been poured out into you.

May you depart this day in peace,
and your home be in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Source: Sarum

Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects and Other Prayers, Ed. by W. Bright: J.H. & Jas. Parker, London, 1902, p. 120 #1

“May you depart this day…” original has “May thy place be this day in peace,”

A longer version reads thus:

Depart in peace, ransomed soul,
in the name of God the Father almighty who created you,
in the name of Jesus + Christ, the Son of the living God, who redeemed you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit, who sanctified you.

Come now to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:8) Amen.

Source of this version: The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 119

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

“Enter now Mount Zion…” is a reference to Hebrews 12:22-23

prayer for the dead in middle ages

prayers for the dead