Evening Prayers – Page 6 – A Collection of Prayers

The Soul’s Cry

CelticCapital18

O Jesu! tonight,
O Shepherd of the poor,
O sinless One,
you suffered full sore,
by ban of the wicked,
and were crucified.

Save me from evil,
save me from harm,
save my body,
sanctify me tonight,
O Jesu, tonight,
nor leave me.

Endow me with strength,
Herdsman of might,
guide me aright,
guide me in your strength.
O Jesu! in your strength
preserve me.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 71. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.70

The Gifts of the Three

CelticCapital14 Spirit, give me of your abundance,
Father, give me of your wisdom,
Son, give me in my need,
Jesus beneath the shelter of your shield.

I lie down tonight,
with the Triune of my strength,
with the Father,
with Jesus,
with the Spirit of might.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 75. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.74

Place your right hand, O God, under my head, CelticCapital12
place your light, O Spirit, over me shining,
and let the cross of the good Savior cover me now,
from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet,
from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet.

O Jesu without offence, crucified cruelly,
under ban of the wicked you were scourged,
for many evils done by me in the body,
that I cannot this night enumerate,
that I cannot this night enumerate.

O good King of the blood of truth,
cast me not from your covenant,
exact not from me for my transgressions,
nor omit me in your numbering,
nor omit me in your numbering.

Place the cross of Jesu over me in peace,
let my soul dwell in the truth, let my heart be free of guile,
let my soul be in peace with you, Brightness of the mountains,
valiant Savior, accompany my soul,
morn and eve, day and night. May it be so.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 67. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 66

Several lines of this prayer were altered to keep the prayer Christ-centered.

Desires

May I speak each day according to your justice, CelticCapital10
each day may I show your discipline, O God,
may I speak each day according to your wisdom,
each day and night may I be at peace with you.

Each day may I count the causes of your mercy,
may I each day give heed to your Word,
each day may I compose to you a song,
may I harp each day your praise, O God.

May I each day give love to you, Jesu,
each night may I do the same,
each day and night, dark and light,
may I laud your goodness to me, O God.

Source: Unknown Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 51. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 50

A Prayer

O God, CelticCapital5
in my deeds,
in my words,
in my wishes,
in my reason,
and in the fulfilling of my desires,
in my sleep,
in my dreams,
in my repose,
in my thoughts,
in my heart and soul always,
may the promised Branch of glory dwell.
Oh! in my heart and soul always,
may the fragrant Branch of glory dwell.

Source: Kenneth the Carpenter, written down by Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, (1889) Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 27. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 26

Note: The closing lines, “May the promised Branch of glory…” were altered so that the prayer is Christ-centered with the emphasis on “the promised Branch of glory,” a reference to Isaiah 4:2 and Isaiah 11:1.

God with Me Lying Down

CelticCapital3 God with me lying down,
God with me rising up,
God with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without him,
Nor one ray without him.

Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
Every day and night,
Each day and night.

God with me protecting,
The Lord with me directing,
The Spirit with me strengthening,
Forever and forevermore,
Ever and evermore, Amen.
Chief of chiefs, Amen.

Source: Mary Macrae, Isle of Harris (1866), Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 5

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 4

Let the Brightness of Your Glory Shine

Almighty God,
let the brightness of your glory shine on us,
and let the Light from Light by your Holy Spirit
shine in the hearts of all who have been born again by your grace;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Roman Mass for the Vigil of Pentecost

Original in Latin:

PRÆSTA, quæsumus, omnipotens Deus, ut claritatis tuæ super nos splendor effulgeat; et lux tuæ lucis corda eorum, qui per gratium tuam renati sunt, Sancti Spiritus illustratione confirmet. Per Dominum.

“let the brightness of your glory shine on us” may be a reference to Numbers 6:25 and Psalm 67:1

“Light from Light” is a reference to the Nicene Creed, and is referring to Jesus Christ

“shine in the hearts of all is a reference to 2 Corinthians 4:6

“let the brightness of your glory shine on us” may have been the source of the lines from Luther’s hymn, “Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord,”

“Lord, by the brightness of your light
In holy faith your church unite”

To God Be Glory

To God be glory,
to the angels honor,
to Satan confusion,
to the cross reverence,
to the church exaltation,
to the departed quickening,
to the penitent acceptance,
to the prisoners release,
to the sick and infirm,
recovery and healing,
and to the four quarters of the world
great peace and tranquility.
And also on us who are weak and sinful
may the compassion and mercies of our adorable God come,
and may they overshadow us, and be poured forth,
and remain firm and reign continually.
Christ + the hope of our nature,
now and at all times,
and forever and ever. Amen.

Source: East Syrian Church, Monday Vespers

Source of this version: East Syrian Daily Office, translated and edited by Arthur John Maclean, Rivingtom, Percival & Co., London, 1894, p. 20

Keep Us From All Hurtful Things

In the evening and morning and noonday
we praise you, we thank you, and we pray:
Master of all,
let our prayers rise before you as incense.
Do not let our hearts turn away
to words or thoughts of wickedness,
but keep us from all things that might hurt us;
for our eyes look to you, O Lord,
and our hope is in you.
Do not let us be ashamed, O our God;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Eastern Church Vespers

Also found in Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, ed. William Bright, 1902, p. 9 #1

“Let our prayers rise before you as incense ” is a reference to Psalm 141:2

“Our hope is in you” is a reference to Psalm 25:5

“Do not let us be ashamed” is a reference to Psalm 25:20

Let Your Right Hand Guard uUs

Lord Jesus Christ,
keeper and preserver of all things,
let your right hand guard us by day and by night,
when we sit at home,
and when we walk abroad,
when we lie down
and when we rise up,
that we may be kept from all evil,
and have mercy upon us sinners.
Amen.

Source: Nerses of Clajes (St. Nerses I)

Tag: Evening Prayers