Christian Prayer – Page 94 – A Collection of Prayers

St. Patrick’s Creed (from ‘The Confession of St. Patrick’)

Blessed St. Patrick’s Day!

saint_patrick_28window29 There is no other God, nor ever was, nor will be,
than God the Father unbegotten,
without beginning, from whom is all beginning,
the Lord of the universe, as we have been taught.

And his Son Jesus Christ, whom we declare to have always
been with the Father, spiritually and ineffably begotten by the Father
before the beginning of the world, before all beginning;
and by him are made all things visible and invisible.
He was made man, and, having defeated death,
was received into heaven by the Father;
and he has given him all power over all names in heaven,
on earth, and under the earth,
and every tongue shall confess to him that Jesus Christ is Lord and God,
in whom we believe, and whose advent we expect soon to be,
judge of the living and of the dead,
who will render to every man according to his deeds.

And he has poured forth upon us abundantly the Holy Spirit,
the…

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Forgive and Correct

B_Escorial_93v[1].jpg O Lord our God,
forgive our sins
and correct our mideeds.
Direct our actions
and inspire us
with thoughts
pleasing to you.
Purify our consciences
and sanctify our hearts
that in purity of heart
and gladness of spirit
we may serve you,
our Lord and God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

You Know Our Needs before We Ask

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

Almighty God,
fountain of all wisdom,
you know our needs before we ask,
and our ignorance in asking.
Have compassion on our weaknesses,
and those things we cannot ask for
because of
our unworthiness
and unawareness,
graciously give us
because of the worthiness
of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from the Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Original in traditional English:

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking: We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This prayer also has been set to music.

Guide Us in the Way of Peace

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O God, King eternal,
you divide the day from the night
and turn the shadow of death into morning.
Drive away from us all wrong desires,
incline our hearts to keep your law,
and guide our feet into the way of peace,
so that after we have done your will with cheerfulness while it was day,
we may rejoice when night comes and give you thanks;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: U. S. Book of Common Prayer 1928

Original in traditional English:

GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness, and turnest the shadow of death into the morning; Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Teach and Lead us Nearer to You

Ever loving and eternal God,
source of light that never sets,
and of love that never fails,
Life of our life,
Father of our spirits;
draw near to us,
and by remembering your never failing mercy,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By the good news of your Son our Savior,
by his life and teaching;
by his passion and Cross;
by his heavenly exaltation and the influence of his Spirit:
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By the ministry of your church,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

By all our conflicts,
by all our aspirations,
by all our fears,
by all our joys and sorrows,
by life and death itself,
teach and lead us nearer to you.

Original litany:

Almighty and Eternal God, Source of the light that never sets and of the love that never fails, Life of our life. Father of our spirits; hear us as we now beseech Thee, by Thine infinite mercy and goodness, to draw us, Thy weak and erring children, nearer and nearer to Thee in trust and love, in submission and obedience to Thy holy and blessed will.

By all Thy works; by Thy wonders in heaven and on earth; by the order which reigns over all; by the beauty which shines through all; by the bounty which blesses all:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the remembrance of Thine ancient mercies; by the revelation of Thyself to saints of old; by every holy record of wisdom and piety; by every faithful word of Thy servants, and by every good example:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the memory of Thy Son our Saviour, the Brightness of Thy glory and the Image of Thy Person; by His life and teaching; by His passion and Cross; by His heavenly exaltation and the influence of His spirit:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee,

By the Church of Jesus Christ ; by its holy ordinances, offices, and ministries; by its Sunday worship and teaching; by all its seasons of meditation and prayer, and by all the associations of the House of God:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the kindness and love Thou hast shown us from the beginning of our days until now; by the relations of home; by the love of little children; by the affection and fidelity of friends ; by the trials and bereavements which chasten and hallow our earthly love; and by all the memories of our dead:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

By the conflict of our souls with temptation; by our falls and failures; by our shame and repentance; by every holy aspiration, striving, and victory:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee,

By all the experience and discipline of life; by health and sickness; by success and disappointment; by joy and sorrow; by all the chances and changes of our passing days:

Minister and People, Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee.

In all time of our wealth, and in all time of our tribulation ; in every circumstance and in every place; in life and in death, O Most Merciful God, our Father and Redeemer:

Minister and People. Teach us, and lead us ever nearer to Thee. Amen.

Give Your Living Water to Us Who Thirst

O Jesus, Son of God the Father,
Fount of Life everlasting,
give your living water to us who thirst,
give us eternal life.
Hear us in your mercy, O Christ Jesus.
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
we worship and glorify you,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 23 #1 (Lent 2)

“Fount of Life everlasting, give your living water…” is a reference to John 4:10ff, John 7:37ff

A Litany for Mercy

Turn away, Lord, the fierceness of your anger, and in pity spare your people,
and have mercy.

Grant a favorable and speedy answer to the prayers of all,
and have mercy.

Christ, look on our hardships, loosen the bands of death, and grant us life,
and have mercy.

See our tears, hear our sighs, and in pity forgive our sins,
and have mercy.

Though none of us are worthy to be heard, Christ, for your own sake, help us,
and have mercy.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary

Give Our Message Power

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your holy apostles
to preach among all nations
repentance and forgiveness of sins in your name.
Grant that through your ambassadors
the erring may be brought to repentance
and the penitent established in your true faith;
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. 47 #2 (Ember Days in Lent)

“you sent your holy apostles” is a reference to John 20:21

“repentance and forgiveness of sins in your name” is a reference to Luke 24:47

A Prayer for Peace

G_C_Dieffenbach Peace be to this house! (Luke 10:5)
Peace to all of you who are in Christ. Amen. (1 Peter 5:14)
Peace be with me and with my family!
Peace be with all in this congregation!
Peace be with all in this land!
Peace be with the beloved church of God and with all the faithful!
Peace be with all who are sick and miserable,
with all who are disturbed and afflicted,
with all who are prisoners and persecuted,
with all who are struggling and fearful!
Peace be with us all, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822-1901)

Source of this version: Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Friede sei in diesem Hause! (Luc 10:5) Friede sei mit Allen, die in Christo Jesu sind. Amen. (1 Petr 5:14)

[Anmerk: Diesen Spruch kann man dann etwa so anwenden, indem man weiter betet:
Friede sei mit mir und den Meinen!
Friede sei mit dieser ganzen Gemeinde!
Friede sei mit dem ganzen Lande!
Friede sei mit der lieben Kirche Gottes, und mit allen Gläubigen!
Friede sei mit allen Kranken und Elenden,
mit allen Betrübten und Angefochtenen,
mit allen Gefangenen und Verfolgten,
mit allen Streitenden und Friedelosen!
Friede sei mit uns Allen von nun an bis in Ewigkeit. Amen.]

Source: Evangelische Haus-Agende by Georg Christian Dieffenbach, 1853

Jesus, Help!

We hasten with weak, yet eager footsteps,
O Jesus, O Master, for your help alone!
You tirelessly seek out the sick and those who have gone astray.
Oh, hear us, as we, our voices raised, pray for your help!
May your merciful countenance be gracious unto us!

Source: Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Rist, Cantata BWV 78

Text of the original Rist hymn can be found at Hymnary.org and on www.bach-cantatas.com

Poet who adapted the hymn for the Cantata libretto is unknown.

Musical setting from The Joy of Bach:

Another video with clearer audio can be seen and heard here:

Original in German:

Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu dir!
Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich.
Ach, höre, wie wir die Stimme erheben, um Hilfe zu bitten!
Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich!