O God, the Son of God–
so loving, yet hated–
so patient, yet beaten and killed–
and gentle and merciful to your persecutors;
by the the wounds of your passion
you have forgiven our sins.
As in your humiliation
you suffered death for us,
so now, in your glory,
bestow on us the everlasting brightness
of your grace.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Liturgy
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts
O Lord Jesus Christ,
good Shepherd of the sheep,
you came to seek the lost
and gather them to your fold.
Have compassion on those who have wandered from you.
Feed those who hunger,
make the weary lie down in your pastures,
bind up those who are broken in heart,
and strengthen those who are weak,
that we rely on your care,
find comfort in your love,
and abide in your guidance to our lives’ end;
for your name’s sake.
Amen.
Source: An Ancient Collect, Sixth Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts
Almighty God,
our heavenly Father,
you have committed to your holy Church
the care and nurture of your children.
Enlighten with your wisdom
those who teach and those who learn,
that rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth,
they may worship you
and serve you
from generation to generation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the Good Shepherd,
and you call your own by name.
Let people everywhere hear your voice
and follow you on the path of life,
that so there may be one flock,
and one Shepherd;
to the honor and glory of your name.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.
This prayer references John 10
“and follow you on the path of life” in A Book of Collects the line is given as “and follow thee into the abundant life.”
Picture: St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church, Ashfield, New South Wales. Wikimedia Commons
Almighty God,
you sent your Son from heaven
to be the Bread of Life.
Grant that when we come to him
we never hunger,
and believing in him
we never thirst,
and by remaining in him and he in us,
we may have eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.
This prayer references John 6
Graphic: Jesus Feeding the Multitude from Wikimedia Commons
O Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the Light of the world.
Enlighten our hearts with the brightness of your glory,
and guide our feet into the way of peace,
to the honor of your holy name.
Source: Freely modified from A Book of Collects in Two Parts, John Wallace Suter and John Wallace Suter, Jr., Milwaukee: Morehouse Publishing, 1919.
This prayer references John 8, Hebrews 1, Luke 1
Graphic: Christus Pantocrator in the apsis of the cathedral of Cefalù, Wikipedia
O God,
you looked on man when he had fallen to death,
and resolved to redeem him
by giving your only Son.
Grant that all who confess his glorious incarnation
may also be admitted to the fellowship of him, their Redeemer;
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Ambrose
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.)
“by giving your only Son” is a reference to John 3:16
Father,
give completeness to beginners,
understanding to the little ones,
and help to those who are running their course.
Give sorrow to the negligent,
fervor to the lukewarm,
and to the mature a true humility,
for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Iranaeus of Lyon
Source of this version: Composite, mostly from Prayers of the Early Church, ed. J. Manning Potts, The Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee, © 1953 (Public domain in the U.S.) and Glimpses of the Divine: A Spiritual Anthology for Use on Every Day of the Year, Cyril Bulley, Sussex Academic Press, 1994
“and to the mature, a true humility,” most translations render this line “and a good consummation to the perfect” Glimpses of the Divine has “and to the perfect a true humility.”
O Lord,
cleanse us from our secret faults,
and mercifully forgive us from our willful sins,
that we may receive your holy things with a pure mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary.
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.)
“cleanse us from our secret faults” is a reference to Psalm 19:12-13
Lord,
give us a spirit
to always think and do what is right.
Since we cannot do anything good without you,
empower us to live according to your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary.
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.)
Original in Latin:
Largire nobis, quaesumus, Domine, semper spiritum cogitandi quae recta sunt, propitius et agendi: ut, qui sine te esse non possumus, secundum te vivere valeamus.
This prayer also appears in Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 298.
O Herr, wir bltten, gib uns allezeit gnadiglich einen Geist zu gedenken und zu thun, was recht ist, auf daß wir, die wir ohne dich nicht sei können, nach dir auch leben mögen, durch Jesum Christum unsern Herrn, der mit dir in vereinigter Gottheit des heiligen Geistes lebet und regieret immer und ewiglich, Amen.
