Category: Christian Prayer

Refresh Us, Strengthen Faith, Increase Love

V. For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup,
R. We proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)

We thank you, almighty Lord God, that you have refreshed us through the body and blood of your dear Son. We pray that through this, you would make us prosper with strong faith toward you and with fervent love among us all, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Source: Coburg Agende

Source of this version: Translated for A Collection of Prayers. German source: Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #597.

Original in German:

So oft ihr von diesem Brot esset und von diesem Kelch trinket, sollt ihr des Herrn Tod verkündigen, bis daß er kommt.

Wir danken dir, allmächtiger Herr Gott, daß du uns durch den Leib und das Blut deines lieben Sohnes lässest erquicken, und bitten dich, daß du uns solches gedeihen lassest zu starkem Glauben gegen dich, und zu brünstiger Lieb unter uns allen, durch denselben deinen Sohn, Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen. Coburg Agende.

This prayer is very similar to Luther’s post-communion prayer in his German Mass.

 

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A Prayer for Love

O blessed Lord, you have commanded us to love one another. Just as we have received your undeserved blessings, may we love everyone in you and for you.

We ask your kindness for all, but especially for the friends whom your love has given to us. Love them, O fountain of love, and move them to love you with all their heart, that they may will, and speak, and do only those things which are pleasing to you.

Our prayer is cold, because our love is so feeble, but you are rich in mercy. Do not measure your goodness to them by the dullness of our devotion, but as your kindness surpasses all human affection, so let your hearing transcend our prayer. Do what is best for them, according to your will, that being ruled and protected by you always and everywhere, they may receive eternal life in the end; to you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and praise 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.

Variant:

O blessed Lord, who hast commanded us to love one another, grant us grace that having received thine undeserved bounty, we may love everyone in thee and for thee. We implore thy clemency for all; but especially for the friends whom thy love has given to us. Love thou them, O thou fountain of love, and make them to love thee with all their heart, that they may will, and speak, and do those things only which are pleasing to thee.

 

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For Love

Coptic[1]

O God of love,
giver of concord,
through your only Son
you have given us a new commandment
that we should love one another
even as you have loved us,
the unworthy and the wandering,
and gave your beloved Son for our life and salvation.
Lord, in our time of life on earth
give us a mind forgetful of past ill-will,
a pure conscience and sincere thoughts,
and hearts to love one another;
for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Coptic Liturgy of St. Cyril

Source of this version: Freely modified from  Prayers of the Early Church,  ed.  J. Manning Potts,  The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)

“love one another as you have loved us” is a reference to John 15:12

“and you gave your beloved Son” is a reference to John 3:16 and Matthew 3:17

 

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A Holy Week Prayer

O God, Son of God,
you took on yourself our nature
and suffered death on the cross for us.
By your Passion you have set us free from eternal death.
Preserve us in your grace;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 24 #3

“you took on yourself our nature” is a reference to  Philippians 2:7

“and suffered death on the cross for us” is a reference to  Philippians 2:8

Mozarabic, ad.

 

 

Cross before Glory

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

Almighty God,
your dear Son did not ascend to joy
until he first suffered pain,
and did not enter into glory
before he was crucified.
Mercifully grant that we,
walking in the way of the cross,
may find it as the true way
of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Book of Common Prayer, Palm Sunday liturgy.

Source of this version: Freely modified from http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/catholic/comfort/in-the-way-of-the-cross.aspx

A Palm Sunday Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ,
when you entered Jerusalem,
great crowds waved palm branches and cried “Hosanna.”
Save us now from our sins,
and make us to rejoice in you,
our only Redeemer;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 24 #2

“great crowds waved palm branches and cried ‘Hosanna.'” is a reference to  Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9, John 12:13

Mozarabic, ad.

 

 

You Give Salvation, You Give Comfort

grigor_narekatsi_1For yours is salvation,
and from you is redemption,
and by your right hand is restoration,
and your finger is fortification.
Your command is justification.
Your mercy is liberation.
Your countenance is illumination.
Your face is exultation.
Your spirit is benefaction.
Your anointing oil is consolation.
A dew drop of your grace is exhilaration.
You give comfort.
You make us forget despair.
You lift away the gloom of grief.
You change the sighs of our heart into laughter.
To you is fitting blessing with praise
in heaven and on earth
from our forefathers and to all their generations
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Gregory of Narek (Armenian) 951-1003, from Prayer 9, D

Give Us Knowledge and Life Everlasting

johnchrysostom

Almighty God,
you have given us grace at this time
to make our common prayers to you,
and you promise that when two or three
are gathered together in your name
you will grant their requests.
O Lord, fulfill the desires and prayers of your servants,
as you know what is best for us,
granting us knowledge of your truth in this world,
and life eternal in the world to come.
Amen.

Source: Book of Common Prayer, and The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Original in Greek:

Ὁ τὰς κοινὰς ταύτας καὶ συμφώνους ἡμῖν χαρισάμενος προσευχάς, ὁ καὶ δυσὶ καὶ τρισί, συμφωνοῦσιν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου, τὰς αἰτήσεις παρέχειν ἐπαγγειλάμενος· Αὐτὸς καὶ νῦν τῶν δούλων σου τὰ αἰτήματα πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον πλήρωσον, χορηγῶν ἡμῖν ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι ζωὴν αἰώνιον χαριζόμενος.

In traditional English from the Book of Common Prayer:

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.