Lord, I pray not for tranquility,
nor that my tribulations may cease;
I pray for your spirit and your love,
that you grant me strength
and grace to overcome adversity;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Source: Girolamo Savonarola
Source of this version: Modified from https://www.hymnary.org/hymn/UMH/531
Also found here: The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (November 2)
Lord God, let us keep your Scriptures in mind
and meditate on them day and night,
persevering in prayer, always on watch.
We beg you, Lord, to give us real knowledge of what we read,
and to show us not only how to understand it,
but how to put it into practice,
and to obtain spiritual gifts
enlightened by the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
whose power and glory will endure throughout all ages.
Amen.
Source: Origen of Alexandria
Source of this version: http://www.hebronpc.com/Cover.10.05.08.Bulletin%5B1%5D.pdf
Also found here: The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (July 12)
“Meditate on them day and night” is a reference to Psalm 1.
“Persevering in prayer” is a reference to Romans 12:12.
“Put it into practice” is a reference to James 1:22.
“Obtain spiritual gifts” in the original is “obtain spiritual graces.” In the ancient church, sometimes grace was understood as undeserved love, sometimes it was understood as a specific gift from God, or something that enables us to please him.
“Enlightened by the teaching” original is “enlightened by the law.”
Glorious God,
source of joy and righteousness,
enable us as redeemed and forgiven children
evermore to rejoice in singing your praises.
Grant that what we sing with our lips
we may believe in our hearts,
and what we believe in our hearts
we may practice in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: John Hunter, d. 1917
Source of this version: http://danwebs.com/chorg/prayers.html
Also found in A Lutheran Prayer Book, ed. Doberstein, © 1960 Muehlenberg Press, Philadelphia
Be present,
O merciful God,
and protect us
through the silent hours of his night,
so that we,
who are wearied by the changes
and chances of this fleeting world,
may rest upon your eternal changelessness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Source: An Ancient Collect, sixth century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
Praise and glory be to the omnipotence of the eternal Father, who in his Providence created the world out of nothing.
Praise and glory be to the wisdom of his only-begotten Son, who redeemed the world with his blood.
Praise and glory be to the loving kindness of the Holy Spirit, who enlightened the world in faith.
Praise and glory be to the holy and undivided Trinity, who formed us without our deserving it in their image.
We give praise and glory to you, most blessed Trinity, for the blessing of our creation, by which you granted us bodies and souls, you adorned us with your image and likeness, and added us to your Christian flock, making us sound and whole in our sense and in our members, above all the creatures who are beneath the heavens, and gave us your holy angels as our guides and ministers. For all this be pleased that we may praise you, world without end.
Source: Latin, 11th century
Source of this version: The Oxford Book of Prayer, ed. Appleton, © 1985, 1992
Also found here: https://prayers4reparation.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/a-medieval-prayer-of-thanks-and-praise-to-the-holy-trinity/
O God, in your loving kindness
you both begin and finish all good things;
grant that as we glory in the beginnings of your grace,
so we may rejoice in its completion;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Leonine Sacramentary, 440
Source of this version: Modified from http://womenofchristianity.com/page/2/
Also found here: Ancient Collects and Other Prayers, Ed. by W. Bright: J.H. & Jas. Parker, London, 1902, p. 92 #1
Also found here: Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 165 #2
O God Almighty,
who cleansed the lips of the prophet Isaiah with a burning coal:
Cleanse my heart and my lips.
So grant to cleanse me, of your mercy,
that I may be able to proclaim worthily your holy gospel:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Ambrose, d. 397
Source of this version: https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/trevinwax/2007/07/29/cleanse-me-so-i-can-preach/
Also quoted in The One Year Book of Personal Prayer, © 1991 Tyndale House Publishers (April 14)
The burning coal is a reference to Isaiah 6:6-7
Almighty God,
Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort:
deal graciously, we pray, with those who mourn,
that, casting all their care on you,
they may know the consolation of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Source: http://funeralhelper.org/prayer-almighty-god.html
Also found here: http://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/christian/death/prayer-for-those-who-mourn.aspx#hwckbYYCie2SB1v1.99
prayer for the dead in middle ages
prayers for the dead
O God, you are peace eternal.
Your gift is peace.
You have taught us
that your children will be called peacemakers.
Pour out your peace into our souls
that all discord may vanish away,
and that we may forever love and seek
the things that bring your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary (Also attributed to the Gelasian Sacramentary)
Source of this version: Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 82 #4, also in Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953.
Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you are faithful in all your words
and holy in all your works.
We do not know what we ought to pray for.
Grant that your Spirit may intercede for us,
sanctify us with his gifts here,
and crown us with blessedness
in the life to come;
through your mercy, O God,
blessed forevermore.
Amen.
Source: Mozarabic Sacramentary
Source of this version: Modified from A Lutheran Prayer Book, ed. Doberstein, © 1960 Muhlenberg Press, Philadelphia PA
Note: This prayer is based on Romans 8:26
Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.
A Collection of Prayers 
