O God,
your ways are mercy and truth.
Carry on your gracious work,
and with your gifts
give us what our human weakness cannot attain,
that the stewards of your mysteries
may be grounded in perfect faith,
and shine like the brightness of the sky above
with lives lived to your glory;
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
O Lord,
in mercy, hear the prayers of your humble servants.
Teach us to ask for what pleases you,
that we may receive what we ask;
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
O Lord,
mercifully hear the prayers of your Church.
Destroy all adversities and errors
that it may serve you in quiet freedom,
and us give your peace in our time;
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
Accept our evening thanksgiving,
Fountain of every blessing,
for you have led us in safety through the length of the day.
You daily bless us with so many temporal mercies,
and have given us the hope of resurrection to eternal life;
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
O Lord,
let your tranquility dwell among us,
and let your peace remain in our hearts.
May our voices proclaim your truth,
and may your cross be the guardian of our souls.
O Lord,
make us bold, make us worthy
to offer to you pure and holy prayer;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Liturgy of the Nestorians, fifth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory given to us.
V. You gave them bread from heaven;
R. Containing in itself all sweetness.
Let us pray;
O God, in a wonderful Sacrament you left us a memorial of your Passion; may we so reverence the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we always feel within ourselves the fruit of your Redemption; you live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
In Paschaltide the following is said:
Let us pray;
O Lord, pour on us the Spirit of your love to make us of one heart, since by your tender mercy you have filled with the paschal sacrament. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Source: Roman Missal. English translation modified. http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Euch/SacrumConv.html
Original in Latin:
O SACRUM convivium, in quo Christus sumitur: recolitur memoria passionis eius; mens impletur gratia et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.
V. Panem de caelo praestitisti eis;
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem.
Oremus;
Deus, qui nobis sub Sacramento mirabili Passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti; tribue, quaesumus, ita nos Corporis et Sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari, ut redemptionis tuae fructum in nobis iugiter sentiamus: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Tempore paschali sequens dicitur oratio:
Oremus;
Spiritum nobis, Domine tuae caritatis infunde, ut, quos Sacramentis paschalibus satiasti, tua facias pietate concordes. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate eiusdem Spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
In the midst of life we are in death.
To whom may we look for help,
but from you, Lord,
who for our sins
are justly displeased?
Yet, Lord God most holy,
Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
[Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts.
Do not shut your merciful ears to our prayers,
but spare us,
Lord most holy,
God most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
most worthy Judge eternal.
In our last hour,
do not let us
fall away from you
because of the pains of death.]
Source: Attributed to Notker the Stammerer, battle song from the year A. D. 912, based on the English translation in the Book of Common Prayer.
Bracketed portion seems to be a later addition included in the Book of Common Prayer. See the variants below. Luther’s hymn seems to reflect the repetition.
Most versions render the last line, “deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.”
Original in Latin:
Media vita in morte sumus
quem quaerimus adjutorem
nisi te, Domine,
qui pro peccatis nostris
juste irasceris?
Sancte Deus,
sancte fortis,
sancte et misericors Salvator:
amarae morti ne tradas nos.
In Te speraverunt Patres nostri,
speraverunt et liberasti eos.
Ad Te clamaverunt Patres nostri,
clamaverunt et non sunt confusi.
Sancte Deus, Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:
sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
In you our fathers trusted.
They trusted and you delivered them.
They cried out to you, and they were rescued.
They cried out to you, and they were not disappointed. (from Psalm 22:4-5)
O holy God, glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
Ne projicias nos in tempore senectutis
cum defecerit virtus nostra ne derelinquas nos Domine.
Sancte Deus, Sancte fortis,
Sancte et misericors Salvator,
Amarae morti ne tradas nos.
Noli claudere aures tuas ad preces nostras.
Sancte fortis, Sancte et misericors Salvator,
Amarae morti ne tradas nos.
Qui cognoscis occulta cordis parce peccatis nostris.
Sancte et misericors Salvator,
Amarae morti ne tradas nos.
Do not cast us off in the time of old age;
Do not forsake us when our strength fails, Lord. (from Psalm 71:9)
Lord God most holy, Lord most mighty,
holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
Do not shut your merciful ears to our prayers,
God most mighty, holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts. (from Psalm 44:21)
Holy and most merciful Savior,
deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death.
Book of Common Prayer 1559 text in traditional English:
In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour,
but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.
Martin Luther expanded this prayer into a hymn, Mitten wir in leben sind.
1. In the midst of earthly life
Snares of death surround us;
Who shall help us in the strife
Lest the Foe confound us?
