16th Century – Page 4 – A Collection of Prayers

Litany for the Sick

Lord God, the Father in heaven, have mercy on him.
Lord God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on him.
Lord God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on him.

Be gracious to him. Spare him, good Lord.
Be gracious to him. Help him, good Lord.
From all sin, good Lord, deliver him.

From all unbelief and doubt,
from your just and dreadful wrath,
from all plots and assaults of the devil,
from the fear of eternal death,
from the anguish and pains of hell,
and from all evil, defend him, good Lord.

By your holy nativity,
by your agony and bloody sweat,
by your cross and passion,
by your glorious resurrection and ascension, help him, good Lord.

In the hour of death,
and in the day of judgment, help him, good Lord.

That you would give him health of body and soul,
that he may confidently look to your fatherly goodness for whatever is needed,
that he may call on you in true faith,
that your good angel may defend, direct and conduct him in all his ways,
that in steadfast faith he may withstand and overcome all temptation,
that he may commend himself, body and soul, to your will,
that he may truly now and sincerely repent of all his sins, hear us, good Lord.

That he may find comfort in your goodness and mercy,
that he may willingly forgive all his enemies and persecutors,
that he may turn away from all desires and pleasures of the world,
that his desire may be for you and the treasures of your heavenly kingdom,
that he may await his last hour in patience,
that he may commit his spirit into your hands,
that his departure may be in peace,
that he may have a part in the resurrection to life,
that he may meet his Lord with joy,
that he may live forever in your kingdom,
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on him.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on him.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on him.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant him your peace. Amen

Everlasting God, merciful Father, you tenderly care for us in our need and sorrow, and you allowed your Son to be tempted in every way as we are, yet he was without sin, that we might have a merciful and faithful High Priest who knows our weakness. We your children pray for our afflicted brother, who lies under your mighty hand. Do not deal with him in judgment for his sins but strengthen and comfort him by your Holy Spirit with faith and patience, that his sickness may be to your glory and for the salvation of his soul; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: 16th century Kirchenordnung, the Church Book, in Oremus, 1925, ed. by Paul Zeller Strodach, freeely modified.

Litany of Intercession

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

God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

God, your ears are open to our prayers,
graciously help those for whom we pray.

Christ, hear us.

From all evil,
from all sin,
from all plots and assaults of the devil,
from the temptations and desires of the flesh,
from loneliness and despair,
from carelessness and neglect of duty,
from loss of courage and devotion,
from making a shipwreck of their faith,
from falling away from you, good Lord, deliver them.

By your coming to save humanity,
by your selfless service,
by your love for the weary and burdened,
by your healing touch for the sick,
by your invitation to all,
by your welcome to the sinner,
by your cross and passion,
by your victory,
by the might of your salvation, help them, good Lord.

Lover of humanity,
in all their trouble,
in all their needs,
in their last hour,
and in the day of judgment, help them, good Lord.

We poor sinners pray, hear us, Lord God.

To grant them your guidance and protection,
to keep them pure in thought, word and action,
to guard their lives and souls,
to make them victorious soldiers of the cross,
to hold them steadfast in their allegiance to our country,
to be their protection in danger,
to be their refreshment in hardship,
to be their comfort in suffering,
to be their companion in weary and lonely hours,
to make them gentle and lovers of their neighbors,
and in the hours of trial, keep them in the palm of your hand,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

To preserve our country at all times, in times of peril, peace or prosperity,
to direct and protect our president, his counsellors and all in authority,
to foster in our hearts reverence for the law of the land,
to uphold our armed forces,
to grant victory to every righteous cause for which our nation is contending,
to unite our nation as one in loyalty and faithful devotion,
to turn all humanity to your cross,
and to fill all hearts with love for you,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

To see and protect all who are in danger, need and trouble,
to protect all who travel by land, sea or air,
to comfort and heal the wounded,
to alleviate and shorten the pains of the dying,
to free the captives,
to protect and provide for the orphans and widows,
to overthrow humanity’s inhumanity,
to bless and strengthen all who serve their neighbors,
and to have mercy on all people,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

To forgive our enemies,
to turn their hearts that they may cease their enmity,
to turn their hearts and ours that we may walk together in humility and peace,
to quickly restore just and lasting peace to all nations,
and to graciously hear our prayers,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we pray, hear us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace.

