Christian Prayer – Page 143 – A Collection of Prayers

A Prayer for God’s Chosen People

O God,
you have made all those who are born again in Christ
to be your chosen people, royal priesthood and holy nation.
Grant us both the will and the power to do what you command,
that your people who are called to eternal life
may have the same faith in their hearts
and the same devotion in their actions;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects and Other Prayers, Ed. by W. Bright: J.H. & Jas. Parker, London, 1901, p. 99 #2

“chosen people,”etc., This prayer quotes 1 Peter 2:9. In this version, the reference was expanded. In the original, the line is “…to be a royal and priestly race.”

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

Good Shepherd, Protect Your Flock

stjohnsashfield_stainedglass_goodshepherd-frame_crop

O good Shepherd,
look mercifully on your flock,
and do not let the sheep
which you redeemed with your precious blood
to be torn to pieces
by the assaults of the devil.

Source: Leonine Sacramentary

Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects and Other Prayers, Ed. by W. Bright: J.H. & Jas. Parker, London, 1902 p. 97 #3

A Gregorian Blessing (3)

The Lord enrich us with his grace,
and further us with his heavenly blessing.
The Lord defend us in adversity
and keep us from all evil.
The Lord receive our prayers,
and graciously absolve us from our offences,
for the sake of Jesus + Christ, our Savior.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

Source of this version: http://newscriptorium.com/assets/docs/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm

Also found here: http://www.sheffield.anglican.org/UserFiles/File/Education/1516_Anglican_Identity_Prayers.pdf

A Gregorian Blessing (2)

May God Almighty direct our days in his peace,
and grant us the gifts of his blessing.
May he deliver us in all our troubles,
and establish our minds in the tranquility of his peace.
May he so guide us through things temporal
that we finally lose not the things eternal.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

Source of this version: http://newscriptorium.com/assets/docs/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm

Also found here: http://www.urc.org.uk/images/Free-Ebooks/WB2_Treasury_of_Prayers.pdf

Hearts and Minds Unshadowed

O God,
you divide the day from the night.
Give us hearts and minds
unshadowed by the gloom of evil,
that we may think continually upon things
that are good and wholesome,
and be always pleasing in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Original Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Modified from http://newscriptorium.com/assets/docs/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm

Also found here: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 6 #2

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

Be with Me

Be, Lord, within me to strengthen me,
without me to preserve,
over me to shelter,
beneath me to support,
before me to direct,
behind me to bring back,
round about me to fortify.

Source: Lancelot Andrewes

Source of this version: http://newscriptorium.com/assets/docs/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm

Also found here: http://mariannedorman.homestead.com/Andrewes.html

Enlighten Our Minds

Enlighten our minds, O God,
by your Spirit who proceeds from you,
that as your Son has promised,
we may be led into all truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Original Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Quoted here: A Minister’s Prayer Book © 1986 Fortress Press, Philadelphia

Also found here: http://www.projectwittenberg.org/etext/hymnals/CSB1919/CSBCollectsandPrayers.pdf

This prayer quotes John 16:13.

Graphic, Gelasian Sacramentary, from Wikipedia.com

A Doxology and Blessing

Blessing and honor and thanksgiving and praise,
more than we can utter,
more than we can conceive,
be to you, O holy and glorious Trinity,
Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit,
by all angels,
all people,
all creatures,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Thomas Ken

Source of this version: http://www.oremus.org/labarum/junkyard/timesseasons/tands8.rtf

Thomas Ken is also the author of the “Common Doxology,”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

A German Blessing

Bless us, O God the Father, who created us,
Bless us, O God the + Son, who redeemed us,
Bless us, O God the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies us.
O blessed Trinity, keep us in body, soul and spirit to everlasting life.
Amen.

Source: Weimarisches Gesangbuch, 1873

Also found here: The Prayer Manual, Ed. Frederick B. Macnutt, Pub. A. R. Mowbray, 1957 #135

“Body, soul and spirit” is a reference to 1 Thessalonians 5:23

I found a German original from an earlier source:

Segne uns, Gott der Vater, der uns erschaffen hat;
Segne uns, Gott der Sohn, der uns erlöset hat;
Segne uns Gott, der heilige Geist, der uns geheiliget.
Die hochgelobte Dreieinigkeit bewahre unsern Leib und Seele zum ewigen Leben.
Amen.

Sammlung christlicher Lieder für evangelische Gemeinen zur öffentlichen und stillen Erbauung, Breslau 1835

May We Delight in Your Praise

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d In this hour of this day,
fill us, O Lord, with your mercy,
that rejoicing throughout the whole day,
we may delight in your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Breviary

Also found in Ancient Collects and Other Prayers, Ed. by W. Bright: J.H. & Jas. Parker, London, 1902 p. 13 #2

Also found here: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/potts/prayermiddle.x.pr99.html

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