Thou only, Lord, Thou only.
We mourn that we have greatly erred,
That our sins Thy wrath have stirred.
Holy and righteous God!
Holy and mighty God!
Holy and all-merciful Savior!
Eternal Lord God!
Save us lest we perish
In the bitter pangs of death.
Have mercy, O Lord!
2. In the midst of death’s dark vale
Powers of hell o’ertake us.
Who will help when they assail,
Who secure will make us?
Thou only, Lord, Thou only.
Thy heart is moved with tenderness,
Pities us in our distress.
Holy and righteous God!
Holy and mighty God!
Holy and all-merciful Savior!
Eternal Lord God!
Save us lest we perish
In the bitter pangs of death.
Have mercy, O Lord!
3. In the midst of utter woe
All our sins oppress us,
Where shall we for refuge go,
Where for grace to bless us?
To Thee, Lord Jesus, only.
Thy precious blood was shed to win
Full atonement for our sin.
Holy and righteous God!
Holy and mighty God!
Holy and all-merciful Savior!
Eternal Lord God!
Save us lest we perish
In the bitter pangs of death.
Have mercy, O Lord!
This prayer has its own page on Wikipedia.
prayer for the dead in middle ages
prayers for the dead
O Lord,
with me there is always doubt.
With you there never is.
The darkness was long,
too long,
and it all came from within me–
from my doubts and fears,
from me, looking inward,
seeking self.
Your light was there,
guiding and correcting,
and pointing me to your Son,
his goodness,
holiness,
and pure light.
Please,
shine in my heart,
with your most precious Light.
Send your holy Spirit
to turn on the light
when I hear
even the shortest
promises in your Word–
even when I hear
what I’ve heard
so many times before,
because that does not
make it any less precious,
but more precious.
Keep shining
and enlightening.
Restore to me the joy!
Amen.
Source: Anonymous, 21st Century
This creed is similar to the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. It is found in the Antiphonary of Bangor, a book of canticles, responses and prayers, written in Ireland around A.D. 680.
I believe in God the Father almighty, invisible, creator of all things visible and invisible.
I believe also in the Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, God almighty, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified and buried and descended into hell, the third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe also in the Holy Spirit, God almighty, of one substance with the Father and the Son. I believe in the holy catholic church, the forgiveness of sins, the communion of saints, and the resurrection of the body.
I believe in life after death, and eternal life in the glory of Christ. All this I believe in God. Amen.
Source: The Antiphony of Bangor, #35; translated by Paul C. Stratman for A Collection of Prayers.
Original in Latin:
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, invisibilem, omnium creaturarum visibilium et invisibilium conditorem.
Credo et in Jesum Christum, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum, Deum omnipotentem, conceptum de Spiritu Sancto, natum de Maria Virgine, passum sub Pontio Pilato, qui crucifixus et sepultus descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit in coelis, seditque ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, exinde venturus judicara vivos ac mortuos.
Credo et in Spiritum Sanctum, Deum omnipotentem, unam habentem substantiam cum Patre et Filio. Sanctam esse ecclesiam catholicam, abremissam peccatorum, sanctorum communionem, carnis resurrectionem.
Credo vitam post mortem, et vitam aeternam in gloria Christi. Haec omnia credo in Deum. Amen.
We worship you, eternal Father.
We call on you, eternal Son.
We confess you, Holy Spirit, dwelling in one divine unity.
To you, Trinity we give praise and thanks.
To you, one God, we sing in endless praise.
To you, Father unbegotten,
to you, the only-begotten Son,
to you, Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, we confess with our hearts,
to you beyond all thought, surpassing all understanding, to the all-powerful God we give thanks; who reigns, now and forever. Amen.
Source: The Antiphony of Bangor, #125; translated by Paul C. Stratman for A Collection of Prayers.
Original in Latin:
Te Patrem adoramus seternum.
Te sempiternum Filium invocamus.
Teque Spiritum Sanctum in una divinitatis substantia manentem confitemur.
Tibi Trinitati laudes et gratias referimus.
Tibi uni Deo incessabilem dicimus laudem.
Te Patrem ingenitum,
Te Filium unigenitum.
Te Spiritum Sanctum a Patre et Filio procedentem corde credimus.
Tibi inaestimabili, incomprehensibili, omni potens Deus, gratias agimus. Qui regnas in saecula, &c.
The Antiphonary of Bangor and The Divine Offices of Bangor is now available in paperback through Amazon.com. It is also available for Amazon Kindle. This is a new translation of the entire Antiphonary into comtemporary liturgical English.
A Collection of Prayers 