collect – Page 14 – A Collection of Prayers

May We Pursue Your Promises without Stumbling

Almighty and eternal God,
it is by your gifts alone
that your faithful people perform
true and praiseworthy service.
Grant that we may pursue your promises without stumbling;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Leonine Sacramentary, 6th-7th Century, Historic Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Give Us Strength

Lord,
give your people strength
to withstand the temptations of the devil,
that with pure hearts and minds
we follow you, the only God;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

May Our Fruit Endure to Eternal Life

O Lord of the harvest,
grant that those you call to serve in your holy Church
may always abound in your work,
and that the fruit of their labors
may endure to eternal life;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 48 #1 (Ember Days in Autumn)

May We Ask for and Receive What Pleases You

O Lord,
let your merciful ears be open
to the prayers of your humble servants.
Teach us to ask for what pleases you,
that we may receive what we ask for;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Increase in Us Faith, Hope, and Love

Almighty and eternal God,
increase in us faith, hope, and love.
Lead us to love what you command
so that we may obtain what you promise;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Leonine Sacramentary, 6th-7th Century, Historic Collect for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Prayer for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O Lord,
you love unity
and dwell in the hearts of those who are peaceful.
Give all your faithful people
true peace and mutual love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 35 #3 (Trinity 17)

“dwell in the hearts…” is a reference to Ephesians 3:17 and Colossians 3:16

“unity” may be a reference to Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:13 and 1 Peter 3:8

May Your Grace Precede and Follow Us

Lord,
we pray that your grace
may always go before
and follow after us,
that we may be always be ready
to do your good works;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Gregorian Sacramentary, 6th Century, Historic Collect for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Cleanse and Defend Us

O Lord,
in your continual mercy
cleanse and defend your Church.
Because we cannot continue in safety without you,
always help and guide us;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

Pour Your Love into Our Hearts

O God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as surpass our understanding.
Pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we may love you above all things,
and lead us by faith to your eternal promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.

You Are Always Ready to Hear

Almighty and eternal God,
you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray,
and to give more than we ask or deserve.
Pour down on us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Gelasian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

This translation is licensed by Paul C. Stratman under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Please contact for permission for any commercial use.