Christian Prayer – Page 93 – A Collection of Prayers

A Confession of Sins

I, a poor sinner,
confess before you, my God and Creator,
that I have grievously sinned against you in many ways,
not only by gross outward sins,
but much more through inward natural blindness,
unbelief, doubts, despondency, impatience, pride,
covetousness, secret envy, hatred, malice,
and other sinful affections
which you see in me, my Lord and God,
and which, alas, I cannot always see in myself.
I repent of these, and cry to you for your mercy,
through your beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Palatinate Liturgy, 1563, and Lutheran Liturgy of Wuerttemberg, 1536.

Translation based on Tercentenary Monument: In Commemoration of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism M. Kieffer & Company, 1863

For Those Who Have Forgotten You

O God,
no one can escape your Spirit,
and none may flee from your presence.
We pray for those who have forgotten you
and have wandered in disobedience to your will
and neglected your holy Word and Sacraments.
May your Holy Spirit continue to strive with them,
may your exceeding great love still plead with them,
to bring them home to yourself again,
that they may rejoice in your salvation
and glorify your blessed name.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 54

Original has: “and neglected your holy Church and Sacraments.”

Lead Us to Love You Sincerely

O Lord Jesus Christ,
by your almighty power
you opened the eyes of the blind,
and showed yourself to them.
Turn our eyes away from worthless things,
and lead us to love you sincerely;
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. 22 #3 (Lent 3)

“you opened the eyes of the blind” is a reference to Mark 8:23, John 9:17ff,

“Turn our eyes away from worthless things” is a reference to Psalm 119:37

Shield Us from the Devil’s Cunning and Terror

devil-1566853_640

Lord God, heavenly Father,
since that evil spirit, the devil,
always prowls around like a roaring lion,
seeking to devour us,
you want to shield us
by your dear holy angels
from all of his cunning and terror,
for your dear Son’s sake.
Through your Holy Spirit,
give us repentant hearts,
that we may serve you
in all soberness and vigilance;
through Jesus Christ,
your dear Son,
our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 287

Original in German:

Herr Gott, himmlischer Vater, wir bitten dich, weil der böse Geist allzeit als ein brüllender Löwe um uns hergehet und suchet, ob er uns verschlingen könne, du wollest uns um deines lieben Sohnes willen mit den lieben heiligen Engeln wider alle feine List und Gewalt beschirmen, und uns durch deinen Geist bußfertige Herzen verleihen, daß wir in Mäßigkeit und Nüchternheit dir dienen mögen, durch Jesum Christum deinen lieben Sohn, unsern Herrn. Amen. Pommersche Agende

Move Us to Thanks for Jesus’ Suffering

matthiasgrunewald_thecrucifixion2 Almighty Father, eternal God,
for us you sent your Son
and let him suffer
the pain of the cross,
that he might drive away from us
all the terror of the evil foe.
Move us to joyfully give thanks for his suffering
through which we have received
forgiveness of sins
and redemption from eternal death;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther [Die Gebete Luthers, #14]

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, #590.

Also found in Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 288(2).

Original in German:

Allmächtiger Vater, ewiger Gott, der du für uns hast deinen Sohn des Kreuzes Pein lassen leiden, auf daß du von uns des Feindes Gewalt treibest: verleihe uns also zu begehen und zu danken seinem Leiden, daß wir dadurch der Sünden Vergebung und vom ewigen Tode Erlösung erlangen, durch denselben deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen. Luther.

Gewalt can be translated as “power,” “violence,” “force,” “might,” or “control.” “Terror” seemed to sum up all these well.

Send Your Holy Spirit

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29 Dear God,
send us your Holy Spirit,
that he may take the Word we have heard
and write it in our hearts,
so that we grasp it,
believe it,
and find our joy
and comfort in it
forever.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther

Original in German:

Lieber Gott, gieb uns deinen heiligen Geist, der das gehörte Wort in unser Herz schreibe, also, daß wir annehmen, glauben, und uns dessen in Ewigkeit erfreuen und trösten mögen. Amen. Luther.