O Christ, hear us.

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

Our Father…

Let us humble ourselves before God and implore the Father Almighty,
he graciously hears all who call on him, and does not forsake those who trust in him.

How great is your compassion, Lord. You protect the captives, you pity the wretched and afflicted, you are patient with sinners, you comfort those who wander, you lift up the oppressed, and you hear those who pray. Give to those who have not. Forgive the sinners. Convert people that they call on your name. Holy and merciful God, move our hearts to mercy, just as you have showered mercy on us, and hear our prayers through the merits of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us bring our brothers and sisters who are in need before the throne of mercy.
May God, whose love never fails, grant them his blessing.

Lord, look down from heaven, see, visit, and relieve your servants, for whom our we pray. Look on them with mercy. Give them comfort and confidence in you. Preserve them from the temptations of the enemy, and keep them in constant peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us pray that our Lord, the Prince of Peace, may establish his reign in every heart.
Let his kingdom come and his will be done.

Eternal Father, by sending your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, you proclaimed peace to the world, and by shedding his blood on the cross, he opened the way for all humanity to find peace with you. Hold the cross high that every eye may see. Kindle every heart with your Spirit that all may follow Christ’s example and be zealous to serve you, that peace may fill every heart and govern the nations of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: 16th century Kirchenordnung, the Church Book, in Oremus, 1925, ed. by Paul Zeller Strodach, freeely modified.

Give Us Highest Comfort in Your Grace

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in your fatherly grace you did not spare you only Son
but gave him up to death on the cross.
Pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that we may find our highest comfort in your grace.
Protect us from temptations to sin more,
and help us patiently bear whatever hardships may come,
so that through him we may have eternal life.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 6 / Palm Sunday

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.

Give Us Comfort that We Will Never See Death

Lord God, heavenly Father,
your dear Son, our Redeemer Christ Jesus said,
‘Whoever remains in my word will never see death.’
Pour out your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that your Son’s Word may come to us
and that we may hear it, hold it,
and commit ourselves to it with our whole heart,
and in the midst of death find comfort
that we will never see eternal death,
for the sake of your Son,
our Redeemer Christ Jesus.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 5

Preserve Us from Greed and the Cares of this Life

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in the wilderness your Son fed over five thousand people
with five loaves and two fish.
Graciously remain with us and bless us.
Preserve us from greed and the cares of this life
that we may seek first your kingdom and your righteousness
and in all things remember your Fatherly goodness;
through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 4

Preserve Us in All Temptations

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you sent your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
to take on himself our flesh
that he might overcome the devil’s tyranny
and defend us poor sinners.
We give you thanks for your merciful help.
Be present with us in your grace in all temptations,
preserve us from worldly security
and by your Holy Spirit keep us
in your Word and your fear,
that we may be delivered from the enemy
and 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.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 3

Confirm our Faith and Hope in Your Grace and Mercy

Lord God, heavenly Father,
may your Holy Spirit strengthen our hearts
and confirm our faith and hope
in your grace and mercy.
Although we have reason to fear because of our conscience,
our sin and our unworthiness,
we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan,
hold fast to your grace
and in every trial and temptation
find you a very present help and refuge;
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 2

Help Us against the Adversary

Lord God, heavenly Father,
just as the adversary continually afflicts us
and as a roaring lion walks about,
seeking to devour us,
for the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ,
help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit
and strengthen our hearts by your Word,
that our enemy may not prevail over us,
but that we may always abide in your grace
and be preserved to 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.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 1

Make Us Watchful and Heedful

Lord God, heavenly Father,
make us watchful and heedful
in awaiting the coming of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
that when he stands at the door and knocks,
he may find us not sleeping in carelessness and sin,
but awake and rejoicing in his appearing;
through your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Trinity Last

You Have No Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked

O almighty, eternal and merciful God,
by your beloved Son,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
you have established the kingdom of grace for us
in your holy Church on earth
that we might believe the forgiveness of our sins.
Since you are a God
who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but that they turn from their ways and live,
graciously forgive us all our sins;
through your Son Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Trinity 26