For Faithful and Prepared Lives

Who can tell what a day may bring forth?
Gracious God,
move us to live every day as if it were to be our last,
for we do not know if it might be.
Cause us to live as if we know it is our last hour.
O grant that we may not die with any guilt on our consciences,
or any known unrepented sin,
but that we may be found in Christ,
who is our only Savior and Redeemer. 

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

The Quiet Hour

Lord,
I offer to you all my sins and offences,
which I have committed before you,
from that day I first could sin, even to this hour;
that you may consume and burn them,
one and all,
with the fire of your love,
and do away all the stains of my sins,
and cleanse my conscience from all offences,
and restore to me your grace,
fully forgiving me all,
and admitting me mercifully to the kiss of peace.

I offer up also to you all that is good in me,
though it is very small and imperfect,
that you may amend and sanctify it,
that you may make it grateful and acceptable to you,
and always perfect it more and more.

Bring me also,
slothful and unprofitable poor creature as I am,
to a good and blessed end. 

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

Self-Renunciation

If a man may be
like God’s hand on earth,
let him be content with that,
and not seek further….

May we thus deny ourselves,
and forsake and renounce all things for God’s sake,
and give up our own wills,
and die to ourselves,
and live to God alone and to his will.

May he who gave up his will to his heavenly Father help us,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom be blessing forever and ever. 

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

For Heavenly-Mindedness

O most blessed Lord,
help us,
and in your great mercy abolish our sins.
Detach our minds from earthly things,
and raise them to the love of heavenly riches.

Most merciful God,
you favor all true love,
help and direct us
that we may love you above all things,
recognize your infinite benefits,
keep them in memory,
and give you eternal thanks for them.

Finally,
grant that ours may be the blessed life
which will enjoy your love forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

A Memorial of the Resurrection

O Lord Jesus Christ,
by your glorious resurrection,
you appeared alive and immortal to your disciples and faithful followers,
stayed with and taught them for forty days,
and showed them many infallible proofs,
speaking about the Kingdom of God,
and comforted them and assured them of your actual resurrection,
removing all doubt from their hearts.

O Lord,
grant that we may be numbered among those
chosen by God to be witnesses of your resurrection,
not only by word of mouth,
but in actions and truth,
for your honor and glory;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign as one God,
now and forever. 

Source: Ludolph of Saxony, d. 1378
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

Potts’ translation has the line in the second paragraph, “not only by word of mouth, but in reality of good works.” Line was changed to more clearly reflect 1 John 3:18.

For Love of God

Grant,
most gracious God,
that we may love and seek you always and everywhere,
above all things and for your sake,
in this present life,
and at last find you and forever hold you fast in the life to come.
Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Source: Thomas Bradwardine, d. 1349
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

St. Patrick

O almighty God,
in your providence
you choose your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people,
that he might bring those
who wandered in darkness and error
to the true light and knowledge of you.
Grant that we may walk in that light,
and come at last to the light of everlasting light;
through the merits of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Source: Irish Prayer Book

Original in traditional English:

O Almighty God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, that he might bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting light; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.

For Pardon, Purity and Grace

O Holy God,
in you is all goodness,
your pity and mercy made you to descend from the high throne
down into this world,
the valley of woe and weeping,
and here you took our nature,
and in that nature, you suffered pain and death
to bring our souls to your Kingdom.
Merciful Lord,
forgive us all our sins that we have done, thought, and said.
O glorious Trinity,
cleanse our hearts and purify our souls.
Restore us with your Holy Spirit,
and strengthen us with your might,
that we may always withstand evil temptations.
Comfort us with your Holy Spirit,
and fulfill us with grace and charity,
that we may live virtuously and love you with all our heart,
with all our might, and with all our soul,
so that we may never offend you,
but ever follow your pleasure in will, word, thought, and deed.
Now grant us this, good, infinite Lord,
you endure forever;
through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

Source: Richard Rolle, d. 1349
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

For Steadfastness

In all that you require me to do,
grant me the knowledge,
the desire and the ability,
that I may so fulfill it as I ought,
and may make my path to you.
I pray,
keep me safe, straightforward, and perfect to the end.

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart,
which no unworthy affection may drag downwards;
give me an unconquered heart,
which no tribulation can wear out;
give me an upright heart,
which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.

Bestow on me also, O Lord my God,
understanding to know you,
diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you. Amen.

Source: Thomas Aquinas, d. 1274
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.