epiphany (season) – A Collection of Prayers

Enlighten Our Darkened Hearts

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously opened the eyes of the blind
through your Son Christ Jesus,
and have let us poor sinners see your light.
Enlighten our darkened hearts
so that we may rightly learn and know Christ your Son,
who died on the cross for us,
and was counted guilty of our sins.
May we see your gracious help and mercy
in all our needs and afflictions,
and may we seek that help
through faithful prayer
and find our comfort and defense against the devil,
and finally be delivered in death.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Quinqagesima

This revision/translation of The Collects of Veit Dietrich 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 Faith to Overcome Our Weakness

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in your special love and mercy
you gave us your Son
who became truly human
and died on the cross for us.
Pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that we may put all our trust in him,
just as the Centurion believed
that Christ would help his sick servant,
may we be assured
of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.
We have your Word:
“Whoever believes in me will never see death.”
Dear Father in heaven,
grant that we may believe with no doubts in our hearts,
and remain in the faith until our last hour.

Almighty and eternal God,
mercifully look on our weaknesses,
and in all dangers and needs
defend us with your power against our enemies;
through Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Epiphany 3.

You Have Established the Christian Home among Us

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in your mercy you have established
the Christian home among us.
Rule and direct our hearts,
that we may be good examples to children
and not offend them by Word or deed,
but faithfully teach them to love your Church
and hear your blessed Word.
Give them your Spirit and grace,
that this seed may bring forth good fruit,
so that our home life may lead others
to your glory, honor, and praise,
to our own improvement and welfare
and give offense to no one;
through your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Epiphany 1

For the World

Almighty and eternal God,
you are the brightness of the faithful.
You have made this day holy
by the first-fruits of the chosen Gentiles.
Fill the world with your glory
and show yourself by the radiance of your light
to the nations that are subject to you;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Source: Gregory the Great
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

On the Lord’s Day

O Lord Almighty,
you have created the world by Christ,
and have commanded us to remember the Sabbath,
to rest from our works,
and to meditate on your Word.
We[1] have also appointed festivals that bring joy to our souls,
to remember that Wisdom, your only Son,
who submitted to be born of a woman for us.
He appeared in life,
and showed himself in his baptism.
He appeared as both God and man.
He suffered for us according to your will,
and died,
and rose again by your power.
To remember and proclaim this,
we solemnly celebrate the feast of the resurrection on the Lord’s Day,
and rejoice in him who has conquered death,
and has brought life and immortality to light. Amen.

Source: Apostolic Constitutions

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

[1] Original: “Thou hast also appointed festivals”

Prayer for Sexagesima

O God,
you so loved the world
that you gave your only Son
to reconcile the earthly with the heavenly;
Move us to love you above all things,
that we love our friends in you,
and our enemies for you;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 21 #2 (Sexagesima)

“O God, you so loved the world…” is a reference to John 3:16

“to reconcile the earthly with the heavenly” is a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 1:20

“Move us to love you above all things” is a reference to Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27

Prayer for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

O God,
author of peace,
may we be so held in the bonds of love,
that those who are peaceful may remain in peace,
and that those who differ may be reconciled by your mercy;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 20 #3 (Epphany 6)

“may we be so held in the bonds of love” may be a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:14

Prayer for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Only Son of God the Father,
you took on yourself our nature to save the world,
and by humbling yourself
you opened the way to Paradise again to fallen humanity;
Wash away our iniquities, cleanse us from our sins,
that we may be imitate you as dearly loved children;
through your mercy,
O our God, you are blessed,
and live and govern all things,
now and forever.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 20 #2 (Epiphany 5)

“Only Son of God the Father” is a reference to John 1:14, John 3:16, John 3:18

“you took on yourself our nature…humbling yourself” is a reference to Philippians 2:8

“Wash away our iniquities” is a reference to Psalm 51:2

“that we may be imitate you as dearly loved children” is a reference to Ephesians 5:1

Let the Light of Your Gospel Shine on Us

veit-dietrich O merciful and eternal God, heavenly Father, we thank you for revealing to us the glory of your Son and letting the light of your gospel shine on us. Guide us by this light that we may walk diligently as Christians in all good works, always be strengthened by your grace and conduct our lives in all godliness; through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Veit Dietrich

Source of this version: Freely modified from The Lutheran Hymnary, 1913,http://olcc.us/liturgical-resources/collects-veit-dietrich/ (Epiphany 6)

Prayer for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

O Lord our Strength,
increase in us a true love of your holy name,
that we trust in your grace,
fear no earthly evil,
set our hearts on no earthly good,
and finally rejoice in your full salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 20 #1 (Epiphany 4)

“O Lord our Strength” is a reference to Psalm 28:7, possibly also to Psalm 46:1

“set our hearts on no earthly good” is a reference to Colossians 3:2

“rejoice in your full salvation” is a reference to Psalm 13:5, Psalm 35:9, Psalm 51:12, Psalm 95:1,