7th Century – Page 4 – A Collection of Prayers

Mozarabic Christmas Prayer and Acclamation

Glory to you always,
highest Father and Lord.
Today you sent from the heavens
our Lord Jesus Christ
as our Savior,
whom you foretold
by ancient prophets,
and now have revealed him
as the son of the virgin Mary.

Today, lying in the manger,
is the bread of eternal life,
and a great light
shines on nations
who walked in darkness.

Today the peace for the nations
comes down from heaven,
and the gift of eternity
is granted to us all.

Today the divine treasury
is opened up for us,
and the light of the Holy Spirit
shines upon all.

Now the true light
comes into the world.
He restores sight to the blind
and health to the paralyzed
and strength to the infirm
and firmness to the weak.

Today the true resurrection
of the dead is brought forth,
the way, the truth
and the life of the living.

Therefore we pray, true Trinity, our God,
that as you share with us
the joys of your nativity,
you would also lead us
to live lives to your glory
by this yearly devotion.
So that after this life in the flesh
we may join with all the saints
in the glorious fatherland of the heavens;
through your mercy, our God,
you are blessed
and live and rule all things
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely translated from the Mozarabic Rite, from a document at the University of St. Thomas.

Original in Latin:

Tibi semper gloria, summe Pater ac Domine, qui hodie e caelis Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum nobis salvatorem mittere dignatus es, quem prophetorum olim vaticiniis intonasti, et nunc ex Maria Virgine natum manifestasti.

Hodie nobis est in praesepio positus, perpetuae vitae panis, et lux magna reddita est terris.

Hodie pax civium est prolata supernorum, et nobis omnibus conceditur perpetuitatis donum.

Hodie divinus est nobis reseratus thesaurus, et lux reddita est omnibus, quem prodiit Spiritus Sanctus.

Nunc verum lumen apparuit mundo, qui medicus est caecorum, et sanitas paraliticorum, atque infirmantium virtus, et debilium firmamentum.

Hodie vera est prolata resurrectio mortuorum, via, veritas et vita viventium.

Quaesumus igitur, vera Trinitas, Deus noster, ut qui nos fecisti nativitatis tuae suscipere gaudia, facias, quoque annua devotione immaculatam habere vitam. Ut post carnae claustra mereamur adunari cum omnibus sanctis in caelorum patria gloriosa.

R. Amen.

For Spiritual Illumination

Hear us,
never-fading Light, Lord our God,
our only Light, Fountain of light,
Light of your angels,
thrones, dominions, principalities, powers,
and of all intelligent beings.
You created the light of your saints.
May our souls be your lamps,
kindled and enlightened by you.
May they shine and burn with the truth,
and never go out in darkness and ashes.
May we be your house,
shining from you, shining in you.
May we shine without fail.
May we ever worship you.
In you may we be kindled and not be extinguished.
Being filled with the splendor
of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
may we shine forth inwardly.
May the gloom of sins be cleared away,
and the light of constant faith abide within us.

Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary, 7th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954. (New Ancient Collects, #158)

Confession

O blessed Spirit of Truth,
you search the heart and test the inmost thoughts,
help me remember my sins,
and let me see them in your light.
Strengthen me also with courage to confess them truly,
hiding nothing, excusing nothing,
keeping back nothing in my heart.
In your mercy, pardon and absolve,
and thus heal me,
that I may arise and sin no more,
through the merits and for the sake
of Jesus Christ, my Lord and only Savior. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary, 7th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

A Good Example

O Lord,
make us flourish like pure lilies
in the courts of your house,
and make us display to your people
the fragrance of good works
and the example of a godly life;
through your mercy, O our God,
you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary, 7th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954. (The New Ancient Collects, #282)

Litany Prayer for True Worship

O God,
you have commanded us to worship you in spirit and in truth.
Overshadow us with the power of your Holy Spirit.
Let your mercy and the gracious promise of your salvation come to us,
that our prayer may be directed to you by Christ,
through whom our sins are forgiven.
Hear us, O Lord. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary, 7th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

For Rulers and the Nations

O heavenly Father,
we bend the knee before you on behalf of all kings,
princes, and governors of this world.
By your inspiration,
move them to rule in righteousness,
to rejoice in peace,
to shine in piety,
and to labor for the well-being of the people committed to them,
so that, by the rectitude of the government,
all faithful people may live without disturbance
in the knowledge of you,
and work without hindrance for your glory. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy, 7th Century

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

For Guidance and Protection

Lord, our redemption.
Be our protection.
Direct our minds by your gracious presence.
Watch over our paths
and guide us with your love
through the hidden snares of life.
Fix our hearts on you as we go forward,
that following in faith,
we may arrive at your goal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954, also in The New Ancient Collects, #292

For Perseverance

Look on us and hear us,
O Lord our God,
and help us to please you
as we do the work you have given to us.
As you have given the first act of will,
so give the completion of the work.
Give us strength to finish
what you have moved us to begin;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954

For the Sick and Suffering

O Christ our Lord,
Physician of salvation,
grant all who are sick the aid of heavenly healing.
Look on all faithful people who are sick
and who love to call on your name,
and take their souls into your keeping,
and deliver them from all sickness and infirmity;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954

For Sanctification

O Christ our God,
you will come to judge the world
in the humanity you have taken on yourself.
Sanctify us wholly,
that in the day of your coming
our whole spirit, soul, and body
may arise to a fresh life in you,
that we may live and reign with you forever,
to your honor and glory;
you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953. The New Ancient Collects, #54