May the infinite and glorious Trinity,
the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit,
direct our life in good works,
and after our passage through this world,
grant to us eternal rest with the righteous.
Grant this, O eternal and almighty God.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Liturgy
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts
May God,
who sees all things,
and who is the Ruler of all spirits
and the Lord of all the living—
who chose our Lord Jesus Christ,
and through him chose us to be a people for his own possession—
grant to every soul that calls on his glorious and holy name,
faith, peace, patience, long-suffering,
self-control, purity, and sobriety,
to the glory of his name,
through our High Priest and Protector,
+ Jesus Christ, to whom be glory,
and majesty, and power, and honor,
both now and forever.
Amen.
Source: Clement of Rome (c. 96)
From a longer prayer in Clement’s epistle to the Corinthians.
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.)
“chose us to be a people for his own possession” is a reference to 1 Peter 2:9
The eternal and ever-blessed Father,
source of all light and life,
so fill us with his grace and heavenly benediction,
that + Christ who is the brightness of his glory
may dwell in us, and we in him,
both now and evermore.
Amen.
Source: Modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.
O Lord, open your heavens;
from there may your gifts descend to him.
Put forth your own hand and touch his head.
May he feel the touch of your hand,
and receive the joy of the Holy Spirit,
that he may remain blessed for evermore.
Amen.
Source: Æthelwold of Winchester, c. 908-984
Source of this version: Modified from http://www.dsbc.org.uk/downloads/June_2012_MAGAZINE_seq.pdf
Also found in Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, p. 41
Included in Prayers from the Ancient Celtic Church, © 2018, Paul C. Stratman
God the Father bless me,
Christ guard me,
the Holy Spirit enlighten me,
all the days of my life!
The Lord be the defender and guardian
of my soul and my body, now and ever! Amen.
The right hand of the Lord preserve me always to old age!
The grace of Christ perpetually defend me from the enemy!
Direct, Lord, my heart into the way of peace.
Hasten to save me, O God!
O Lord, come quickly to help me!
Source: The Book of Cerne
Source of this version: Modified from http://assets.newscriptorium.com/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm
Included in Prayers from the Ancient Celtic Church, © 2018, Paul C. Stratman
“Hasten…” is a reference to Psalm 70:1
Original in Latin:
Benedicat me deus pater
custodiat me christus
inluminet me spiritus sanctus
omnibus diebus vitae meae
Sit dominus defensor
Atttque custus animi mei et corporis mei et nunc et semper
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
dextera me domini conseruet semper ein aevum.
Direge domine cor meum in viam pacis.
…
Domine Deus in adjutorium meum intende domine ad adivuan meum adnuntiavit laudem tuam.
Prayer Book of Aedeluald the Bishop, Commonly Called the Book of Cerne, p. 101-102.
Illustration from the Book of Cerne, Cambridge University Library, wikipedia.com
May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us
against the snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.
May Christ be with us.
Christ before us.
Christ in us.
Christ over us.
May your salvation, O Lord,
be always ours
this day and forever more.
Source: St. Patrick, from “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”
Source of this version: http://www.oursanctuary.net/breastplate.html
May the Father,
who created all things in the beginning, bless you.
May the + Son of God heal you.
May the Holy Spirit enlighten you,
guard your body, save your soul,
direct your thoughts,
and bring you safe to the heavenly country,
where he lives and reigns,
God, in a perfect Trinity,
forever and ever.
Source: Sarum Rite
Source of this version: Modified from Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 193 #2
Graphic: Model of Old Sarum (Salisbury) Cathedral, Wikipedia.com
Great One who inhabits the heights
imprint your blessing always,
remember the child of my heart,
in name of the Father of peace,
when the messenger of the King
on him puts the water of meaning,
grant him the blessing of the Three
who fill the heights.
The blessing of the Three
who fill the heights.
Sprinkle down on him your grace,
give him virtue and growth,
give him strength and guidance,
give him flocks and possessions,
sense and reason void of guile,
angel wisdom in his day,
and he will stand clothed in Christ
in your presence.
He will stand clothed in Christ
in your presence.
Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 115. English translation modified.
Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 114
“He will stand clothed in Christ” in the original is “that he may stand without reproach.”
God bless the house,
From site to stay,
From beam to wall,
From end to end,
From ridge to basement,
From balk to roof beam,
From found to summit,
Found and summit.
Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 105. English translation modified.
Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.104
Thanks to you, Holy Father of glory,
Father kind, ever loving, ever powerful,
because of all the abundance, favor, and deliverance
that you bestow on us in our need.
Whatever providence befalls us as your children,
in our portion, in our lot, in our path,
seal it to us with the rich gifts of your hand
and the joyous blessing of your mouth.
We are guilty and polluted, O God,
in spirit, in heart, and in flesh,
in thought, in word, in act,
we are hard in sin in your sight.
Put forth to us the power of your love,
leap over the mountains of our transgressions,
and wash us in the true blood of reconciliation,
like the snow of the mountain, like the lily of the lake.
In the steep path of our common calling,
be it easy or uneasy to our flesh,
be it bright or dark for us to follow,
your own perfect guidance be on us.
Be a shield to us from the wiles of the deceiver,
from the arch-destroyer with his arrows pursuing us,
and in each secret thought our minds get to weave,
be yourself on our helm and at our sail.
Though dogs and thieves would raid us from the fold,
be the strong Shepherd of glory near us.
whatever matter or cause or propensity,
that would bring to us grief, or pains, or wounds,
or that would bear witness against us at the last,
on the other side of the great river of dark shadows,
Oh! obscure it from our eyes,
and from our hearts drive it for ever.
Now to the Father who created each creature,
now to the Son who paid ransom for his people,
now to the Holy Spirit, Comforter of might:
shield and bless us from every wound,
be about the beginning and end of our race,
be giving us to sing in glory,
in peace, in rest, in reconciliation,
where we shall shed no tear, where we shall die no more…
where we shall shed no tear, where we shall die no more.
Source: Kenneth the Carpenter, written down by Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, (1889) Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 23, 25. English translation modified.
Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 22
A Collection of Prayers 
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