A Collection of Prayers

Prayer Reflecting on Luke 12:32-40

Gracious Father, your Son Jesus told us that you are pleased to give us your kingdom. Let your rule in our hearts transform us from people who live to serve self to obedient subjects of you, our King, ready and willing to serve.

Lord Jesus, you told us to be dressed and ready for service. Clothe us in your righteousness and in your power. Transform our wills so that we are willing, able and ready to do the tasks you have given us, and to fulfill the roles you have given us.

Holy Spirit, with your gift of faith in the Word, promise, and command of God, you make us ready: ready to praise, ready for service, and ready for our Master’s glory. Move us to open this Word before our eyes and hear it with our ears and take it to heart so that our faith may have its food and fuel to trust and to act, to will and to do your good, gracious and perfect will.

Most Holy Trinity, we live in a world where we see self-service, self-indulgence, and anger everywhere, even within our own hearts. Remind us daily that you have called us out and set us apart to be your own to live, love, and serve as your servants and your children. Make us heralds and witnesses of your Word and instruments of your peace.

Special petitions and intercessions may be prayed here.

With your promise and with your calling, renew faith, hope and love in us. Renew our devotion and our desire to serve you as our gracious Master and King, for all kingdom, power and glory are yours, even as you have taught us to pray:

C: Our Father in heaven….

“Prayer Reflecting on Luke 12:32-40” by Paul C. Stratman licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Lord Jesus…

Lord Jesus, be my rest.
Lord Jesus, be my pardon.
Lord Jesus, be my peace.
Lord Jesus, be my comfort.
Lord Jesus, be my assurance.
Lord Jesus, be my hope.
Lord Jesus, be my power.
Lord Jesus, be my life.

Source: Paul C. Stratman

This prayer reflects on Matthew 11:28 (“rest”), Matthew 9:2 (“pardon”), John 14:27 (“peace”), Matthew 5:4 (“comfort”), Acts 17:31 (“assurance”), Romans 12:12 (“hope”), Luke 24:49 (“power”), Matthew 10:39 (“life”)

“Lord Jesus” prayer by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

A Morning Praise

Praise to you, O Lord!
You have brought us
through the darkness of the night
to the light of another day.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity,
now and forevermore.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 1 #1

Watch, Lord, with Us

Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into temptation and despair
in the darkness of this world.
Watch, Lord, with us,
lest we fall into any kind of danger
in the darkness of this night.
Let your Word be the lamp to our feet
and the light for our path,
our guide through the darkness
and our hope in the midst of despair.
Keep the lamp of your Word
shining brightly in our hearts
in the dark night of the world.
You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome,
and you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2016

“Watch, Lord, with us” is a reference to Matthew 26:41

“Let your Word be the lamp to our feet” is a reference to Psalm 119:105

“You, Jesus, are the light no darkness can overcome” is a reference to John 1:5

This prayer is inspired in part by the poetic prayers of Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822-1901) and some elements of prayers from the Antiphonary of Bangor (9th Century).

Latin version:

Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in desperationem
in tentationem et tenebrarum mundi.
Vigilate, Domine, nobiscum,
ne incidamus in aliquam periculo noctis
huius caliginem destruendam.
Verbum tuum lux pedibus nostris
verbum tuum et lumen semitis nostris,
lux in medio tenebras,
spes in medio desperatio.
Effulgens custodi verbum tuum in cordibus nostris
lucerna mundi tenebris noctis excitabatur.
Tu, Jesu sis lux tenebrae non conprehendit,
etcum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus,
per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

As Watchmen Wait for the Morning

As watchmen wait for the morning,
so do our souls long for you, O Christ.
Come with the dawning of the day,
and make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread;
for you are our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: https://attentiontothemoment.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/the-mozarabic-sacramentary/

Also found here: http://1stholistic.com/Spl_prayers/prayer_mozarabic-morning-prayer.htm

“As watchmen wait for the morning,” is a reference to Psalm 130:6

“make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread” is a reference to Luke 24:35

The Lord is Your Strong Tower

The almighty Lord,
who is a strong tower
for those who put their trust in him,
to whom all things in heaven and earth
and under the earth bow and obey,
be our defense, now and always.
There is no other name under heaven, given to men,
in whom and through whom
we receive health and salvation,
but only in the name
of our Lord + Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Source: Visitatio Infirmorum

Source of this version: Modified from Prayers of the Ages, ed. Caroline Snowden Whitmarsh, 1868, p. 255

“Strong tower” is a reference to Psalm 61:3 and Proverbs 18:10

“in heaven and earth and under the earth…” is a reference to Philippians 2:10

“no other name under heaven…” is a reference to Acts 4:12

By Your Command the Day Arises

Almighty and everlasting God,
by your command the day arises
and the world is adorned with the splendor of light.
Receive our prayers
and show us the light of your countenance
that walking in the way of your salvation
we may follow you as our ruler and guide;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Unknown.

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 3 #3

Bring Me Near You

My Lord and my God, take everything from me that keeps me from you.
My Lord and my God, give everything to me that brings me near to you.
My Lord and my God, take me away from myself and give me completely to you.

Source: Nicholas of Flüe, d. 1487

Source of this version: Modified from http://themathesontrust.org/library/nicholas-of-flue-brother-klaus

You Give Your Kind Help

O Lord,
hear us as we pray to you
in the beginning hours of this day.
We give you thanks,
O Lord our God,
for you have redeemed us with your holy blood
and you give your kind help
in answer to the early prayers and petitions we bring you;
you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Antiphonary of Bangor, ninth century

Source of this version: Translated and reworked from the Latin text for A Collection of Prayers.

Translation of Prayer “Exaudi nos, Domine, supplices tuos / O Lord, hear us as we pray to you” by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Original in Latin:

27. + Item ad secundam

Exaudi nos, Domine, supplices tuos, qui in hac hora prima diei referimus tibi gratias Domino Deo nostro, qui nos redemisti de tuo sancto sanguine, ut preces ac petitiones nostras vice primitiarum tibi oblatas pie clementerque suscipias.

The Antiphonary of Bangor and The Divine Offices of Bangor is now available in paperback through Amazon.com. It is also available for Amazon Kindle. This is a new translation of the entire Antiphonary into comtemporary liturgical English.

Protect Us this Day

Protect us this day,
O Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
and in your compassion and mercy,
help and guide us.
Enlighten our hearts
and keep our thoughts, words and works
pleasing in your sight,
that we may do your will
and walk in your path of righteousness
our whole life long.
Amen.

Source: Antiphonary of Bangor, ninth century

Source of this version: Translated and reworked from the Latin text for A Collection of Prayers.

Translation of Prayer “Esto nobis protector in ista die / Protect Us this Day” by Paul C. Stratman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for any commercial usage.

Original in Latin:

16. Collectio Ad Secundam

Esto nobis protector in ista die, Domine. sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus, et miserator et misericors, et auxiliator et dux nobis, et illuminator cordium nostrorum. Custodi, Domine, cogitationes, sermones. opera, ut possimus placere in conspectu tuo, Domine, et perficere voluntatem tuam, et ambulare in via recta toto nostrae vita; tempore.