4th Century – Page 3 – A Collection of Prayers

For the First-Fruits

We give thanks to you,
Lord Almighty,
Creator of the whole world,
Preserver of all,
through your only Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
for the first-fruits which are offered to you,
not because we must, but as we are able.
For who can worthily give you thanks
for all you have given?
You are the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob,
and of all the saints.
You made all things fruitful by your Word,
and commanded the earth to bring forth various fruits
for our food and our enjoyment.
You have given your lesser creatures
grass to those that eat grass,
and to some meat, to others seeds,
but to us grain, as good and proper food,
and many other things—
some for our needs,
some for our health,
and some for our pleasure.
For all of these,
you are worthy of exalted hymns of praise
for your blessings through Christ,
through him be glory, honor, and worship to you,
in the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

Source: Apostolic Constitutions

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Communion with God

O how will I call on God,
my God and Lord,
since when I call for him,
I will be calling him into myself?
And what room is there within me,
where my God can come into me?
Where can God come into me,
God who made heaven and earth?
Is there, indeed,
O Lord my God,
anything in me that can contain you?

Do then, heaven and earth,
which you have made,
and in which you have made me,
contain you?
Or because nothing which exists could exist without you,
does therefore whatever exists contain you?
Since then I too exist,
why do I seek that you should enter me.
I would not be if you were not in me.
Why? Because I am not gone down in hell,
and yet you are there also.
For if I go down into hell,
you are there.
I could not be then,
O my God,
could not be at all,
if you were not in me;
or rather,
unless I were in you,
of whom are all things,
by whom are all things,
in whom are all things!
Even so, Lord, even so.
From where should I call you,
since I am in you?
Or where can you enter me?
For where can I go beyond heaven and earth,
that there my God should come into me,
who has said, “I fill the heaven and the earth”?

O God,
the vessels which you fill do not contain you,
since though we were broken,
you were not poured out.
You are not cast down,
but you uplift us.
You are not scattered,
but you gather us…. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

This prayer is based in part on Psalm 139.

For Light

O let the Light,
the Truth,
the Light of my heart,
not my own darkness,
speak to me.
I fell off into that,
and became darkened;
but even then,
even then I loved you.
I went astray, but remembered you.
I heard your voice behind me,
calling me to return,
but scarcely heard it,
through the raging of the enemies of peace.
See now,
I return in distress and panting after your fountain.
Let no one forbid me!
I will drink of this and live.
Do not let me regard my life as my own.
For myself, I lived ill.
I was death to myself,
but I revive in you.
Do you speak to me,
do you communicate with me?
I have believed your Books,
and their words are most full of mystery. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

For Peace

O Lord God,
grant your peace to us,
for you have supplied us with all things—
the peace of rest,
the peace of the Sabbath which has no evening;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

For Grace

We ask not of you, O Father,
silver and gold,
honor and glory,
nor the pleasures of the world.
Grant us grace to seek your Kingdom
and your righteousness,
and give us what we need for body and life.
Behold, O Lord, our desire.
May it be pleasing in your sight.
We present our petition to you through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is at your right hand,
our mediator and Advocate,
through whom you sought us that we might seek you;
your Word, through whom you made us and all things;
your only Son, through whom you call us to adoption,
who intercedes with you for us,
and in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;
to him, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor, praise, and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Praise

You are great, O Lord,
and greatly to be praised;
great is your power,
and your wisdom is infinite.
We would praise you without ceasing.
You call us to delight in your praise,
for you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts find no rest until we rest in you;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit
all glory, praise, and honor be to you,
both now and forevermore. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Obligation to Others

O Lord, our Savior,
you have warned us that you will require much
of those to whom much is given.
Grant that we who have so great a heritage
may strive together more abundantly
to extend to others what we so richly enjoy.
As we have supported the labors of others,
by working with them,
in their turn others may support us in our work,
to the fulfillment of your holy will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Refuge and Peace

O God,
full of compassion,
I commit and commend myself to you,
in whom I am, and live, and know.
Be the Goal of my pilgrimage,
and my Rest by the way.
Let my soul take refuge
from the crowding turmoil of worldly thoughts
beneath the shadow of your wings.
Let my heart,
this sea of restless waves,
find peace in you, O God.
You bountifully give all good gifts.
Give those who are weary refreshing food.
Gather our distracted thoughts and powers into harmony again.
Set the prisoner free.
See, he stands at your door and knocks.
Open it to him,
that he may enter with a free step,
and be quickened by you.
For you are the Well-spring of Life,
the Light of eternal Brightness,
where the just live who love you.
Let it be to me according to your word. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo, Fourth Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

For Light

O God our Father,
you invite us to pray,
and you grant what we ask,
when we ask according to your will.
Hear me as I tremble in this darkness,
and stretch forth your hand to me.
Shine your light before me.
Recall me from my wanderings.
With you as my Guide,
restore me to myself and to you;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

For Obedience and Love

O Lord,
you command me to ask,
grant that I may receive what you give.
You have told me to seek,
let me be happy in finding.
You have bidden me to knock,
I pray, open for me.
Graciously direct and govern all my thoughts and actions,
that, for the future,
I may serve you
and entirely devote myself to obeying you.
Accept me,
and draw me to yourself,
that I may henceforth be yours
by obedience and love,
since I am already yours,
as your creature.
Yours, O Lord,
you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953