19th Century – Page 2 – A Collection of Prayers

September 7

Warm my cold heart, Lord. Form me after your own image. Give me grace to obey you in all things and to always follow where you lead. Teach me to be kind to others, to be gentle and unselfish, careful to hurt no one by word or deed, but eager to do good to all and to make others happy. Lord, forgive the sins of my temper. Pardon all my hasty words and unchristian thoughts. Make me watchful, so that I do not offend with my tongue. Give me a meek and loving spirit, which is of high value in your sight. I do not want to live for myself, but for you. Keep me today, Lord, from all sin, and from anything that displeases you; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Source: Bishop Ashton Oxenden (1808-1892), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 5

Eternal God, darkness and light are the same to you, yet you send us your mercy by day and at night your song is with me. There is no light but yours, without, within. As you lift the curtain of night, take the veil from our hearts. Let your day dawn on our souls. Awaken all our labor and our prayer. Although everything else declines, let the noonday sun of your grace and peace remain. Let us follow Jesus while it is day, just as he finished your most divine work in his few years. Amen.

Source: Adapted from James Martineau (1805-1900), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, make us reflect your heavenly kingdom here through mutual love, that all hatred may be banished, and all hearts full of love, joy and gladness. Amen.

Source: Ludovicus (Juan Luis) Vives, 1492-1540, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 4

Almighty God, since we are bathed in the new light of your eternal truth, show yourself to us clearly, that with heart and mind we follow you in word and deed. Amen.

Rowland Williams (1818-1870), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Almighty God, giver of all wisdom, enlighten my understanding with knowledge of right, and govern my will by your laws, that no deceit may mislead me, no temptation may corrupt me, that I may always endeavor to do good, and to hinder evil. Amid all the hopes and fears of this world, do not take your Holy Spirit from me, but grant that my thoughts may be fixed on you, and that I may finally enter your eternal happiness, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 3

Lord God, grant that we may enjoy health of mind and body, deliver us from our present sadness, and finally bring us to the joy of your eternal gladness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Almighty God, send us your good Spirit, that we flee to your loving arms as children, filled with trust, hope, and faith. In dark times draw us to you, that we trust you when we cannot see, and we hope in you when all seems doubtful. You are our Father who does all things well, and you order all things. Knowing that all things are in your hands, we await your time. Amen.

Source: George Dawson (1821–1876), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 2

Lord, teach us to remember your almighty help and comfort promised to us, your protecting presence surrounding us, your all-seeing eye watching us, your divine heart yearning for us, that we may not be afraid of anyone’s anger, or shrink from anyone’s ridicule, but courageously do the work you have given us, and after we have suffered, enter your rest. Amen.

Source: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Heavenly Father, author and source of all truth, bottomless sea of all understanding, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, and enlighten our understandings with the beams of your heavenly grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Nicholas Ridley (1500–1555), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

Before Communion

Lord Jesus Christ, our only comfort, our hope, our righteousness, our strength and sure defense, kindle in our hearts a desire, hunger and thirst for the eternal food of the soul, your true body and blood, that we may gladly and frequently receive the sacrament, knowing our sins, but relying on you to strengthen and assure us until life’s journey ends and we come to you in our heavenly homeland to see you face to face and dwell with you through all eternity.

Wilhelm Loehe, Samenkoerner des Gebets, p. 139, #88

Original in German:

Herr Jesu Christe, mein einziger Trost, meine Hoffnung, mein Leben, meine Gerech tigkeit, meine Stärke und meine Burg, ich bitte dich, du wollest mein Herz entzünden mit herzlichem Verlangen, Hunger und Durst nach der ewigen Speise meiner Seele, nach deinem wahren Leibe und Blute, daß ich in wahrer Erkenntniß meiner Sünden und starker Zuversicht zu dir dies dein hochwürdiqes Sakrament oft und ohne Ueberdruß möge gebrauchen, daß ich damit ohne Unterlaß meine Seele und Gewissen möge stärken und versichern, bis ich dermaleins meine Reise vollende, das rechte Vaterland erlange, zu du komme, dich von Angesicht zu Angesicht schaue, und ewig bei dir bleibe. Amen.

Early translation in traditional English:

Lord Jesus Christ, our only comfort, our hope, our righteousness, our strength and sure defence, we beseech Thee, kindle in our breasts a fervent desire, hunger, and thirst for that eternal food of the soul,—Thy true body and blood,— that we may gladly and frequently receive the glorious Sacrament in true realization of our sins and strong reliance upon Thee, unto the strengthening and assurance of our souls, until at last life’s pilgrimage ended, we come to Thee in the true Fatherland, to see Thee face to face, and abide with Thee through all eternity. Amen. (Wilhelm Loehe, Seed Grains of Prayer, English edition, #88.)

