A Collection of Prayers

A Communion Thanksgiving Prayer

old_sarum_cathedral_reconstruction O almighty and everlasting Lord God,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
be merciful to me,
and forgive my sins,
through the partaking of your most blessed body and blood;
for you have spoken, saying:
“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood,
abides in me, and I in him.”

Therefore create in me a clean heart,
and renew a right spirit within me;
and uphold me with your free Spirit,
and deliver me from all the snares
and malice of the devil;
that I may share in the joys of heaven.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Rite

Source of this version: http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/Prayer/Index/100/PrayerIndex/30

Traditional English:

O almighty and everlasting Lord God, Jesus Christ our Lord, be merciful unto my sins, through the partaking of Thy most blessed Body and Blood; for Thou hast spoken, saying: He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me, and I in him.

Wherefore I humbly beseech Thee to create in me a clean heart, and renew a rightful spirit within me; and deign to establish me with Thy free Spirit, and to deliver me from all the snares and malice of the devil; that I may be found worthy to have a share in the joys of heaven. Amen.

“Whoever eats my flesh” is a reference to John 6:54 and refers to taking in everything Jesus is and says, not only his body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus spoke the words some time before the Supper was instituted.

As a block paragraph, modified for use in corporate worship, reference to John 6 removed to avoid confusion:

O almighty and everlasting Lord God, Jesus Christ our Lord, be merciful to us and forgive our sins through the partaking of your most blessed body and blood. Create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us. Uphold us with your free Spirit and deliver us from all the snares and malice of the devil that we may share in the joys of heaven. You live and reign, now and forever. Amen.

“Create in me a clean heart…” is a reference to Psalm 51:10-12

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

“It Is Finished”

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d O blessed Jesus,
most mighty lion,
King immortal and most victorious,
remember the sorrow that you suffered
when all your powers of heart and body
failed you utterly,
and when you bowed your head and said,
“It is finished.”
Remembering your anguish and sorrow,
blessed Jesus, have mercy on me in my last hour.

Source: Sarum Primer, 1538

Source of this version: http://www.oursanctuary.net/sarum.html

Traditional English:

O blessed Jesu, most mighty lion, King immortal and most victorious, have mind of the sorrow that Thou sufferedst when all the powers of Thine heart and body for feebleness failed Thee utterly. And then Thou saidst, inclining Thine head thus: “It is all done.” For mind of thine anguish and sorrow, blessed Jesus, have mercy on me in my last end.

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Help Us in Hardships, Fill Us with Joy

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d You are the eternal protection and salvation of our souls,
arm us with the helmet of hope,
and the shield of your invincible defense.
Help us in all hardships and needs,
and fill us with joy and gladness with those who love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Rite

Source of this version: http://www.oursanctuary.net/sarum.html

Also found here: Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 280 #2

Traditional English:

Thou, who art the eternal protection and salvation of our souls, arm us, we entreat Thee, with the helmet of hope, and the shield of Thy invincible defence; that so, helped by Thee in the straits of our necessities, we may be filled with joy and gladness with those who love Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Scatter All the Darkness

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d Almighty God,
you have placed the day-star in the heavens.
When it rises it scatters the night
and restores morning to the world.
Fill us with your mercy,
enlighten us,
and scatter all the darkness of our sins;
through Jesus 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. 347 #2

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Purify Our Hearts

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d O God,
you purify human hearts from sin
and make them whiter than snow.
Pour on us the abundance of your mercy.
Renew the Holy Spirit in us
that we may declare your praise,
be strengthened by your grace,
and obtain rest in the eternal mansions
of the heavenly Jerusalem;
through Jesus 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. 320 #2

This prayer is a reflection on Psalm 51

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Deliver Us Captives

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d O Lord, you listen to prayer.
Listen to our petitions.
We have been taken captive by our sins,
and feel withered like the grass.
Deliver us by your divine mercy.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 300 #2

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

You Wash Away Our Offences

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d O Lord,
you wash away our offences.
Comfort us who call on you.
Blot out our transgressions,
and restore us
from the death of sin
to the land of the living;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Sarum Breviary

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954

The prayer is a reflection on Psalm 51

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

For Brotherly Kindness

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d O Lord,
pour on us the spirit
of brotherly kindness and peace.
Sprinkle us with the dew of your blessing,
and make us glad by your glory and grace;
through 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.

“Sprinkle us with the dew” is a reference to Psalm 133

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Renew Innocence

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d O God,
renewer and lover of innocence,
turn the hearts of your servants to yourself
that we may be found
rooted in faith
and fruitful in works;
through Jesus 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. 224 #2

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.

Make Us Your Temples

6069369723_ee697728eb_z_d Gracious Lord,
you hear the sighing of a contrite heart
before it can be uttered.
Make us the temples of your Holy Spirit,
that we may be defended
by the shield of your heavenly goodness;
through Jesus 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. 207 #2

Graphic: Page from an English Psalter, from Flickr, Walters Art Museum, Public Domain.