Category: Christian Prayer

These short meditations may be used as personal devotions, school devotions, or devotions at the beginnings of church meetings.

Monday of Holy Week

Verses and Prayer

All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way,
but the LORD has laid on him the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Almighty God, grant that in our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of your only-begotten Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Reading: Matthew 22:41-46

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus taught in the Temple courts and was challenged by his enemies.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “Then how can David…

By ancient usage this Prayer was specially appointed for Good Friday. It may also be used on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent. This prayer is intended to be read by an assisting minister (denoted by A) at a lectern and by the presiding minister or pastor (denoted by M) standing at the altar. A short pause of silence should be observed between the bid and the prayer.

A Brothers and sisters, let us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord God would keep and defend it against all the assaults and temptations of the adversary, and to keep it always on the true foundation, Jesus Christ.

MAlmighty and eternal God, you have revealed your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ and the Word of his truth. Keep the works of your mercy in safety, that your Church, spread throughout all nations, may serve you in true faith and…

O Lord,
our redemption.
Be our protection.
Direct our minds by your gracious presence.
Watch over our paths
and guide us with your love
through the hidden snares of life.
Fix our hearts on you as we go forward,
and following in faith,
arrive at your goal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954, also in The New Ancient Collects, #292

You are our helper, Mighty One.
and you are no respecter of persons.
Help all your people
bought with the precious blood of Christ.

You are our fortress and defender.
No one can snatch us from your hand.
There is no other God like you.
In you we trust.

Sanctify us through your truth.
Your Word is truth.

Preserve us
and all your people
from injury and deceit,
from fear of the enemy,
from the arrow that flies by day,
and the trouble that walks in the darkness,
and grant us eternal life
in Christ, your Son, our Lord and Savior.

Source: Liturgy of the Greek Church.
Source of this version: Service and Prayers for Church and Home edited by Wilbur Patterson Thirkield, 1918

O God,
you do not desire the death of a sinner.
Protect with your heavenly aid
those who may now be exposed to special temptations.
Grant that in the fulfillment of your commandments
they may be strengthened by the assistance of your grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954

In the midst of life we are in death.
To whom may we look for help,
but from you, Lord,
who for our sins
are justly displeased?

Yet, Lord God most holy,
Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.

Source: Attributed to Notker the Stammerer, battle song from the year A. D. 912, based on the English translation in the Book of Common Prayer.

Most versions render the last line, “deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.”

Original in Latin:

Media vita in morte sumus
quem quaerimus adjutorem
nisi te, Domine,
qui pro peccatis nostris
juste irasceris?

Sancte Deus,
sancte fortis,
sancte et misericors Salvator:
amarae morti ne tradas nos.

Book of Common Prayer 1559 text in traditional English:

In the midst of life we be in death: of whom may we seek for succor but…

O God,
you are as rich in pity as you are in power,
merciful and mighty.
See your whole creation,
as it has been groaning
in the pains of childbirth until now.
As you have broken the power of evil
by the cross of Christ
and by his endless sacrifice
you take away the sin of the world,
hasten the time
when the last enemy of humanity
shall be completely defeated
and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore,
and you will wipe away every tear from our eyes;
through your redeeming love
in Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

Source: The Order of Divine Service for Public Worship … Compiled by W.E. Orchard, Etc. London, 1921, p. 115 (Litany of the Sick)

Also found here: Collects and Prayers for use in Church,  United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #244

“hasten the time” may…

Into your hands, O God,
we commend ourselves
and all who are dear to us this day.
Let your presence be with us even to its close.
Let us never lose sight of you
all the day long,
but let us worship and pray to you,
that at evening we may again give you thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Original Source: Gelasian Sacramentary

Source of This Version: The Catholic Prayer Book © 1984, Servant Books, Cincinnati OH

Also found at: http://www.woodfordvalleyparish.org.uk/prayers.html

Variant:

Into your hands, O Lord,
we commend ourselves this day.
Let your presence be with us to its close.
Strengthen us to remember
that in whatever good work we do we are serving you.
Give us a diligent and watchful spirit,
that we may seek to know your will in all things,
and in knowing it, gladly to perform it,
to the honor and glory of your…

The Litany of Chrysostom may be read or may be sung to this tune. Sometimes it is sung in a way that the word “Lord” overlaps between the cantor and congregation: “In peace, let us pray to the Lord, have mercy.” Graphics for use in service folders, with or without harmony, are provided below, along with a Word file.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the holy Churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our…

O most loving Father,
you want us to give thanks for all things,
to dread nothing but losing you,
and to cast all our anxiety on you
because you care for us.
Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties
and grant that no clouds of this mortal life
may hide from us the light of that love
which is immortal,
and which you have shown us
in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Source: William Bright

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 46 #2

“cast all our anxiety on you” is a reference to 1 Peter 5:7