bible – A Collection of Prayers

Prayers Ancient Made Modern

The book Prayers Ancient and Modern was also published under the title Great Souls at Prayer. Mary Wilder Tileston made a revised edition in 1928 in which she removed about a quarter of the prayers from the 1897 edition and added newer prayers. This revision is based on the 1897 edition to give preference to ancient prayers. A few prayers resisted revision and even rewriting. Prayers from the 1928 edition were included as replacements, noted, and the originals are included in an appendix.

Devotional writing in the late 1800s was often very flowery and redundant. (“Why use one word when ten will do?”) Many wordings of prayers were reduced. Passive verbs were reworked to be active and resulted in stronger, more direct prayers.

Devotional writing in the late 1800s was often pietistic, with perfectionist theology, us for God language dominating, and God for us language often lacking.

All the prayers in this edition have been modified, some more freely than others. Most I revised in such a way that they remain direct quotes of the originals.

Some prayers were completely rewritten, and the resulting content may have some different themes than the original. This kind of revision is indicated with “Adapted from N.” in the attribution. Prayers so noted should not be considered direct quotes from the original authors.

In all the revision and overhauling, I tried to keep some of the language and spirit of the originals. Prayers Ancient and Modern is available and downloadable from Google Books and from Archive.org if readers wish to compare this book with the original.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern is offered here as a print book through Lulu, and without cost in EPUB, PDF, and DOCX formats.

As mentioned above, some of the prayers were rewritten or had extensive revision. Please remember to include “Adapted from N.” in any attribution.

Paul C. Stratman

In print, through Lulu, $22.00

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PDF, free. Download here.

DOCX, free. Download here.

Rite for the Presentation of Bibles to Children

The Bibles may be stacked on a table in front of the altar. The children gather around the table.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples. You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) and St. Paul wrote to Timothy, “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15).

Our God has given us his holy Word, both to be our guide through life and to show us his good, gracious and saving will. It is in the Bible’s message of the gospel that we meet our Savior Jesus Christ, hear his Word, and come to know God as a compassionate and gracious Father.

Let us pray.

Blessed Lord, you have given us your Holy Scriptures for our learning. May we so hear them, read, learn, and take them to heart, that being strengthened and comforted by your holy Word, we may cling to the blessed hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The minister places his hand on the Bibles and addresses the children:

So that this Word of God may be a lamp for your feet and a light for your path, we present these Bibles to you. Here is where God teaches us what he wants us to believe and do. Read the Scriptures so that the Word that is written with ink on paper may also be written in your hearts and minds, and be your guide for life, your comfort and your hope, in good times and in bad.

The minister hands the Bibles to the children.

May the Word of the Lord give you wisdom.
May it bring joy to your heart and light to your eyes.
May it instruct you in the fear of the Lord,
and guide you in his truth. (from Psalm 19)
Amen.

Source: Prepared for A Collection of Prayers, 2019

Scripture passages are quoted from The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. www.wartburgproject.org.

For more information on the Collect for the Word, “Blessed Lord, you have given us your holy Scriptures…” see https://acollectionofprayers.com/2016/06/20/collect-for-the-word/

Rite for the Disposition of an Old Bible

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
And also with you.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah.

A voice was saying, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry out?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like a wildflower in the countryside.
⁷Grass withers, flowers fade
when the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Yes, the people are grass.
⁸Grass withers, flowers fade,
but the Word of our God endures forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8 EHV)

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The old Bible is placed in a paper bag, and then carefully placed in a recycle bin.

Let us pray.

O Lord, your Word is eternal. Ink and paper are not. We send this Bible that is worn from use to be recycled, perhaps even to bear your Word again. Let your eternal Word remain in our hearts. Let it be the lamp for our feet, the light for our path, and the place where we find our Savior, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Go in peace. Serve the Lord with gladness.
Amen.

Source: A Collection of Prayers, 2019

The Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.

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.

Source: Luke 1:46-55 ESV

In the 1500s-1700s the Magnificat was sung to this tune among German Lutherans.

The Magnificat has been set music many times. Johann Sebastian Bach adapted that chant and wrote a cantata based on it.

