A Collection of Prayers

Wisdom, Strength, Light, Mercy

Give me, O Lord,
purity of lips,
a clean and innocent heart,
humility, fortitude, patience.
Give me the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and godliness,
and of fear of the Lord.
Make me always seek your face with all my heart,
all my soul, all my mind.
Give me a contrite and humble heart in your presence.
Most high, eternal and holy Wisdom,
drive away from me the darkness
of blindness and ignorance.
Most high and eternal Strength, deliver me.
Most high and eternal Light, illuminate me.
Most high and infinite Mercy, have mercy on me.
Amen.

Source: Gallican Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 60 #1

“purity of lips” is a reference to Psalm 24:4 and possibly Psalm 17:1

“clean and innocent heart” is a reference to Psalm 51:10

“Give me the Spirit of wisdom…” is a reference to Isaiah 11:2

“Make me always seek your face with all my heart…” is a reference to Matthew 22:37

“Give me a contrite and humble heart…” is a reference to Psalm 51:17

Our Refuge in Every Storm

O Lord, you are our refuge in every storm.
Hide us in your own presence
from all the violence in the world.
By your holy love and fear,
keep us from sins of temper
and of the tongue.
Amen.

Source: Christina G. Rosetti

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 55 #2

“from all the violence in the world” in the original is “from the provoking of all men.”

Preserve Us from Faithless Fears

O most loving Father,
you want us to give thanks for all things,
to dread nothing but losing you,
and to cast all our anxiety on you
because you care for us.
Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties
and grant that no clouds of this mortal life
may hide from us the light of that love
which is immortal,
and which you have shown us
in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Source: William Bright

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 46 #2

“cast all our anxiety on you” is a reference to 1 Peter 5:7

Send forth Your Truth

old_sarum_cathedral_reconstruction We call on you, Almighty God,
the Fountain of eternal Light,
to send forth your truth into our hearts,
and to pour on us the glory of your brightness;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 44#2

Graphic: Model of Old Sarum (Salisbury) Cathedral, Wikipedia.com

You Refresh Us through Your Discipline

O God,
you discipline us in your love,
and you refresh us through your discipline.
Move us to give you thanks for both;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Leonine Sacramentary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 31 #2

Fill Empty Hearts

O Lord,
you see that all hearts are empty
unless you fill them,
and all desires are thwarted
until they crave you.
Give us light and grace
to seek and find you,
that we may be yours
and you may be ours forever.
Amen.

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 28 #2

Our Hope Is in You

O Lord, our hope is in you.
Remove far from us empty hopes
and presumptuous confidence.
Make our hearts so right
with your most holy and loving heart,
that hoping in you we may do good,
until that day when faith and hope
shall be abolished by sight and possession,
and love shall be all in all.
Amen.

Source: Christina G. Rosetti

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 2 #1

Make Our Consciences Quick and Tender

Make our consciences quick and tender, O Lord,
that understanding we may obey your every word,
and discerning we may follow every suggestion
of your indwelling Spirit.
Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.
Amen.

Source: Christina G. Rosetti

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 5 #2

“Speak Lord, for your servant is listening” is a reference to 1 Samuel 3:9

With You Is Refreshment and Strength

220px-sandro_botticelli_050 O Lord our God,
let us find hope under the shadow of your wings.
You will support us,
both when little,
and even to gray hairs.
When our strength is from you, it is strength.
When our own, it is weakness.
We return to you, O Lord,
that our weary souls may rise towards you,
leaning on the things which you have created,
and passing on to yourself,
since you have wonderfully made them;
for with you is refreshment and true strength. Amen.

Source: Augustine

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 2 #1

Graphic by Sandro Botticeli from Wikipedia.com.

From Carmina Gadelica, Vol. I

Search Results for: Carmina Gadelica

Page in Carmina…	Title in “A Collection of Prayers”
19	Jesu, Son of God, Son of Mary
23	Holy Father of Glory
27	A Prayer
30	Bless O King of Generous Kings
33	The Guiding Light of Eternity
35	A Prayer for Grace
37	Prayer for Protection
45	The Lighter of the Stars
65	God Guide Me
67	Evening Blessing
69	Come I This Day
71	The Soul’s Cry
75	The Gifts of the Three
97	Morning Prayer
99	The Dedication