Litany of Intercession

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

God, your ears are open to our prayers,
graciously help those for whom we pray.

Christ, hear us.

From all evil,
from all sin,
from all plots and assaults of the devil,
from the temptations and desires of the flesh,
from loneliness and despair,
from carelessness and neglect of duty,
from loss of courage and devotion,
from making a shipwreck of their faith,
from falling away from you, good Lord, deliver them.

By your coming to save humanity,
by your selfless service,
by your love for the weary and burdened,
by your healing touch for the sick,
by your invitation to all,
by your welcome to the sinner,
by your cross and passion,
by your victory,
by the might of your salvation, help them, good Lord.

Lover of humanity,
in all their trouble,
in all their needs,
in their last hour,
and in the day of judgment, help them, good Lord.

We poor sinners pray, hear us, Lord God.

To grant them your guidance and protection,
to keep them pure in thought, word and action,
to guard their lives and souls,
to make them victorious soldiers of the cross,
to hold them steadfast in their allegiance to our country,
to be their protection in danger,
to be their refreshment in hardship,
to be their comfort in suffering,
to be their companion in weary and lonely hours,
to make them gentle and lovers of their neighbors,
and in the hours of trial, keep them in the palm of your hand,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

To preserve our country at all times, in times of peril, peace or prosperity,
to direct and protect our president, his counsellors and all in authority,
to foster in our hearts reverence for the law of the land,
to uphold our armed forces,
to grant victory to every righteous cause for which our nation is contending,
to unite our nation as one in loyalty and faithful devotion,
to turn all humanity to your cross,
and to fill all hearts with love for you,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

To see and protect all who are in danger, need and trouble,
to protect all who travel by land, sea or air,
to comfort and heal the wounded,
to alleviate and shorten the pains of the dying,
to free the captives,
to protect and provide for the orphans and widows,
to overthrow humanity’s inhumanity,
to bless and strengthen all who serve their neighbors,
and to have mercy on all people,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

To forgive our enemies,
to turn their hearts that they may cease their enmity,
to turn their hearts and ours that we may walk together in humility and peace,
to quickly restore just and lasting peace to all nations,
and to graciously hear our prayers,
we humbly pray, hear us good Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we pray, hear us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace.

O Christ, hear us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. 

Our Father…

Let us humble ourselves before God and implore the Father Almighty,
he graciously hears all who call on him, and does not forsake those who trust in him.

How great is your compassion, Lord. You protect the captives, you pity the wretched and afflicted, you are patient with sinners, you comfort those who wander, you lift up the oppressed, and you hear those who pray. Give to those who have not. Forgive the sinners. Convert people that they call on your name. Holy and merciful God, move our hearts to mercy, just as you have showered mercy on us, and hear our prayers through the merits of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us bring our brothers and sisters who are in need before the throne of mercy.
May God, whose love never fails, grant them his blessing.

Lord, look down from heaven, see, visit, and relieve your servants, for whom our we pray. Look on them with mercy. Give them comfort and confidence in you. Preserve them from the temptations of the enemy, and keep them in constant peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us pray that our Lord, the Prince of Peace, may establish his reign in every heart.
Let his kingdom come and his will be done.

Eternal Father, by sending your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, you proclaimed peace to the world, and by shedding his blood on the cross, he opened the way for all humanity to find peace with you. Hold the cross high that every eye may see. Kindle every heart with your Spirit that all may follow Christ’s example and be zealous to serve you, that peace may fill every heart and govern the nations of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Source: 16th century Kirchenordnung, the Church Book, in Oremus, 1925, ed. by Paul Zeller Strodach, freeely modified.

For the Sick and Suffering

O Christ our Lord,
Physician of salvation,
grant all who are sick the aid of heavenly healing.
Look on all faithful people who are sick
and who love to call on your name,
and take their souls into your keeping,
and deliver them from all sickness and infirmity;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Liturgy

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954

 

Mozarabic, ad.

Prayer for Flood Victims, August 2018

Gracious Father, you sit above the highest heavens. Wind and weather are in your hands, and you work all things for the good of those who love you. We pray for those whose homes and communities have been damaged by the storms and flooding in the past week. Keep them safe. Provide for their needs. Move others to offer help and be channels of your blessings. We pray also for our WELS Christian Aid and Relief, that it may help those who have suffered losses and give witness of our love for Christ by reaching out to the needs of our neighbors. Calm all anxious thoughts with your promise that even in losses, nothing can separate your people from your love which is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, 2018

“…the storms and flooding…” may be changed for some other natural disaster.

“…in the past week…” may be changed to fit any time frame.

“…our WELS Christian Aid and Relief” may be changed if there are other denominational or community organizations involved in recovery.

Subjects for Daily Intercession

[It is suggested that these should be taken after the General Subjects for each day.]

1. Special Persons: Relations, Friends, Benefactors, Bereaved

2. Special Claims: People, Needs, Obligations, Guilds, &c.

3, All whom I shall meet (or have met) today; all who pray for me or desire my prayers.