Bach also wrote a major choral setting of the Magnificat:

The Magnificat is also a favorite text to be adapted / versified into the form of a hymn. Here is “Holy Is Your Name” with an anonymous text set to the Scottish folk tune “Wild Mountain Thyme.”

Canticle: Great Indeed Is the Mystery of Godliness (A Song of Christ’s Appearing)

The canticle Great Indeed Is the Mystery of Godliness (A Song of Christ’s Appearing) was used in the Roman Liturgy of the Hours in Evening Prayer on Transfiguration.

Great indeed is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

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.

Source: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, 1 Timothy 3:16

See https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/canticles/ntcanticles.aspx#63

Canticle: I Will Give Thanks

The Canticle “I Will Give Thanks” (Confiteor Tibi) is taken from Isaiah 12:1-6. In the 1979 Book of Common Prayer it was called The First Song of Isaiah, Ecce Deus.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

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.

Source: Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

The text of this canticle has been given a contemporary setting. The text is the translation in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

Text from the 1979 U. S. Book of Common Prayer (Episcopal) in Daily Morning Prayer, Rite Two.

9 The First Song of Isaiah Ecce, Deus
Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

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

Source: 1979 U.S. Book of Common Prayer.

Canticle: The Song of the Three Holy Children

The Song of the Three Holy Children or Benedicte is a canticle taken from the book of Daniel in the Apocrypha. (The Greek translation of Daniel contained material not in the original Hebrew.) In the Greek version after Daniel 3:23, the three children, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego recite or sing this song as they stand in the flames of Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,
bless the Lord, you heavens.
Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heaven,
bless the Lord, all powers.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon,
bless the Lord, stars of heaven.
Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,
bless the Lord, all winds.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat,
bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat.
Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
bless the Lord, ice and cold.
Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
bless the Lord, nights and days.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds.
Let the earth bless the Lord;
let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills,
bless the Lord, all that grows on the earth.
Bless the Lord, you springs,
bless the Lord, seas and rivers.
Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters,
bless the Lord, all birds of the air.
Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle,
Bless the Lord, you sons of men.
Bless the Lord, O Israel;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord,
bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous,
Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart.

Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

Source: The text of The Song of the Three Children, is taken from v. 35-65 The Apocrypha, Lutheran Edition with notes, see also Daniel 3:57-87 NRSV Catholic edition.

The Benedicte is sung on various occasions in the Roman rite, especially as a thanksgiving after Mass. Here is a Gregorian chant of the Benedicte in Latin.

British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams composed a setting for the English text:

The hymn “Earth and All Stars” seems to be based partly on “The Song of the Three Holy Children” and partly on Psalm 148.

Canticle: Christ Suffered for You (A Song of Christ the Servant)

The canticle Christ Suffered for You (A Song of Christ the Servant) is used in the Roman Liturgy of the Hours in later Evening Prayer on Sundays in Lent.

Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example,
so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin,
neither was deceit found in his mouth.
When he was reviled,
he did not revile in return;
when he suffered,
he did not threaten,
but continued entrusting himself
to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.

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.

Source: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, 1 Peter 2:21-24

and https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/canticles/ntcanticles.aspx#66

Canticle: Alleluia! Salvation and Glory (A Song of the Lamb)

The canticle Alleluia! Salvation and Glory (A Song of the Lamb) is used in the Roman Liturgy of the Hours in Evening Prayer on Sundays.

Alleluia!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, Alleluia!
for his judgments are true and just; Alleluia!

Alleluia!
Praise our God, all you his servants, Alleluia!
you who fear him, small and great. Alleluia!

Alleluia!
For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Alleluia!
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, Alleluia!

Alleluia!
for the marriage of the Lamb has come, Alleluia!
and his Bride has made herself ready; Alleluia!

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.

Source: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, from Revelation 19:1-7

and https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/canticles/ntcanticles.aspx#72

This canticle has some material in common with the canticle Dignus est agnus.

Canticle: Though He Was in the Form of God (The Song of Christ’s Glory)

The canticle Though He Was in the Form of God (The Song of Christ’s Glory) was used in the Roman Liturgy of the Hours in Evening Prayer on Saturdays.

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

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.

Source: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, Philippians 2:6-11

and https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/texts/daily2/canticles/ntcanticles.aspx#61