Litany of the Holy Spirit (2)

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.

Holy Spirit,
by your power, you worked the incarnation of our Lord in the virgin’s womb,
you teach us all things and guide us into all truth,
you intercede for us groans that cannot be expressed in words,
you have given us new birth and have made us heirs of eternal life,
you help us in our weakness,
you bring us to life and purify our hearts with faith,
you judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, have mercy on us.

From all evil. Deliver us, Holy Spirit.
Be merciful to us. Spare us, Holy Spirit.
Be merciful to us. Hear us, Holy Spirit.

From all sins of thought, word, and action,
from the crafts and assaults of the devil,
from pride and despair,
from unbelief and hardness of heart,
from uncleanness of heart and life,
from anger, hatred and ill will,
from impurity of body and soul,
from obstinacy and impenitence,
from indifference to the service of God, deliver us, Holy Spirit.

You proceed from the Father and the Son,
you overshadowed the virgin,
you descended on the Son in the form of a dove,
you were poured out on the holy apostles,
you are the Spirit of love,
you are the Spirit of joy,
you are the Spirit of peace,
you dwell in us, help us, good Lord.

By your inward anointing,
by the abundance of your grace, hear us, good Lord.

We sinners pray, hear us, Holy Spirit.

To cleanse and sanctify all members of your holy Church,
to adorn the Bride of Christ with abundant gifts,
to bless and protect our synod [church body], together with all its clergy and institutions,
to grant all of us the spirit of prayer and sincere worship,
to adorn our lives with patience and humility,
to kindle love and mercy in us,
to clothe us with purity,
to help us so that we do not grieve you, Holy Spirit, for you have sealed us for the day of redemption,
to work in us your grace and bring us to eternal life, hear us, Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Holy Spirit, 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; 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 in heaven…

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Almighty God, send the Holy Spirit into our hearts that he may rule and direct us according to your will, comfort us in all temptations and afflictions, defend us from all error, lead us into all truth, keep us steadfast in the true faith, and help us increase in love and in all good works, that in the end we obtain eternal life; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Loehe’s Agenda, in Oremus, ed. Paul Zeller Strodach, 1925.

Epiphany Prayer

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O Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly King, we thank you that you have brought both Jews and Gentiles to hear your voice, and from their number you have gathered and established your Holy Church, and perfected your praise out of their mouths. Keep us in that wisdom which you revealed to the Wise Men. Grant us your Holy Spirit, that we may always seek you and your kingdom. Enable us to follow your holy Word, as those from the East followed the leading of a star. Give us grace at all times and in all places to confess your holy name. Rule us by your Spirit, so that the joys of your birth may increase in us. Hear our prayers and cries. Accept our offerings, which you yourself have given us: the gold of our faith, the incense of our prayers and the myrrh of our contrite hearts. Deliver us from the destructive ways of error and sin, and by your Holy Spirit lead us in the ways of peace and in the paths of righteousness. Grant us all, when this life is done, a participation in the joys of the Year of Jubilee in heaven, where we shall praise and serve you and the Father who live and reign in unity with the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Wilhelm Loehe, in Liturgy for Christian Congregations of the Lutheran Faith, 1902

Cover My Soul with the Shadow of Your Wing

Thanks to you, O God, that I have risen today,
to the rising of life itself;
may it be to your own glory,
O God of every gift,
and to the glory of my soul likewise.
O great God, aid my soul
with the aiding of your own mercy;
even as I clothe my body with wool,
cover my soul with the shadow of your wing.
Help me to avoid every sin,
and the source of every sin to forsake;
and as the mist scatters
on the crest of the hills,
may each ill haze clear from my soul, O God.

Source: Adapted from Carmina Gadelica.

In Your Arms I Am Safe

O my Lord and Savior,
in your arms I am safe.
Keep me and I have nothing to fear.
Give me up and I have nothing to hope for.
I do not know what will come upon me before I die.
I know nothing about the future,
but I rely upon you.
I pray that you would give me what is good for me.
I pray that you would to take from me whatever would imperil my salvation.
I do not pray that you would make me rich.
I do not pray that you would make me very poor.
I leave it all to you, because you know and I do not.
If you bring pain or sorrow on me,
give me grace to bear it well—
keep me from fretfulness and selfishness.
If you give me health and strength and success in this world,
keep me always on my guard
lest these great gifts carry me away from you.
O Christ, you died on the Cross for me,
even for me, sinner as I am.
Help me to know you,
to believe in you,
to love you,
to serve you,
to always aim at bringing you glory,
to live to and for you,
to set a good example to all around me.
Allow me to die just at that time and in that way
which is best for your glory,
and best for my salvation.

Source: John Henry Newman, 1801-1890

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Newman Reader, #200