Lord God, heavenly Father, we confess that we are poor, wretched sinners and that there is no good in us, since our hearts, flesh and blood are so corrupted by sin that we can never be without sinful desire in this life. Therefore dear Father, forgive us these sins and let your Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts that we may desire and love your Word, abide by it and by your grace be forever saved; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, you gave us your holy Word and have generously provided for all our bodily needs. We are unworthy of all these mercies and have rather deserved punishment. But forgive us our sins as you forgave Peter, and prosper and bless us in our different callings that by your strength we may be sustained and defended, now and forever and so praise and glorify you eternally; you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, you are merciful and through Christ you promised us that you will neither judge nor condemn us, but graciously forgive us all our sins and abundantly provide for all our needs of body and soul. By your Holy Spirit establish in our hearts a confident faith in your mercy and teach us also to be merciful to our neighbor, that we may not judge or condemn others, but willingly forgive all people, and judging only ourselves, lead blessed lives in your fear; through your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you thanks that through your holy Word you have called us to your great supper of eternal life. Awaken our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may not hear your Word and produce no fruit, but that we may prepare ourselves rightly for your heavenly banquet and not allow ourselves to be hindered by any worldly care; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.
O Lord God, grant that we may not fall asleep in our sins like the foolish virgins, but always watch and pray and be ready to enter your eternal glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Grant, O Lord God, that we may not, like the foolish virgins, fall asleep in our sins, but always watch and pray, and be ready to enter into Thine eternal glory; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. AMEN
The following prayers / collects were originally composed or chosen to go with the historic lectionary, a series of lessons that developed in the early church. It was a one-year series, that is, the same lessons would be read on the same Sundays, each year.For the historic lectionary on an interactive calendar, see www.sanctus.org.
Most of the collects designated as “historic” come from the sacramentaries of the Roman church.
The collects designated as “Mozarabic” come from the ancient Spanish church around the year 700. The Mozarabic church was isolated from the rest of Europe while Spain was occupied by Muslims. The Mozarabic tradition of liturgy and prayer developed independently from worship in Europe and Rome.
Veit Dietrich was a friend and associate of Martin Luther, and these prayers were written in the 1540s as part of a commentary on the historic gospels. They appeared in The Lutheran Hymnary (1913), a worship book prepared by Norwegian-American Lutherans.
Good God, gracious Father, creator of us all, have mercy on us.
O Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, our brother, have mercy on us.
True Spirit, moving over us, Lord and giver of life, have mercy on us.
Look at our world, broken by sin. Look at our hearts, broken in grief. Look at our minds, shaken in confusion. Have mercy on us.
Forgive our shortsightedness and open our eyes. Forgive our hate and empower us to love. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Have mercy on us.
On those who are angry, on those who are hurting, on those who are weary, on those who work for peace, on those who protect and serve, on those who suffer loss, on those who are vulnerable, have mercy, Lord.
Give wisdom to those who lead, give patience to those who wait, give healing to those who hurt. Have mercy, Lord.
Father, from one man you made every nation of humanity, you make the sun shine and the rain fall on the wicked and the good, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son, have mercy.
Jesus, you took on human flesh and became the brother of the human race, you suffered great injustice to bear the sin of the world, you are the tree of life whose leaves bring healing to the nations, have mercy.
Holy Spirit, you moved the apostles to speak the languages of all nations, you let your Word go out to all people, you call and gather your church from all the world, have mercy.
See our world and our nation. Help the helpless, strengthen the weak, soften the hardened, warm the loveless, cool the angry, cleanse our hearts. Mercy!
Father and maker of all, you let this world stand because you are gracious. Work that same grace within us that we love because you first loved us, that we imitate you as your beloved children, and live our lives in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Savior of all people and lover of all souls, show us what love is yet again by setting your selfless love before our eyes. You welcomed tax collectors and zealots, and taught them all the way of love. When you were dying you forgave those who didn’t know what they were doing. You gave your friends who deserted you your greeting of peace. Empower us to love, forgive, and give us your peace; Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Holy Spirit, you caused Scripture to be written that we might learn love that is the fulfillment of the law, and that we might know Jesus and follow him in love. You give the spark of faith and you fan faith into flame. Move us to put our faith and hope to work with an active love, that we listen before speaking, think before acting, and consider the needs of others before our own. Amen.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, written during the violence in early June, 2020
References to Father, Son and Holy Spirit at the beginning, middle and end reflect characteristics of traditional litanies, and this is being written near Trinity Sunday.
The opening phrases “Good God,” “O Jesus” take the exclamations people often make when hearing bad news and develop them into petitions.
The shortening of responses “have mercy on us,” “have mercy, Lord,” “have mercy,” and finally “Mercy!” are intended to show a growing weariness.
Almighty and eternal God, you have given your servants who confess of the true faith the duty to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and to worship the true Unity in the power of the divine majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith, and always defend us from all adversities; for you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic Collect for the Holy Trinity, Late Gregorian
O God, you gave your Holy Spirit to your apostles. Give your faithful people what they ask for in their prayers so that those you have given faith may also receive your peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Source: Historic collect for Pentecost Monday, Gregorian
O God, on this day you taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. By that same Spirit give us a right judgment in all things that we may always rejoice in his holy comfort; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever.
Deus, qui hodierna die corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de ejus sember consolatione gaudere.
Cranmer 1459 has it as:
GOD, whiche as upon this daye haste [hast] taughte the heartes of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the lyght of thy holy spirite; graunte us by the same spirite to have a right judgement in al thinges, and evermore to rejoyce in hys holy coumforte; through the merites of Christ Jesus our saviour; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unitie of the same spirite, one God, worlde without ende.A
A prayer in the office of Terce is identical, with the omission of “on this day.”
A Collection of Prayers 