A Collection of Prayers

Eric Milner-White

ORDINARIATE NEWS (from Ordinariate Support Group in Europe ... — Eric Milner-White

Eric Milner-White was a British Anglican priest, academic, and decorated military chaplain. He was a founder of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd, an Anglican dispersed community, and served as its Superior between 1923 and 1938. From 1941 to 1963, he was the Dean of York in the Church of England.

During his time at King’s College, Milner-White introduced the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. This was first broadcast in 1928 and has now become a major part of the BBC‘s Christmas schedule. (from Wikipedia.)

Eric Milner-White was a prolific writer and editor of prayers. Since some of his works are still under copyright, we have only a few of his prayers here. We also provide links to his works on other websites.

Out of Print, but Available as Searchable HTML

After the Third Collect – Prayers and Thanksgivings for use in Public Worship 1952 – Available in: HTML

Daily Prayer – Available in: HTML

Resources Still in Print

My God, My Glory – Available through Amazon.com

A Procession of Passion Prayers – Available through Amazon.com

A Cambridge Bede Book – Limited availablility through Amazon.com

Cambridge Offices and Orisons – Limited availability through Amazon.com

Bibliography at Project Canterbury

For Illumination

O glorious, holy, almighty God,
you always pity the many wanderings of humanity,
and for this reason, you guided the Magi,
who lived in a land of dark superstition,
to your sacred cradle by the light of a star,
that you might enlighten all
who were walking in their own errors
with the desire of knowing you.
Enlighten us also with burning love for you,
that we who already know you
by your gracious illumination,
may cling to you forever. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953 also, The New Ancient Collects, #95

For Acceptable Service

O glorious and almighty God,
all the spirits of the blessed
place their hope in you.
Grant us that, by your help,
we may always serve you with a pure mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

For Spiritual Gladness

Hear us, O Lord,
and in our troubles, pity us.
Give us spiritual gladness,
and give us eternal peace;
through Jesus 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.

Remembering Wilhelm Löhe

Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe (or Loehe) was a German Lutheran pastor who supported mission efforts in America. (He died January 2, 1872, and is remembered on January 2.) He not only raised funds and sent missionaries, he also published many materials on Christian education, prayer and worship, which were a great influence on the framers of the Common Service (which later led to the development of The Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church.)

Follow the links below for some of Loehe’s works on liturgy and prayer:

Liturgy for Christian Congregations of the Lutheran Faith (Agende für christliche Gemeinden des lutherischen Bekenntnisses): Original in German-Part 1, Original in German-Part 2, English translation.
Seed Grains of Prayer (Samenkörner des Gebets): Original in German, English translation.
Collection of Liturgical Formulas of the Evangelical Lutheran Church: Baptism, Catechism and Confirmation (Sammlung liturgischer Formulare der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche: Taufe, Catechismusübung und Confirmation) Original in German.

Read more about Wilhelm Loehe at his Wikipedia article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Konrad_Wilhelm_L%C3%B6he

Loehe is represented well on A Collection of Prayers. His contributions can be seen at the link below:

https://acollectionofprayers.wordpress.com/tag/wilhelm-lohe/

In Time of Trouble

O God,
you count the number of the stars,
and call them all by their names.
Heal the contrite in heart,
gather together the outcasts,
and enrich us with the fullness of your wisdom;
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.

For Completeness

O Lord Jesus Christ,
our redemption and our salvation,
we praise you and give you thanks.
Though we are unworthy of your benefits,
and cannot offer to you the devotion you deserve,
let your loving-kindness complete whatever our weakness tries to do.
Before you, O Lord, we lay all our desires,
and whatever our heart rightly wishes, it is because of your gift.
Help us love you as you command.
Do not let your gift be unfruitful in us.
Complete what you have begun,
give what you have made us desire,
convert our lukewarmness into fervent love of you;
for the glory of your holy name. Amen.

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

For Zeal

O almighty and merciful Father,
you pour out your benefits on us,
forgive our unthankfulness for your goodness.
We have stood before you with dead and senseless hearts,
unkindled by the love
of your gentle and enduring goodness.
O merciful Father, turn us and we will be turned.
Make us hunger and thirst for you with our whole heart,
and with all our longing desire you.
Make us serve you with our whole heart
and with all our zeal seek whatever is pleasing in your sight;
for the sake of your only Son,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

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

For the Presence of the Holy Spirit

O holy Counselor,
sweetest consolation of the sorrowful,
gracious Spirit come down now with your mighty power
into the depths of our hearts.
Gladden there with your brightness every dark retreat,
and enrich all with the dew of your abundant comfort.
Kindle our hearts with holy favor,
that the incense of our prayers and praises
may ever go up to you, our God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

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

For Heavenly-Mindedness

O merciful God,
fill our hearts with the graces of your Holy Spirit,
with love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance.
Teach us to love those who hate us,
to pray for those who spitefully use us,
that we may be the children of you, our Father.
You make your sun to shine on the evil and on the good,
and send rain on the just and on the unjust.
In adversity grant us grace to be patient.
In prosperity keep us humble.
Help us guard the door of our lips,
to give little regard for the pleasures of this world,
and to thirst after heavenly things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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