6th Century – A Collection of Prayers

Give Peace in Our Days

Plainchant of ‘Da Pacem’

Lord, give peace in our days,
for there is no other
who fights for us,
but you, our God.

Source: The text is a 6th or 7th-century hymn based on biblical verses 2 Kings 20:19, 2 Chronicles 20:12,15 and Psalms 72:6–7.

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_pacem,_Domine

Original in Latin:

Da pacem, Domine, in diebus nostris
quia non est alius
qui pugnet pro nobis
nisi tu Deus noster.

https://lyricstranslate.com

The entire hymn appears thus:

Lord, give peace in our days,
for there is no other
who fights for us,
but you, our God.

May there be peace within your fortifications,
prosperity within your citadels. (Psalm 122:7)

Lord, give peace in our days, …

For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
now I will say, “Peace be within you.” (Psalm 122:8)

Lord, give peace in our days, …

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek good for you. (Psalm 122:9)

Lord, give peace in our days, …

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
May those who love you prosper. (Psalm 122:6)

Lord, give peace in our days, …

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Lord, give peace in our days, …

You Broke the Bonds of Death

God has unlocked for us the path to eternity - Today's ...

It is truly good and right,
with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise you Father
and your Only-begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, by your wondrous condescension
of loving-kindness toward us your servants,
you gave up your Son.
Dear Jesus you paid the debt of Adam for us
to the eternal Father
by your blood poured fourth
in loving-kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin
by your magnificent and radiant resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death
and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of eternal happiness
before you redeemed us.
Your resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of your love!

Source: Gregory the Great. Combined from several sources. Main source: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1245

Appears to be a shortened version of “This Is the Night!”

An Anniversary of Ministry

lutherrose

O God,
by your command the order of all time runs its course.
Look graciously on me your servant,
whom you have called into your ministry.
Mercifully preserve your gifts in me
so that my service may be pleasing to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Gelasian, in The New Ancient Collects, #576, Bright’s Ancient Collects, p. 194.1

Easter Prayer

O God,
you gave your only Son to the death of the Cross for our redemption,
and by his glorious resurrection
you delivered us from the power of the enemy.
Teach us to die to sin daily,
that we may forever live with him
in the joy of his resurrection;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gregory the Great

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

For Cheerfulness

O God,
you have have folded back
the mantle of the night
to clothe us in the golden glory of the day.
Drive from our hearts
all gloomy thoughts,
and make us glad
with the brightness of your hope,
that we may aspire
to heavenly virtues;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: An Ancient Collect, A. D. 590
Source of this version: Freely modified from Service and Prayers for Church and Home, Ed. Wilbur Patterson Thirkield, Methodist Book Concern, 1918

Version in traditional English:

O GOD, who hast folded back the mantle of the night to clothe us in the golden glory of the day, chase from our hearts all gloomy thoughts, and make us glad with the brightness of hope, that we may effectively aspire to unwon virtues, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the World

Almighty and eternal God,
you are the brightness of the faithful.
You have made this day holy
by the first-fruits of the chosen Gentiles.
Fill the world with your glory
and show yourself by the radiance of your light
to the nations that are subject to you;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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

Epiphany

Almighty and eternal God,
Brightness of faithful souls,
you brought the Gentiles to your light,
and made known to them him who is the true Light,
and the bright and morning Star.
Fill the world with your glory,
and show yourself by the radiance of your light to all nations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

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

O Emmanuel…

December 23

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Source: The O Antiphons

Source of this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons, also in Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 21

Latin:

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

Isaiah had prophesied:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

(Emmanuel means God is with us).

O King of the nations…

December 22

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

Source: The O Antiphons

Source of this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons, also in Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 21

Latin:

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

Isaiah had prophesied:

“For a child has been born for us, a son given us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4

Also compare Isaiah 28:16 and Ephesians 2:14

O Morning Star…

December 21

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those
who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Source: The O Antiphons

Source of this version: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons, also in Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 21

Latin:

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Isaiah had prophesied:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2

Also compare Isaiah 60:1-2 and Malachi 4:2