Remember, O Lord my God all your servants [whose names you know], pour on them all the riches of your mercy and give to all what they ask for in prayer, as it is beneficial for salvation.

Remember, O Lord, all those whose names I have not recalled through my ignorance or forgetfulness, or because of many distractions, for you know the name and condition of each one. You know each one from his mother’s womb.

For you, O Lord, are the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless, the healer of the sick, a shelter in the tempest, a refuge from the storm.

Be their all in all, for you are conscious of each one’s request and circumstances and need. Through the grace and mercy and loving-kindness of your only Son, with whom in the unity of the Holy and life-giving Spirit you are blessed and glorified now and forever.

Source: Modified from Sursum Corda: A Handbook of Intercession and Thanksgiving arranged by W. H. Frere and A. L. Illingworth,  1894, p. 41

In Your Great Mercy Set Us Free

comeuntomeO God,
you are the author of love,
and you love pure peace and affection.
Heal the diseases of all Christians who are sick,
and in your great mercy set free
all who are terrified by fears,
afflicted by poverty,
weary with trouble,
worn down by illness,
burdened with punishment,
and all prisoners and wanderers.
Show them your compassion daily,
lift them up, correct them,
and protect them.

Source: Gallican Sacramentary, freely modified from  Ancient Collects, ed. William Bright, p. 122#1. Also in  Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

 

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For Health and Healing

Almighty God,
you are the only source of health and healing.
In you there is calm,
and the only true peace in the universe.
Grant to each one of us your children
an awareness of your presence,
and give us perfect confidence in you.
In all pain and weariness and anxiety
teach us to yield ourselves to your never failing care,
knowing that your love and power surround us,
trusting in your wisdom and providence
to give us health and strength and peace
when your time is best;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: The Nazarene, Vols. 7-9, 1922

Original in traditional English:

Almighty God, who art the only source of health and healing, the spirit of calm and the central peace of the universe, grant to us Thy children, such a consciousness of Thy indwelling presence as may give us perfect confidence in Thee. In all pain and  weariness and anxiety may we throw ourselves upon Thy protecting care, that knowing ourselves fenced about by Thy loving omnipotence, we may permit Thee to give us health and strength and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Those in Sorrow and Affliction

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O heavenly Father,
your blessed Son Jesus Christ
wept at the grave of Lazarus his friend.
Look with compassion on those
who are now in sorrow and affliction.
Comfort them, O Lord, with the message of your grace.
Show them that all things
work together for good to those who love you;
and grant them always a sure trust and confidence
in your fatherly care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Modified from The Scottish Book of Common Prayer (1912), Burial of the Dead.

“all things work together for good to those who love you” is a reference to Romans 8:28

Original in traditional English:

O HEAVENLY Father, whose Blessed Son Jesus Christ did weep at the grave of Lazarus his friend: Look, we beseech thee, with compassion upon those who are now in sorrow and affliction; comfort them, O Lord, with thy gracious consolations; make them to know that all things work together for good to them that love thee; and grant them evermore sure trust and confidence in thy fatherly care; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

prayer for the dead in middle ages

prayers for the dead

For Those Who Suffer Injury by Accident

O God, our Father,
through your Son you reached out
to the sick and broken in body.
Mercifully reach those
who suffer injury of body
and anguish of mind
because of accident.*
By your Holy Spirit
direct them to pray to you
to heal their broken bodies,
so that they may also bring
their broken hearts
to be made whole by your grace
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Dr. H. D. Hoover (a minister and professor in The Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States and later in The United Lutheran Church in America, active around 1922).

Source of this version: Freely modified from Collects and Prayers for use in Church,  United Lutheran Church in America, 1935, #245

*the word accident can be replaced with something more specific if needed: violence, terrorism, etc.

The Medicine of Heavenly Grace

O God,
you always govern your creatures
with tender affection.
Hear our prayers
and graciously help your servant
who is suffering from bodily sickness.
Visit him with your salvation
and give him the medicine of heavenly grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Gelasian Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Benediction of a Parish House or Mission Room, Book of Offices, 1914

 

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Our Only Help in Time of Need

Prayer Book Bible Reading Book Of Common Prayer

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
our only help in time of need,
see, visit, and relieve your sick servant N.,
for whom our we pray.
Look on him with mercy,
comfort him with your goodness,
preserve him from the temptations of the enemy,
and give him patience under his affliction.
In your good time restore him to health
and enable him to lead the rest of his life
in your fear and to your glory,
and grant that he may dwell with you
in life everlasting;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from  The Order for Visitation of the Sick, U. S. Book of Common Prayer, 1928

This prayer combines two prayers from the Book of Common Prayer:

LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him in all danger, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FATHER of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need; We fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him, O Lord; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthen him, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus; that his sins may be done away by thy mercy, and his pardon sealed in heaven; through the same thy Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen