16th Century – Page 18 – A Collection of Prayers

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.

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.

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)

You Have Established the Christian Home

Lord God, heavenly Father, in your mercy you have established the Christian home among us. Rule and direct our hearts, that we may be good examples to children and not offend them by Word or deed, but faithfully teach them to love your Church and hear your blessed Word. Give them your Spirit and grace, that this seed may bring forth good fruit, so that our home life may lead others to your glory, honor, and praise, to our own improvement and welfare and give offense to no one; 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 1)

You Have Given Us the Light of Your Word

Lord God, heavenly Father, you have given us the light of your holy Word, which is our true guiding star that leads us to the Christ-child. Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive this light and make use of it to our salvation. As the wise men were not afraid of any hardship or danger when they were seeking the star, may we also put all our trust in your only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, as our only Savior, devote our earthly possessions to the advancement of your kingdom and in all things serve him; your only 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: Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913,http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Epiphany)

Direct Our Ways

O almighty and eternal God,
mercifully direct our ways
that we may walk in your law
and abound in good works;
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/ (Sunday after Christmas)

St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

Lord God, heavenly Father, it was your plan to let St. Stephen suffer under the stones for the sake of his faith, and by it he showed that your kingdom is not of this world, but belongs in another life. Strengthen our hearts by your Holy Spirit so that we can suffer any hardship for the sake of your name and your Word and find our comfort here in your grace and eternal goodness. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

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

Christmas Prayer

Lord God, heavenly Father, we give thanks that in your great mercy and compassion you allowed your dear Son to become incarnate and through him redeemed us from sin and eternal death. Enlighten our hearts by your Holy Spirit that we may always be thankful for such grace and be comforted in all trouble and temptation, and at last, obtain eternal 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/ (Christmas)

Preserve Us with Your Grace and Mercy

Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you worthy thanks for giving a blessed, gracious baptism, first through John the Baptist, and have brought it also to us with the promise of the forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit and eternal life through your Son, Jesus Christ. Preserve us in this faith with your grace and mercy, that we may never doubt your promise, but be comforted in all temptations. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin and always continue in the righteousness given us in baptism, until by your grace, we obtain eternal 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/ (Advent 4)