Let Your Rich Mercy Be with Us

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29 Almighty God,
you are the protector
of all who hope in you.
Without your grace,
no one can do anything,
or merit anything before you.
Let your mercy be with us richly,
so that as you dwell in us,
we think what is right
and by your work in us,
we do what is right;
for the sake of Jesus Christ,
your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther

Original in German:

Allmächtiger Gott, der du bist ein Beschützer aller, die auf dich hoffen, ohne welches Gnade niemand nichts vermag, noch etwas vor dir gilt, laß deine Barmherzigkeit uns reichlich widerfahren, auf daß wir durch dein heilig Eingeben, denken was recht ist und durch deine Wirkung dasselbige vollbringen, um Jesu Christi, deines Sohnes, unsers Herrn willen. Amen. Luther.

This prayer is Luther’s German translation of this Gregorian prayer in Latin.

Open and Enlighten Our Minds

Lucas_Cranach_(I)_-_Johannes_Bugenhagen[1].jpg Almighty and eternal God,
Lord, heavenly Father,
your Word is a lamp to our feet
and a light for our path.
Open and enlighten our minds
that we may have a pure, clear
and holy understanding of your Word,
and then, afterward,
that we have a right understanding
of ourselves and our lives,
so that we may never displease
your divine majesty;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our dear Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever.
Amen.

Source: Johannes Bugenhagen, 1485-1558

“Sprechend: Vater u. s. w.“ indicates that this prayer would be followed by the Lord’s Prayer.

Allmächtiger, ewiger Gott, Herr, himmlischer Vater, deß Wort eine Kerze ist unsern Füßen und ein Licht unsern Wegen, thu auf und erleuchte unser Gemüth, daß wir dein Wort rein, lauter und heiliglich verstehen und dann nach dem, das wir recht verstanden haben, unser Leben gestalten, auf daß wir deiner Majestät nimmer mißfallen, durch Jesum Christum, deinen Sohn, unsern lieben Herrn, der mit dir in Einigkeit des heiligen Geistes lebt und regiert, Gott in Ewigkeit, sprechend: Vater u. s. w.

Guide Us by Your Word and Spirit

cathedra-holyspirit1 O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of almighty God,
send your Holy Spirit
into our hearts
through your Word,
that he may govern and guide us
according to your will,
comfort us in all afflictions and misfortunes,
lead and uphold us in your truth against all error,
so that we may stand firm in your love
and offer ourselves to do good works,
and through the certain hope of your free grace
be blessed forever;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 291

Original in German:

Herr Jesu Christe, du Sohn des allmächtigen Gottes, wir bitten dich, du wollest durch dein Wort deinen heiligen Geist in Herzen geben, daß derselbe uns regiere und führe nach deinem Willen, in allerlei Anfechtung und Unglück tröste, in deiner Wahrheit wider allen Irrthum leite und erhalte, auf daß wir im feststehen mögen, in der Liebe und guten Werken zunehmen, und durch gewisse Hoffnung deiner erworbenen und geschenkten Gnade ewig selig werden, der du mit dem Vater und dem heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen. Pommersche Agende.

You Hear and Direct–Help Us Wait

Johannes-Mathesius[1] O God, our Father,
you graciously hear all who call on you,
and your wisdom directs your saints.
In your good time you rescue us,
even though your help
seems to be withheld for a time.
Graciously open your ears to our prayers
and lead us by your Spirit,
that without doubting
we may persevere in prayer
and await your promised help in faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Johannes Mathesius, (1504–1565)

Source of this version: Freely modified from Collects and Prayers for Use in Church, United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #368.

Instead of “wisdom,” Collects and Prayers had “providence.”

Instead of “and await your promised help in faith,” Collects and Prayers had “and believingly await thy promised help.”