16th Century – Page 7 – A Collection of Prayers

Lead Us to Grow in Faith

Almighty and eternal God,
by your Holy Spirit
you have revealed to us the gospel of your Son,
Christ Jesus.
Awaken our hearts
that we may sincerely receive your Word
and not make light of it,
or hear it without fruit
as did your people long ago.
Instead lead us to fear you
and daily grow in faith in your mercy
and finally through your Son Christ Jesus,
obtain eternal salvation;
through your 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 10

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 Generously Give Us Our Daily Bread

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you generously give us your blessing and our daily bread.
Preserve us from greed
and awaken our hearts
that we willingly share your blessed gifts
with our neighbors in need.
Make us faithful stewards of your gifts
and be gracious to us
when our time of stewardship is done
and we come before your judgment;
through your 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 9

Defend Us from False Teachings

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we thank you for revealing yourself to us
through the knowledge of your precious Word.
Graciously keep us steadfast in this knowledge until death,
that we may obtain eternal life.
Now and always send us pious pastors
who faithfully preach your Word
without offense or false doctrine,
and give them long life.
Defend us from all false teachings
and frustrate the counsels of all who distort your Word,
who come to us in sheep’s clothing
but are inwardly ravening wolves,
that your true Church may always remain among us
and be defended and preserved from such false teachers;
through Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Trinity 8

Preserve Us from Greed and Cares that We May Seek First Your Kingdom

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in the wilderness
your Son fed over four thousand people
with seven loaves and a few small 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 needful for body and soul
experience your constant help;
through your 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 7

Forgive Us, Cleanse Our Hearts, that We May Love Your Word

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we confess that we are poor, wretched sinners
and that there is no good in us,
since our hearts, flesh and blood
are so corrupted by sin
that we can never be without sinful desire in this life.
Therefore dear Father,
forgive us these sins
and let your Holy Spirit cleanse our hearts
that we may desire and love your Word,
abide by it
and by your grace be forever saved;
through your 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 6

Forgive Us Our Sins, that We May Praise and Glorify You

Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
you gave us your holy Word
and have generously provided for all our bodily needs.
We are unworthy of all these mercies
and have rather deserved punishment.
But forgive us our sins as you forgave Peter,
and prosper and bless us in our different callings
that by your strength we may be sustained and defended,
now and forever
and so praise and glorify you eternally;
you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Trinity 5

Give Us Confidence in Your Mercy, and Teach Us to Be Merciful

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you are merciful
and through Christ you promised us
that you will neither judge nor condemn us,
but graciously forgive us all our sins
and abundantly provide for all our needs of body and soul.
By your Holy Spirit
establish in our hearts a confident faith in your mercy
and teach us also to be merciful to our neighbor,
that we may not judge or condemn others,
but willingly forgive all people,
and judging only ourselves,
lead blessed lives in your fear;
through your dear 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 4

Awaken Our Hearts by Your Holy Spirit

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we give you thanks
that through your holy Word
you have called us to your great supper of eternal life.
Awaken our hearts by your Holy Spirit,
that we may not hear your Word and produce no fruit,
but that we may prepare ourselves rightly for your heavenly banquet
and not allow ourselves to be hindered by any worldly care;
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, d. 1549, Trinity 2

You Hate Nothing You Have Made

Almighty and eternal God,
you hate nothing you have made
and you forgive the sins of those who are penitent.
Create in us new and contrite hearts
that we truly repent of our sins,
acknowledge our wretchedness,
and obtain perfect forgiveness from you,
the God of all mercy;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer, 1549

Take My Soul into Your Hands

“Nothing Other Than Sheer Life”: Martin Luther on ...

O my heavenly Father,
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
God of all comfort,
I thank you for revealing to me
your dear Son, Jesus Christ,
in whom I believe,
whom I have preached and confessed,
whom I have loved and praised.

I pray, my Lord Jesus Christ,
take my soul into your hands.

Heavenly Father,
I know that
although I will live this body
and be taken from this life,
I will live with you forever,
and that no one can pluck me
out of your hands.

God so loved the world
that he gave his only-begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.

Our God is the God of salvation,
and the Lord delivers from death.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
You have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

Source: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther by Ernst August Brueggeman