Christian Prayer – Page 95 – A Collection of Prayers

Protect from Any Temptation

O Christ, Son of God,
for our sake you fasted forty days and allowed yourself to be tempted.
Protect us so that we may not be led astray by any temptation.
Since man does not live by bread alone,
nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word;
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 1)

“for our sake you fasted forty days…” is a reference to Matthew 4:2ff, Mark 1:13ff, Luke 4:2ff

“we may not be led astray by any temptation” is a reference to Hebrews 2:18

“man does not live by bread alone” is a reference to Deuteronomy 8:3

“nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word” may be a reference to John 6:22-59

Litany for Forgiveness

We cry to you, Lord, have mercy on us,
and forgive us.

King of heaven and eternal Lord, receive the prayer we pour out before you,
and forgive us.

Visit the sick, release the captives, help the widow and the orphan,
and forgive us.

We have sinned and have turned from you. Redeemer of all, save us,
and forgive us.

Have mercy on the penitent, and wash away the stains of sin,
and forgive us. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary

Ash Wednesday Prayer

O God,
you do not desire the death of sinners,
but you want them to turn to you and live.
Look with pity on the weakness of our mortal nature.
We confess that we are but ashes,
and for our wickedness we deserve to return to the dust.
Forgive all our sins,
and give us the blessings that come with true repentance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 22 #1

“you do not desire the death of sinners” is a reference to Ezekiel 33:11

“We confess that we are but ashes” is a reference to Genesis 18:27

“for our wickedness we deserve to return to the dust” is a reference to Genesis 3:19, Job 10:9, Job 34:15, Psalm 90:3, Psalm 104:29, Ecclesiastes 3:20, Ecclesiastes 12:7

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of laziness,
faint-heartedness, desire for power, and idle talk.

But give your servant
the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love.

Yes, Lord and King!
Grant me to see my own errors
and not to unjustly or hastily judge my brother,
for you are blessed, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian

Source of this version: Freely modified from http://lent.goarch.org/prayers/

The words ‘unjustly or hastily’ were added for clarity.

This prayer has its own Wikipedia article, available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Ephrem

Original in Greek:

Κύριε καὶ Δέσποτα τῆς ζωῆς μου,
πνεῦμα ἀργίας, περιεργίας, φιλαρχίας,
καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῷς.,

Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης,
ταπεινοφροσύνης, ὑπομονῆς, καὶ ἀγάπης
χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.

Ναί, Κύριε Βασιλεῦ,
δώρησαι μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμὰ πταίσματα,
καὶ μὴ κατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου,
ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Prayer for Sexagesima

O God,
you so loved the world
that you gave your only Son
to reconcile the earthly with the heavenly;
Move us to love you above all things,
that we love our friends in you,
and our enemies for you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 21 #2 (Sexagesima)

“O God, you so loved the world…” is a reference to John 3:16

“to reconcile the earthly with the heavenly” is a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 1:20

“Move us to love you above all things” is a reference to Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27

St. Matthias, February 24

On February 24, the Christian Church remembers St. Matthias. Shortly after the Ascension of Our Lord, Matthias was was chosen to replace Judas.

Almighty God,
you chose your faithful servant Matthias
to take part in the ministry and apostleship
from which Judas fell in sin.
Preserve your church from false apostles,
and always bless us with faithful ministers
of your Word and sacraments;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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

Remember, Lord, Thy Church

prayer & verse

1200px-temple_of_four_winds Temple of the Four Winds by Peter Astbury (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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A Litany on the Passion (2)

Good Shepherd, you laid down your life for the sheep, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

Everlasting Power and Wisdom of the most high God, Word of the Father, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

Maker of the world, the Life of all, the Lord of angels, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, for us you were led as a sheep to the slaughter, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You were seized, guiltless, buffeted, given over to murderers, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

By your death you overcome the death of our guilt, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 593

Prayer for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

O God,
author of peace,
may we be so held in the bonds of love,
that those who are peaceful may remain in peace,
and that those who differ may be reconciled by your mercy;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 20 #3 (Epphany 6)

“may we be so held in the bonds of love” may be a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:14

A Litany on the Passion (1)

Show us your mercy, O Lord. Grant pardon, grant forgiveness:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You came to save the world. You were brought to judgment. When you come as Judge, do not deliver us up with the ungodly:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You hung on the Cross, and bore on your shoulders the death we deserved for our guilt:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You suffered for the ungodly, and cannot die again. Put to death our vices in us, and heal us by your wounds from the Cross:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

That in the judgment your face may not be turned on us for punishment, but may shine on us with pardon:
Be gracious and have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 576