O Lord,
in mercy, hear the prayers of your humble servants.
Teach us to ask for what pleases you,
that we may receive what we ask;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, fifth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
O Lord,
mercifully hear the prayers of your Church.
Destroy all adversities and errors
that it may serve you in quiet freedom,
and us give your peace in our time;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, fifth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
Accept our evening thanksgiving,
Fountain of every blessing,
for you have led us in safety through the length of the day.
You daily bless us with so many temporal mercies,
and have given us the hope of resurrection to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: An Ancient Collect, fifth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
O Lord,
let your tranquility dwell among us,
and let your peace remain in our hearts.
May our voices proclaim your truth,
and may your cross be the guardian of our souls.
O Lord,
make us bold, make us worthy
to offer to you pure and holy prayer;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Liturgy of the Nestorians, fifth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
O Lord,
hear our prayers.
Just as we trust
that the Savior of humanity
is seated with you in your majesty,
we may also trust that he remains with us always
to the end of the age, as he has promised;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, New Ancient Collects, #109
O Lord,
you teach us not to worry about earthly things,
but to love heavenly things.
Even now,
while we live among things that are passing away,
help us cling to those things that will remain forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, New Ancient Collects, #259
Hear us, O merciful Father,
and grant that all communicants of your Church this day,
who partake of this bread and wine,
and receive his most blessed Body and Blood
according to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution,
remember of his death and passion
in true repentance and living faith;
to him, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory,
now and forever. Amen.
Source: An Ancient Liturgy, fifth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
As a paragraph:
Hear us, O merciful Father, and grant that all communicants of your Church this day, who partake of this bread and wine, and receive his most blessed Body and Blood according to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ’s holy institution, remember of his death and passion in true repentance and living faith; to him, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
O God,
the God of spirits and of all flesh,
you are beyond compare,
and stand in need of nothing.
You have given the sun rule over the day,
and the moon and the stars rule over the night,
look down on us with gracious eyes,
and receive our morning thanksgivings,
and have mercy on us.
We have not “spread out our hands to a strange God;”
for there is not among us any new God
but you the eternal God.
You are without end.
You have given us our being through Christ,
and given us our well-being through him.
Through him also give us eternal life;
with him be glory, and honor,
and worship to you and to 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
O God,
you are faithful and true,
you “have mercy on thousands and ten thousands
of those who love you,”
you love the humble
and protect of the needy who lack all things,
for all things are subject to you.
Look down on this your people,
who bow their heads to you,
and bless them with spiritual blessing.
“Keep them as the apple of your eye,”
preserve them in piety and righteousness,
and give them eternal life in Christ Jesus your beloved Son,
with him be glory, honor, and worship to you and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Source: Apostolic Constitutions
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
By the shedding of the Blood of Christ our Lord,
peace has been established in heaven and earth.
Truly precious is the Covenant of peace,
which was made by the offering of that holy Blood!
Not with gold,
not with silver,
not with gems or pearls,
but with the blood that poured
from the side of the Savior,
which gladdened heaven,
purified earth,
and terrified hell.
Source: Gallican Sacramentary, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 48#2.
A Collection of Prayers 