life – A Collection of Prayers

September 18

Almighty God, you have caused the light of eternal life to shine on the world. Kindle your heavenly desires in our hearts and spread abroad your love by your Holy Spirit, that we may always seek the things which are above. Purify our hearts and minds and bring us at last to your eternal kingdom, to dwell in the glorious light of your presence, now and forever. Amen.

Book of Prayers, 1851, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

God, your never-failing providence orders all things in heaven and earth. Put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gelasian, A.D. 492, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 12

God, our true Life, in you and by you all things live. You call us to seek you, and you are ready to be found. You tell us to knock, and open when we do so. To know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to enjoy you is a kingdom, to praise you is the joy and happiness of the soul. I praise, and bless, and worship you, I glorify you, I give thanks to you for your great glory. Abide with me, reign in me, make my heart a holy temple, a dwelling prepared for your Divine majesty. Maker and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible! I trust in your mercy alone for safety and protection. Guard me with the power of your grace, here and in all places, now and forevermore. Amen.

Source: St. Augustine (354–430), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

For Light

O Lord,
you are the Light,
the Way, the Truth, the Life.
In you there is no darkness,
error, vanity, or death—
the Light without which there is darkness,
the Way without which there is wandering,
the Truth without which there is error,
the life without which there is Death.
Lord, say, “Let there be Light,”
and I will see Light and renounce the darkness.
I will see the Way and avoid wandering.
I will see the Truth and shun error.
I will see Life and escape death.
Enlighten, O enlighten my blind soul
which sits in darkness and the shadow of Death,
and direct my feet into the way of peace. Amen.

Source: St. Augustine of Hippo, d. 430