ambrosian – A Collection of Prayers

Litany Prayer for Ash Wednesday 1

Pleasant is this present life, and it passes;
Christ, your Judgment is awesome, and it prevails.
Therefore let us forsake uncertain love, and think of your infinite holiness, crying:
Lord, have mercy on us.

“Come, and return to me,” says the Lord.
Come, let us explore and examine our ways. Let us return to the Lord and say:
You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Source: Ambrosian Manual, ii. 119, 120, shortened. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

Reference to Lamentations 3:40 added.

You Stretched Out Your Hands on the Cross

800px-mathis_gothart_grc3bcnewald_007 Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your hands on the cross
and you redeemed us by your blood.
Forgive me, a sinner,
for none of my thoughts are hidden from you.
Pardon I ask,
pardon I hope for,
pardon I trust to have.
Your heart is full of pity and mercy.
Spare and forgive me.

Source: Ambrosian, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 44#2

Original in traditional English:

Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst stretch out Thine hands on the Cross, and redeem us by Thy blood, forgive me, a sinner, for none of my thoughts are hid from Thee. Pardon I ask, pardon I hope for, pardon I trust to have. Thou Who art pitiful and merciful, spare and forgive me.

Help Us Patiently Wait for Your Light

Merciful Lord,
Comforter and Teacher of your faithful people,
increase in your Church the desires you have given.
Strengthen the hearts of those who hope in you,
and show them the depth of your promises.
Lead all your adopted children to see with the eyes of faith,
and help them wait patiently for the light that is now hidden;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Ambrosian, freely modified from Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 76.4.

An Epiphany Prayer

bartolomc3a9_esteban_murillo_-_adoration_of_the_magi_-_google_art_project O Lord,
enlighten your people,
and ever kindle their hearts
with the splendor of your grace,
that the nativity of the Savior of the world,
once shown by a star,
may ever more and more be revealed to our minds;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Ambrosian Rite

Source of this version: Modified from A Book of Prayers: Together with Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Ancient and Modern, Ed. Charles Leffingwell, Morehouse Publishing Company, 1921, p. 93 #4