O God,
you count the number of the stars,
and call them all by their names.
Heal the contrite in heart,
gather together the outcasts,
and enrich us with the fullness of your wisdom;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Sarum Rite
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
our redemption and our salvation,
we praise you and give you thanks.
Though we are unworthy of your benefits,
and cannot offer to you the devotion you deserve,
let your loving-kindness complete whatever our weakness tries to do.
Before you, O Lord, we lay all our desires,
and whatever our heart rightly wishes, it is because of your gift.
Help us love you as you command.
Do not let your gift be unfruitful in us.
Complete what you have begun,
give what you have made us desire,
convert our lukewarmness into fervent love of you;
for the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Source: St. Anselm, eleventh century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O almighty and merciful Father,
you pour out your benefits on us,
forgive our unthankfulness for your goodness.
We have stood before you with dead and senseless hearts,
unkindled by the love
of your gentle and enduring goodness.
O merciful Father, turn us and we will be turned.
Make us hunger and thirst for you with our whole heart,
and with all our longing desire you.
Make us serve you with our whole heart
and with all our zeal seek whatever is pleasing in your sight;
for the sake of your only Son,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Source: St. Anselm, eleventh century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O holy Counselor,
sweetest consolation of the sorrowful,
gracious Spirit come down now with your mighty power
into the depths of our hearts.
Gladden there with your brightness every dark retreat,
and enrich all with the dew of your abundant comfort.
Kindle our hearts with holy favor,
that the incense of our prayers and praises
may ever go up to you, our God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Source: St. Anselm, eleventh century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O merciful God,
fill our hearts with the graces of your Holy Spirit,
with love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance.
Teach us to love those who hate us,
to pray for those who spitefully use us,
that we may be the children of you, our Father.
You make your sun to shine on the evil and on the good,
and send rain on the just and on the unjust.
In adversity grant us grace to be patient.
In prosperity keep us humble.
Help us guard the door of our lips,
to give little regard for the pleasures of this world,
and to thirst after heavenly things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: St. Anselm, eleventh century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O fountain of love,
love our friends and teach them to love you with all their hearts,
that they may think and speak and do
only what is pleasing to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: St. Anselm, eleventh century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
Glory to you always,
highest Father and Lord.
Today you sent from the heavens
our Lord Jesus Christ
as our Savior,
whom you foretold
by ancient prophets,
and now have revealed him
as the son of the virgin Mary.
Today, lying in the manger,
is the bread of eternal life,
and a great light
shines on nations
who walked in darkness.
Today the peace for the nations
comes down from heaven,
and the gift of eternity
is granted to us all.
Today the divine treasury
is opened up for us,
and the light of the Holy Spirit
shines upon all.
Now the true light
comes into the world.
He restores sight to the blind
and health to the paralyzed
and strength to the infirm
and firmness to the weak.
Today the true resurrection
of the dead is brought forth,
the way, the truth
and the life of the living.
Therefore we pray, true Trinity, our God,
that as you share with us
the joys of your nativity,
you would also lead us
to live lives to your glory
by this yearly devotion.
So that after this life in the flesh
we may join with all the saints
in the glorious fatherland of the heavens;
through your mercy, our God,
you are blessed
and live and rule all things
now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Freely translated from the Mozarabic Rite, from a document at the University of St. Thomas.
Original in Latin:
Tibi semper gloria, summe Pater ac Domine, qui hodie e caelis Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum nobis salvatorem mittere dignatus es, quem prophetorum olim vaticiniis intonasti, et nunc ex Maria Virgine natum manifestasti.
Hodie nobis est in praesepio positus, perpetuae vitae panis, et lux magna reddita est terris.
Hodie pax civium est prolata supernorum, et nobis omnibus conceditur perpetuitatis donum.
Hodie divinus est nobis reseratus thesaurus, et lux reddita est omnibus, quem prodiit Spiritus Sanctus.
Nunc verum lumen apparuit mundo, qui medicus est caecorum, et sanitas paraliticorum, atque infirmantium virtus, et debilium firmamentum.
Hodie vera est prolata resurrectio mortuorum, via, veritas et vita viventium.
Quaesumus igitur, vera Trinitas, Deus noster, ut qui nos fecisti nativitatis tuae suscipere gaudia, facias, quoque annua devotione immaculatam habere vitam. Ut post carnae claustra mereamur adunari cum omnibus sanctis in caelorum patria gloriosa.
R. Amen.
December 23
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Source: The O Antiphons
Source of this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons, also in Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 21
Latin:
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
Isaiah had prophesied:
(Emmanuel means God is with us).
December 22
O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.
Source: The O Antiphons
Source of this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons, also in Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 21
Latin:
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.
Isaiah had prophesied:
Also compare Isaiah 28:16 and Ephesians 2:14
December 21
O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those
who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Source: The O Antiphons
Source of this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons, also in Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 21
Latin:
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
Isaiah had prophesied:
Also compare Isaiah 60:1-2 and Malachi 4:2
A Collection of Prayers 