Tag: 19th Century

O Lord,
give us your grace,
that we may supplement
our faith with virtue,
and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love:
that not forgetting
that we have been cleansed from our old sins,
we may bear fruit in every good work,
and be all the more diligent
to confirm our calling and election;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Euchologion. A collection of Prayers, etc. for the use of families, 1847, p. 76.

This prayer is a reflection on 2 Peter 1:5-10 and Colossians 1:10.

The phrase “confirm our calling and election” or “make our calling and election sure” are not referring to us doing something to make salvation certain, but to reflect Christ’s certain work of making us his own by the way we give witness to it by our lives.

Original in traditional English:

O Lord, impart to us Thy grace, that we may add to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity: that so, not forgetting that we have been purged from our old sins,we may be fruitful in good works, and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord,
preserve us
from the deadly sins
of pride, envy, anger,
gluttony, lust,
greed and laziness.
In their place
work in us
and help us to live our lives
with the heavenly virtues
of humility, mercy, meekness,
moderation, purity, contentment,
and happy diligence in our work;
for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Euchologion. A collection of Prayers, etc. for the use of families, 1847, p. 75.

This prayer recalls the traditional “Seven Deadly Sins.” Although any unrepented sin is deadly (that is, destructive of faith), the list of the Seven Deadly Sins can be useful for reflection and self-examination.

Original in traditional English:

Preserve us, O Lord, from the deadly sins of pride, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, avarice, and sloth. And in their stead, implant and cultivate the contrary heavenly virtues of humility, mercy, meekness, temperance, chastity, contentedness, and cheerful industry; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

O Holy Jesus,
give us the gift
and spirit of prayer,
and by your own gracious intercession
at your Father’s right hand,
give us what we need,
when we do not know
what we should pray for.
Teach us always
to flee to you for mercy,
pardon and support,
and make us always conform
to your blessed will.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Euchologion. A collection of Prayers, etc. for the use of families, 1847, p. 56.

This prayer is a reflection on Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:26.

Original in traditional English:

O Holy Jesus, vouchsafe us the gift and spirit of Prayer, and do Thou by Thy gracious Intercession supply our ignorances. Teach us at all times to fly to Thee for mercy, pardon, and support, and make us in all things conform to Thy blessed will. Amen. 

Almighty God,
you commanded us
to pray to you without ceasing.
Let your Holy Spirit teach us how to pray.
Help us rightly understand what we truly lack,
and have a sense of our many weaknesses,
that we may obtain relief for all our needs;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Euchologion. A collection of Prayers, etc. for the use of families, 1847, p. 56.

This prayer is a reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Romans 8:26.

Original in traditional English:

Almighty God, Who hast commanded us to pray to Thee without ceasing, let Thy Holy Spirit teach us how to pray; give us a just apprehension of our real wants, and a sense of our manifold infirmities, that we may obtain relief for all our necessities, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.