A Collection of Prayers

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of laziness,
faint-heartedness, desire for power, and idle talk.

But give your servant
the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love.

Yes, Lord and King!
Grant me to see my own errors
and not to unjustly or hastily judge my brother,
for you are blessed, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian

Source of this version: Freely modified from http://lent.goarch.org/prayers/

The words ‘unjustly or hastily’ were added for clarity.

This prayer has its own Wikipedia article, available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Ephrem

Original in Greek:

Κύριε καὶ Δέσποτα τῆς ζωῆς μου,
πνεῦμα ἀργίας, περιεργίας, φιλαρχίας,
καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῷς.,

Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης,
ταπεινοφροσύνης, ὑπομονῆς, καὶ ἀγάπης
χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.

Ναί, Κύριε Βασιλεῦ,
δώρησαι μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμὰ πταίσματα,
καὶ μὴ κατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου,
ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Prayer for Sexagesima

O God,
you so loved the world
that you gave your only Son
to reconcile the earthly with the heavenly;
Move us to love you above all things,
that we love our friends in you,
and our enemies for you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 21 #2 (Sexagesima)

“O God, you so loved the world…” is a reference to John 3:16

“to reconcile the earthly with the heavenly” is a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 1:20

“Move us to love you above all things” is a reference to Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27

St. Matthias, February 24

On February 24, the Christian Church remembers St. Matthias. Shortly after the Ascension of Our Lord, Matthias was was chosen to replace Judas.

Almighty God,
you chose your faithful servant Matthias
to take part in the ministry and apostleship
from which Judas fell in sin.
Preserve your church from false apostles,
and always bless us with faithful ministers
of your Word and sacraments;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881

Remember, Lord, Thy Church

prayer & verse

1200px-temple_of_four_winds Temple of the Four Winds by Peter Astbury (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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A Litany on the Passion (2)

Good Shepherd, you laid down your life for the sheep, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

Everlasting Power and Wisdom of the most high God, Word of the Father, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

Maker of the world, the Life of all, the Lord of angels, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, for us you were led as a sheep to the slaughter, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You were seized, guiltless, buffeted, given over to murderers, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

By your death you overcome the death of our guilt, remember us:
Be gracious and have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 593

Prayer for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

O God,
author of peace,
may we be so held in the bonds of love,
that those who are peaceful may remain in peace,
and that those who differ may be reconciled by your mercy;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 20 #3 (Epphany 6)

“may we be so held in the bonds of love” may be a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:14

A Litany on the Passion (1)

Show us your mercy, O Lord. Grant pardon, grant forgiveness:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You came to save the world. You were brought to judgment. When you come as Judge, do not deliver us up with the ungodly:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You hung on the Cross, and bore on your shoulders the death we deserved for our guilt:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

You suffered for the ungodly, and cannot die again. Put to death our vices in us, and heal us by your wounds from the Cross:
Be gracious and have mercy on us.

That in the judgment your face may not be turned on us for punishment, but may shine on us with pardon:
Be gracious and have mercy on us. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 576

The General Suffrages

LORD, HAVE MERCY

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

PRECES (Responsive Verses)

I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.” (Psalm 41:4)

Turn, O Lord! How long!
Change your mind toward your servants. (Psalm 90:13)

May your mercy, O Lord, be on us,
even as we wait confidently for you. (Psalm 33:22)

May your servants be clothed with righteousness.
May your favored ones shout for joy. (Psalm 132:9)

Lord, save our rulers!
Answer us in the day we call! (Psalm 20:9)

Save your people, and bless the people that belong to you.
Shepherd them, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:9)

Remember your community that you purchased long ago,
the tribe that you redeemed to be your possession. (Psalm 74:2)

May there be peace within your fortifications,
prosperity within your citadels. (Psalm 122:7)

Let us pray for our absent brothers and sisters:
Save your servants, who trust in you—you are their God. (Psalm 86:2)

Let us pray for the brokenhearted and the captives:
Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress! (Psalm 25:22)

May he send you help from the holy place.
May he support you from Zion. (Psalm 20:2)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

PSALM

Here Psalm 130, De Profundis (Morning Prayer) or Psalm 51, Miserere Mei (Evening Prayer) may be read responsively.

God of Armies, restore us, and make your face shine,
so we will be saved. (Psalm 80:7)

Rise up, O Christ, come to our help!
Redeem us because of your mercy. (Psalm 44:26)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

PRAYERS

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

Prayers may be prayed here, concluding with the Prayer for Peace.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Give peace in our days, O Lord,
for there is no one but you who fights for us, O God.

May there be peace within your fortifications,
prosperity within your citadels. (from Psalm 122:7)

O God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us from the fear of our enemies, that we may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

This version of the suffrages combines elements from Common Service Book (1919) and The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)

Scripture is from the Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org).

Prayer for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Only Son of God the Father,
you took on yourself our nature to save the world,
and by humbling yourself
you opened the way to Paradise again to fallen humanity;
Wash away our iniquities, cleanse us from our sins,
that we may be imitate you as dearly loved children;
through your mercy,
O our God, you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 20 #2 (Epiphany 5)

“Only Son of God the Father” is a reference to John 1:14, John 3:16, John 3:18

“you took on yourself our nature…humbling yourself” is a reference to Philippians 2:8

“Wash away our iniquities” is a reference to Psalm 51:2

“that we may be imitate you as dearly loved children” is a reference to Ephesians 5:1

Let the Light of Your Gospel Shine on Us

veit-dietrich O merciful and eternal God, heavenly Father, we thank you for revealing to us the glory of your Son and letting the light of your gospel shine on us. Guide us by this light that we may walk diligently as Christians in all good works, always be strengthened by your grace and conduct our lives in all godliness; 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.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913,http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Epiphany 6)