Almighty and eternal God, by your Holy Spirit you have revealed to us the gospel of your Son, Christ Jesus. Awaken our hearts that we may sincerely receive your Word and not make light of it, or hear it without fruit as did your people long ago. Instead lead us to fear you and daily grow in faith in your mercy and finally through your Son Christ Jesus, obtain eternal salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, you generously give us your blessing and our daily bread. Preserve us from greed and awaken our hearts that we willingly share your blessed gifts with our neighbors in need. Make us faithful stewards of your gifts and be gracious to us when our time of stewardship is done and we come before your judgment; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for revealing yourself to us through the knowledge of your precious Word. Graciously keep us steadfast in this knowledge until death, that we may obtain eternal life. Now and always send us pious pastors who faithfully preach your Word without offense or false doctrine, and give them long life. Defend us from all false teachings and frustrate the counsels of all who distort your Word, who come to us in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravening wolves, that your true Church may always remain among us and be defended and preserved from such false teachers; through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord God, heavenly Father, in the wilderness your Son fed over four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish. Graciously remain with us and bless us. Preserve us from greed and the cares of this life that we may seek first your kingdom and your righteousness and in all things needful for body and soul experience your constant help; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we confess that we are poor, wretched sinners and that there is no good in us, since our hearts, flesh and blood are so corrupted by sin that we can never be without sinful desire in this life. Therefore dear Father, forgive us these sins and let your Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts that we may desire and love your Word, abide by it and by your grace be forever saved; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, you gave us your holy Word and have generously provided for all our bodily needs. We are unworthy of all these mercies and have rather deserved punishment. But forgive us our sins as you forgave Peter, and prosper and bless us in our different callings that by your strength we may be sustained and defended, now and forever and so praise and glorify you eternally; you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, you are merciful and through Christ you promised us that you will neither judge nor condemn us, but graciously forgive us all our sins and abundantly provide for all our needs of body and soul. By your Holy Spirit establish in our hearts a confident faith in your mercy and teach us also to be merciful to our neighbor, that we may not judge or condemn others, but willingly forgive all people, and judging only ourselves, lead blessed lives in your fear; through your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you thanks that through your holy Word you have called us to your great supper of eternal life. Awaken our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may not hear your Word and produce no fruit, but that we may prepare ourselves rightly for your heavenly banquet and not allow ourselves to be hindered by any worldly care; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.
O Lord God, grant that we may not fall asleep in our sins like the foolish virgins, but always watch and pray and be ready to enter your eternal glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Grant, O Lord God, that we may not, like the foolish virgins, fall asleep in our sins, but always watch and pray, and be ready to enter into Thine eternal glory; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. AMEN
The following prayers / collects were originally composed or chosen to go with the historic lectionary, a series of lessons that developed in the early church. It was a one-year series, that is, the same lessons would be read on the same Sundays, each year.For the historic lectionary on an interactive calendar, see www.sanctus.org.
Most of the collects designated as “historic” come from the sacramentaries of the Roman church.
The collects designated as “Mozarabic” come from the ancient Spanish church around the year 700. The Mozarabic church was isolated from the rest of Europe while Spain was occupied by Muslims. The Mozarabic tradition of liturgy and prayer developed independently from worship in Europe and Rome.
Veit Dietrich was a friend and associate of Martin Luther, and these prayers were written in the 1540s as part of a commentary on the historic gospels. They appeared in The Lutheran Hymnary (1913), a worship book prepared by Norwegian-American Lutherans.
A Collection of Prayers 