A Collection of Prayers

The Lorrha-Stowe Preface and Sanctus

The Lorrha Missal (also called the Stowe Missal) was a book containing the texts of the mass, written in Ireland in the late 8th century. It begins in the same way as the Roman rite, but becomes a beautiful poem on the attributes of God.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It good and right.

It is truly good, right and salutary
for us to give thanks to you always and everywhere,
holy Lord, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord;
with your only Son and the Holy Spirit you are
one immortal God,
incorruptible and unchangeable God,
invisible and faithful God,
wonderful and praiseworthy God,
honorable and mighty God,
most high and magnificent God,
living and true God,
wise and powerful God,
holy and glorious God,
great and good God,
awesome and peaceful God,
beautiful and righteous God,
pure and benevolent God,
blessed and just God,
pious and holy God,
not one singular person,
but one Trinity of substance.

We believe you.
We bless you.
We adore you.
We praise your name forever and ever
through him who is the salvation of the world,
through him who is the life of humanity,
through him who is the resurrection of the dead.

Through him the angels praise your majesty,
the dominions adore,
the powers of the highest heaven tremble,
the virtues of the blessed seraphim rejoice together.
We pray, grant that we may join our voices with theirs, confessing you and saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of Sabaoth.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who came down from heaven that he might live on the earth, be made fully human, and gave his flesh as a sacrificial victim, and by his passion gave eternal life to those who believe.

Source: Lorrha-Stowe Missal, eighth century. Translated by Paul C. Stratman for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in Latin:

Stowe Preface.png

A facsimile of the book can be seen here: https://archive.org/details/stowemissalmsdii01cath

For National Peace

O Lord,
be gracious to us in our times.
In your goodness,
maintain both national quietness and Christian devotion;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Leonine Sacramentary, fifth century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Give Us Wisdom to Redeem the Time

O Lord God of time and eternity,
you make us creatures of time
that, when time is over,
we may attain your blessed eternity;
With time, your gift,
give us also wisdom to redeem the time,
lest our day of grace be lost;
for our Lord Jesus’ sake.

Source: Modified from Christina G. Rosetti in Daily Prayer.

Original in traditional English:

O Lord God of time and eternity,
who makest us creatures of time
that, when time is over,
we may attain thy blessed eternity;
With time, thy gift,
give us also wisdom to redeem the time,
lest our day of grace be lost;
for our Lord Jesus’ sake.

This prayer reflects on Colossians 4:5.

The Changes and Varieties of the World

Guide us, Lord,
in all the changes and varieties of the world;
that we may have evenness and tranquility of spirit:
that we may not grumble in adversity
nor grow proud in prosperity,
but in serene faith surrender our souls
to your most divine will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: From Jeremy Taylor, 1613-1667

Source of this version: Modified from https://prayersascending.blogspot.com/

Original in traditional English:

Guide us, Lord, in all the changes and varieties of the world; that we may have evenness and tranquility of spirit: that we may not murmur in adversity nor in prosperity wax proud, but in serene faith resign our souls to thy divinest will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You Have Called Me

O Lord, you have called me to open my hand,
that you might fill it:
but I would not open it;
I held the world fast,
and kept my hand shut,
and would not let it go.
But you alone can open it for me;
not my hand only, but my mouth;
not my mouth, but my heart also.
Grant that I may know nothing but you,
account all things a loss compared with you,
and endeavor to be transformed
to be like you.

Source: From Jeremy Taylor, 1613-1667

Source of this version: Modified from http://anglicanhistory.org/taylor/worthy/7.2.html

Original in traditional English:

Thou hast called unto me to open my hand, and thou wouldest fill it: but I would not open it; I held the world fast, and kept my hand shut, and would not let it go. But do thou open it for me; not my hand only, but my mouth; not my mouth, but my heart also.

Grant that I may know nothing but thee, account all things loss in comparison of thee, and endeavour to be made conformable to thee, …

Before Your Glorious Throne

Before the glorious throne of your majesty, O Lord,
and the exalted throne of your honor
and the awesome judgement seat of your burning love
and the absolving altar which your command has established,
and the place where your glory dwells,
we, your people and the sheep of your fold,
kneel with thousands of the cherubim singing Alleluia,
and many times ten thousand seraphim and archangels
acclaiming your holiness, worshiping,
confessing, and praising you at all times,
O Lord of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

Source: Chaldean Liturgy.

Source of this version: Modified from https://annunciation-ottawa.com/entering

Purify Our Souls and Bodies

O God,
in your deep counsel
and foresight for humanity,
you sent your Son to heal the hearts of the weak^[1]
and purify our souls and bodies.
You are the Savior of body and soul.
You are the loving bestower of eternal happiness!
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, fifth century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953, also in The New Ancient Collects, #100.

[1] “sent your Son…” Original translation: “…hast appointed holy fasts, whereby the hearts of the weak might receive salutary healing…”

For Light

O Lord,
incline your merciful ears to our prayers
and enlighten the darkness of our hearts
by the light of your visitation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, fifth century, Advent 3.

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953, also in The New Ancient Collects, #48.

Intercession

Almighty God,
hear our prayers for all who sin against you,
or neglect to serve you,
all who forget you,
all who leave you out of their lives.
O Lord, have mercy on them.
Lead us all to true repentance
and an earnest longing for you.
Strengthen and confirm all your faithful people,
and lift up the light of your face on them,
always renewing in them heavenly desires;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: An Ancient Collect, fifth century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Prayer at the Birth of a Child

Almighty and eternal God,
we thank you for this your blessing
of the birth of a healthy child.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
receive this child into your care forever,
for you have commanded
that the little children be brought to you.
So we pray, moved by your Word
that you would make this child your own
through your precious blood.
Give this child grace, blessing,
strength, power and prosperity
so that we might bring this child to you with joy
to enter your kingdom through holy Baptism,
and give thanks for your grace with all God-fearing hearts.
Amen.