Tag: augustine

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Blessed are all your saints, my God and King,
who have travelled over the tempestuous sea of mortality,
and have at last made the desired port of peace and happiness.
Be gracious to us who are still in our dangerous voyage.
Remember and help us in our distress,
and remember those who are exposed
to the rough storms of troubles and temptations.
Strengthen our weakness,
that we may fight valiantly in this spiritual war.
Help us fight against our own negligence and cowardice,
and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts.
We are very frail,
and unable to carry out any virtuous and gallant undertaking.
Grant, O Lord, that we may bring our vessel safe to shore,
to our desired haven. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

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

 

O God, our true Life,
in whom and by whom all things live,
you command us to seek you,
and you are ready to be found.
You command us to knock,
and open when we do so.
To know you is life,
to serve you is freedom,
to enjoy you is a kingdom,
to praise you is the joy and happiness of the soul.
I praise, bless, and adore you,
I worship you, I glorify you, I give thanks to you for your great glory.
I humbly ask you to remain with me,
to reign in me,
to make my heart your holy temple,
a fit habitation for your Divine majesty.
Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible,
preserve the work of your own hands,
your people who trust in your mercy alone for safety and protection.
Guard me with the power of your grace,
here and in all places,
now and at all times, forevermore. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

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

 

Most merciful God,
descend into my soul,
which you prepared for your reception
by the desire you breathed into it.
Before ever I cried to you,
you, most Merciful,
you called and sought me,
that I might find you,
and finding you, love you.
Even so I sought and found you, Lord,
and desire to love you.
Increase my desire,
and grant me what I ask.
See, I love you, but too little.
Strengthen my love.
When my spirit aspires to you,
and meditates on your unspeakable goodness,
the burden of the flesh becomes less heavy,
the tumult of thought is stilled,
the weight of mortality is less oppressive.
Then my soul would find wings,
and my spirit rise in tireless flight
upwards to your glorious throne,
and there be filled with the refreshing solace
that belongs to the citizens of heaven. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

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

 

O holy and unspeakable,
wonderful and mighty God,
your power and wisdom have no end.
Before you all powers tremble,
at your glance the heavens and the earth flee away.
You are Love,
you are my Father,
and I will love and worship you forever and ever!

You have shown pity on me,
and a ray from your light has shone on mine inward eye.
Guide me into the perfect light,
that it may illumine me wholly,
and that all darkness may flee away.
Let the holy flame of your love
burn in my heart that it be made pure,
and I may see you, O God.
It is the pure in heart who see you.
You have set me free.
You have drawn me to you.
Therefore forsake me not,
but keep me always in your grace.
Guide me, rule me, and perfect me for your kingdom. Amen.

Source: Augustine of Hippo

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

 

Grant me, even me, my dearest Lord,
to know you, and love you, and rejoice in you.
And, if I cannot do these perfectly in this life,
let me at least advance to higher degrees every day,
until I can come to do them in perfection.
Let the knowledge of you increase in me here,
that it may be full hereafter.
Let the love of you grow every day more and more here,
that it may be perfect hereafter;
that my joy may be full in you.
I know, O God, that you are a God of truth,
O make good your gracious promises to me,
that my joy may be full;
to your honor and glory,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign,
one God, 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