Most merciful God,
helper of all,
strengthen us by your power
that our sorrow may be turned into joy
and that we may continually glorify your holy name;
through Jesus 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.
Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.
I pray, merciful Jesus,
that as you graciously granted me
to drink from the sweet Word which tells of you,
so you will, in your kindness,
grant that I may come at last to you,
the fountain of all wisdom,
and stand before your face forever.
Source: The Venerable Bede (672–735)
Source of this version: Modified freely from https://psalterstudies.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/may-25-bede-the-venerable/
Also found here: https://gabrielsmessage.wordpress.com/category/christ-the-bridegroom/
Alternative version:
Lord Jesus,
give us sweet drinks from the words of your knowledge.
Grant that we may also come to you,
the fountain of all wisdom,
and always stand before your face; for your sake. Amen.
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
God the Father,
source of Divinity,
good beyond all that is good,
fair beyond all that is fair,
in you is calmness, peace and unity.
Repair the things that divide us from each other
and restore our unity of love
like your divine love.
And as you are above all things,
unite us in goodness and love
that we may be spiritually one,
with you and with each other,
through your peace which makes all things peaceful
and through the grace, mercy, and tenderness
of your only Son., Jesus Christ. Amen.
Source: Dionysius of the Syrian Jacobite Church, 9th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954. (New Ancient Collects, #264)
Grant me your grace, most merciful Jesus,
that your grace may be with me,
work in me, and continue with me to the end.
Grant me always
to want and desire whatever is most acceptable to you
and pleases you best.
Let your will be mine,
and let my will always follow yours
and agree perfectly with it.
Let there be between you and me but one will,
so that I may love what you love and abhor what you hate.
Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world
and, for your sake, love to be despised,
and not to be known by the world.
Grant that I may rest in you above all other things,
and that my heart may be at peace in you.
You are the true peace of the heart.
You are its only rest.
Outside of you,
all things are hard and uneasy.
In this peace, the same peace that is in you,
the one sovereign eternal Good,
I will sleep, and I will rest. Amen.
Source: Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ, Book 3
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954. 2
The last paragraph may be a reference or quote of Psalm 4:8.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Source: Attributed to St. Francis, d. 1226. See note below.
Source of this version: Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal, © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, Wisc. U.S.A.
Original in French:
Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.
Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l’amour.
Là où il y a l’offense, que je mette le pardon.
Là où il y a la discorde, que je mette l’union.
Là où il y a l’erreur, que je mette la vérité.
Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.
Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l’espérance.
Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.
Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.
Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant
à être consolé qu’à consoler,
à être compris qu’à comprendre,
à être aimé qu’à aimer,
car c’est en donnant qu’on reçoit,
c’est en s’oubliant qu’on trouve,
c’est en pardonnant qu’on est pardonné,
c’est en mourant qu’on ressuscite à l’éternelle vie.
NOTE: This prayer has its own wikipedia article, which states, “The prayer in its present form cannot be traced back further than 1912.”
Variants:
…it is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
…it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
Write your blessed name, O Lord, upon my heart,
there to remain so indelibly engraved,
that no prosperity,
no adversity shall ever move me from your love.
Be to me a strong tower of defense,
a comforter in tribulation,
a deliverer in distress,
a very present help in trouble
and a guide to heaven
through the many temptations
and dangers of this life. Amen.
Source: Thomas à Kempis
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.
Source: Richard of Chichester, d. 1253
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
Latin:
Gratias tibi ago, Domine Jesu Christe,
de omnibus beneficiis quae mihi praestitisti;
pro poenis et opprobriis, quae pro me pertulisti;
propter quae planctus ille lamentabilis vere tibi competebat.
Non est dolor similis sicut dolor meus.
O God, you are peace eternal.
Your gift is peace.
You have taught us
that your children will be called peacemakers.
Pour out your peace into our souls
that all discord may vanish away,
and that we may forever love and seek
the things that bring your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary (Also attributed to the Gelasian Sacramentary)
Source of this version: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 82 #4, also in Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953.
Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.
Almighty and merciful God,
Fountain of all goodness,
you know the thoughts of our hearts.
We confess that we have sinned against you
and done evil in your sight.
Wash us from the stains of our past sins,
and give us grace and power to put away all hurtful things.
Deliver us from the bondage of sin,
that we may bring forth worthy fruits of repentance.
O eternal Light, shine into our hearts.
O eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil.
O eternal Power, be our support.
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance.
Eternal Pity, have mercy on us.
Grant that with all our hearts, and minds, and strength,
we may always seek your face.
In your infinite mercy, bring us into your holy presence.
Strengthen our weakness
that we follow in the footsteps of your blessed Son,
obtain your mercy,
and enter your promised joy. Amen.
Source: Alcuin of York, d. 735
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
A Collection of Prayers 
