lent – A Collection of Prayers

…And Forgive Us

We cry to you, Lord, have mercy on us,
and forgive us.

King of Heaven and eternal Lord, receive the prayer we pour out before you,
and forgive us.

Visit the sick, release the captives, help the widow and the orphan,
and forgive us.

We have sinned and have turned from you. Redeemer of all, save us,
and forgive us.

Have mercy on the penitent, and wash away the stains of sin,
and forgive us.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 166. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

Litany of Repentance

Christ, pitying Redeemer of souls, listen to the sighing of those who mourn,
and have mercy.

Lord, hear to your Church, and grant forgiveness to all we pray for,
and have mercy.

Remember that we are but dust and will return again to the earth. Refashion us for good,
and have mercy.

Forgive the sinner, restore captives to their country, and answer the prayers of all,
and have mercy.

Forgive our guilt, forgive our sins, forgive the debts of all, to all grant pardon,
and have mercy.

Source: Mozarabic Breviary, 418, Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

Lord Jesus Christ,
because of your love for humanity
you took on yourself the form of a servant,
although you are our Lord.
You walk like a wounded man,
although you are our Physician.
Raise us from our falls,
enlighten our blindness,
and loosen the chains of sins that have bound us;
you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Leofric Missal, 182, shortened. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

Litany Prayer for Ash Wednesday 1

Pleasant is this present life, and it passes;
Christ, your Judgment is awesome, and it prevails.
Therefore let us forsake uncertain love, and think of your infinite holiness, crying:
Lord, have mercy on us.

“Come, and return to me,” says the Lord.
Come, let us explore and examine our ways. Let us return to the Lord and say:
You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Source: Ambrosian Manual, ii. 119, 120, shortened. Freely modified from Devotions from Ancient and Medieval Sources (Western), ed. Rev. Charles Plummer, 1916.

Reference to Lamentations 3:40 added.

Give Us Highest Comfort in Your Grace

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in your fatherly grace you did not spare you only Son
but gave him up to death on the cross.
Pour your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that we may find our highest comfort in your grace.
Protect us from temptations to sin more,
and help us patiently bear whatever hardships may come,
so that through him we may have eternal life.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 6 / Palm Sunday

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 Comfort that We Will Never See Death

Lord God, heavenly Father,
your dear Son, our Redeemer Christ Jesus said,
‘Whoever remains in my word will never see death.’
Pour out your Holy Spirit into our hearts
that your Son’s Word may come to us
and that we may hear it, hold it,
and commit ourselves to it with our whole heart,
and in the midst of death find comfort
that we will never see eternal death,
for the sake of your Son,
our Redeemer Christ Jesus.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 5

Preserve Us from Greed and the Cares of this Life

Lord God, heavenly Father,
in the wilderness your Son fed over five thousand people
with five loaves and two fish.
Graciously remain with us and bless us.
Preserve us from greed and the cares of this life
that we may seek first your kingdom and your righteousness
and in all things remember your Fatherly goodness;
through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one true God, now and forever.

Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549, Lent 4

Preserve Us in All Temptations

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you sent your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
to take on himself our flesh
that he might overcome the devil’s tyranny
and defend us poor sinners.
We give you thanks for your merciful help.
Be present with us in your grace in all temptations,
preserve us from worldly security
and by your Holy Spirit keep us
in your Word and your fear,
that we may be delivered from the enemy
and obtain eternal salvation;
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, Lent 3

Confirm our Faith and Hope in Your Grace and Mercy

Lord God, heavenly Father,
may your Holy Spirit strengthen our hearts
and confirm our faith and hope
in your grace and mercy.
Although we have reason to fear because of our conscience,
our sin and our unworthiness,
we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan,
hold fast to your grace
and in every trial and temptation
find you a very present help and refuge;
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, Lent 2

Help Us against the Adversary

Lord God, heavenly Father,
just as the adversary continually afflicts us
and as a roaring lion walks about,
seeking to devour us,
for the sake of the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ,
help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit
and strengthen our hearts by your Word,
that our enemy may not prevail over us,
but that we may always abide in your grace
and be preserved to eternal life,
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, Lent 1

Tag: lent