16th Century – Page 17 – A Collection of Prayers

Guide Us by Your Word and Spirit

cathedra-holyspirit1 O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of almighty God,
send your Holy Spirit
into our hearts
through your Word,
that he may govern and guide us
according to your will,
comfort us in all afflictions and misfortunes,
lead and uphold us in your truth against all error,
so that we may stand firm in your love
and offer ourselves to do good works,
and through the certain hope of your free grace
be blessed forever;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
you live and reign,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 291

Original in German:

Herr Jesu Christe, du Sohn des allmächtigen Gottes, wir bitten dich, du wollest durch dein Wort deinen heiligen Geist in Herzen geben, daß derselbe uns regiere und führe nach deinem Willen, in allerlei Anfechtung und Unglück tröste, in deiner Wahrheit wider allen Irrthum leite und erhalte, auf daß wir im feststehen mögen, in der Liebe und guten Werken zunehmen, und durch gewisse Hoffnung deiner erworbenen und geschenkten Gnade ewig selig werden, der du mit dem Vater und dem heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen. Pommersche Agende.

You Hear and Direct–Help Us Wait

Johannes-Mathesius[1] O God, our Father,
you graciously hear all who call on you,
and your wisdom directs your saints.
In your good time you rescue us,
even though your help
seems to be withheld for a time.
Graciously open your ears to our prayers
and lead us by your Spirit,
that without doubting
we may persevere in prayer
and await your promised help in faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Johannes Mathesius, (1504–1565)

Source of this version: Freely modified from Collects and Prayers for Use in Church, United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #368.

Instead of “wisdom,” Collects and Prayers had “providence.”

Instead of “and await your promised help in faith,” Collects and Prayers had “and believingly await thy promised help.”

You Know Our Needs before We Ask

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

Almighty God,
fountain of all wisdom,
you know our needs before we ask,
and our ignorance in asking.
Have compassion on our weaknesses,
and those things we cannot ask for
because of
our unworthiness
and unawareness,
graciously give us
because of the worthiness
of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from the Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Original in traditional English:

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking: We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This prayer also has been set to music.

Let the Light of Your Gospel Shine on Us

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)

This revision/translation of The Collects of Veit Dietrich is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

You Have Sown the Seed of Your Word

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you that you have sown the good seed of your holy Word in our hearts. By your Holy Spirit cause this seed to grow and bring forth fruit, and defend us from the enemy, that he may not sow weeds there. Keep us from worldly security, help us in all temptations and give us at last eternal salvation; through your beloved Son, 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 5)

The Presentation of Our Lord (February 2)

The Presentation of Our Lord is observed on February 2, and remembers how the baby Jesus was presented at the temple when he was forty days old. This ancient church festival is also called The Purification of the Virgin Mary and Candlemas. The event is recorded in Luke 2:25-38. This prayer for the Presentation by Veit Dietrich quotes Simeon’s song.

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you prepared your Son to be our Savior,
that he should be the light for the gentiles
and the glory of your people Israel.
Enlighten our hearts
that we may know your grace
and fatherly will toward us in Christ,
and that we may have your protection
against sin, damnation and Satan,
through Christ,
and in him be forever blessed.
Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

The Conversion of St. Paul

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you graciously called St. Paul
from being a sinful persecutor
to be a follower and a faithful witness.
Give us your grace
so that we may take to heart your Word and warning
and have humble sorrow over our sins
and receive forgiveness,
and find comfort in your grace and mercy
through Christ alone,
and be blessed forever.
Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from Summaria Christlicher Lehr, Veit Dietrich, 1548.

We Have Your Word, Grant that We May Trust

Lord God, heavenly Father, in your special love and mercy you gave us your Son who became fully human and died on the cross for us. Pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts that we may put all our trust in him, just as the Centurion believed that Christ would help his sick servant, may we be assured of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. We have your Word: ‘Whoever believes in me will never see death.’ Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may believe with no doubts in our hearts, and remain in the faith until our last hour. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from Summaria Christlicher Lehr, Veit Dietrich, 1548 (Epiphany 3)

Bless Marriages and Families

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank you for instituting holy matrimony to keep us from unchastity and other offenses. Send your blessing on every husband and wife, that they may not provoke each other to anger and strife, but live peaceably together in love and godliness, receive your gracious help in all temptations and raise their children according to your will. Move us all to walk before you in purity and holiness, to put all our trust in you, and lead holy lives on earth and in the world to come enjoy eternal life; 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 2)

Lead Us to Eternal Life and Salvation

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you showed yourself with the Holy Spirit,
in the fullness of grace
at the baptism of your dear Son
and with your voice
you directed us to him
who would bear our sins,
that we might receive grace
and the forgiveness of sins.
Keep us in the true faith
and just as we have been baptized
according to your command
and the example of your dear Son,
strengthen our faith by your Holy Spirit
and lead us to eternal life and salvation;
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/ (Quinquagesima)