Almighty God, you are the strength of all who trust in you. Give us confidence in your wisdom, goodness, and abiding love, that we may endure all things with quiet spirits, meditating on your divine peace and heavenly rest. Uphold us by your mercy, that we never faint or fear, but faithfully do the duties of life. When our last hour comes, support us with your everlasting arms and guide us into life eternal. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: George Dawson (1821–1876), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
Lord, set my soul on you. Do not let me weary myself with the cares, anxieties, and harassment of this life, for I hope to live in your eternal love. Do not let me be anxious about anything, but be confident in your love, and in your Spirit’s loving work in me. Amen.
Source: Adapted from Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
God, be our refuge from the storm, our shadow from the heat. When we are safe in your arms, we are sometimes foolishly timid. Help us overcome our unbelief, and in your tenderness assure us of your protection. You make all things work together for good to those who love you. Do not let troubles injure our souls. Do not let sorrow wear out our hearts. Amen.
Source: Hunter’s Devotional Services, 1892, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
God, since you are love, whoever does not love you or his brothers does not know you and remains in death. Deliver us from injustice, envy, hatred, and malice. Teach us to pardon all who have offended us, and to be patient with one another, even as you, Lord, are patient with us, in your compassion and love. Amen.
Eugene Bersier (1831-1889), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
God, you are the author of love and the lover of pure peace and affection. Free all who are terrified by fears, afflicted by poverty, harassed by troubles, worn down by illness. Show them your tender love, raise them up in a renewed life, and support them with your daily compassion; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gallican Sacramentary, A.D. 800, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
Dearest Lord, send me your Holy Spirit to help me throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Provide ways out of temptation so that I can endure it, and give me your blessed freedom, freedom from self and sin, and the enjoyment of that communion with you.
Lord, pour out the fullness of your grace on all I love, spread abroad your love into the hearts of those dearest to me, and draw them near to yourself, that those who know you in part may see the full beauty and truth that is in you. So glorify your name, and make your love complete in them, that your servants may praise your mercy forever. Amen.
Adapted from Maria Hare (1798-1870), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
God, our souls rest quietly in you alone, for our hope comes from you, and in your love is our highest joy. Lord, if we have you, we have enough. Give peace to our consciences by your gospel of grace and mercy. Preserve in our hearts that peace which passes all understanding and help us grow in holiness. Strengthen all who are sad or perplexed with the comfort of your Holy Spirit, and show us that our momentary, light trouble produces for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond any comparison. For there will come a time when you will bring us to the place of perfect rest, where we will see your face in righteousness, and be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Amen.
Source: Melchior Ritter, 1689, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
Eternal God, darkness and light are the same to you, yet you send us your mercy by day and at night your song is with me. There is no light but yours, without, within. As you lift the curtain of night, take the veil from our hearts. Let your day dawn on our souls. Awaken all our labor and our prayer. Although everything else declines, let the noonday sun of your grace and peace remain. Let us follow Jesus while it is day, just as he finished your most divine work in his few years. Amen.
Source: Adapted from James Martineau (1805-1900), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
Lord, make us reflect your heavenly kingdom here through mutual love, that all hatred may be banished, and all hearts full of love, joy and gladness. Amen.
Source: Ludovicus (Juan Luis) Vives, 1492-1540, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.
Lord Jesus, healer and Savior, bring health and unity to your people in their families. Provide for all their needs with your abundance. Bring health and strength to your people in their weakness. Bring growth in wisdom, strength in faith and spirit, and growth and strength in body to children everywhere. Watch over the hearts of the weary and burdened, and direct them to cast their cares on you, that they respond to life’s troubles with patient endurance, and put away anxiety and anger. Give your people useful work that serves the good of others, and provide for all our needs. Lift and bind your people everywhere in the bonds of holy love and prayer. Uplift, strengthen, and heal us all; you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, August 4, 2024, from an online request.
Good God, gracious Father, creator of us all, have mercy on us.
O Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, our brother, have mercy on us.
True Spirit, moving over us, Lord and giver of life, have mercy on us.
Look at our world, broken by sin. Look at our hearts, broken in grief. Look at our minds, shaken in confusion. Have mercy on us.
Forgive our shortsightedness and open our eyes. Forgive our hate and empower us to love. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Have mercy on us.
On those who are angry, on those who are hurting, on those who are weary, on those who work for peace, on those who protect and serve, on those who suffer loss, on those who are vulnerable, have mercy, Lord.
Give wisdom to those who lead, give patience to those who wait, give healing to those who hurt. Have mercy, Lord.
Father, from one man you made every nation of humanity, you make the sun shine and the rain fall on the wicked and the good, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son, have mercy.
Jesus, you took on human flesh and became the brother of the human race, you suffered great injustice to bear the sin of the world, you are the tree of life whose leaves bring healing to the nations, have mercy.
Holy Spirit, you moved the apostles to speak the languages of all nations, you let your Word go out to all people, you call and gather your church from all the world, have mercy.
See our world and our nation. Help the helpless, strengthen the weak, soften the hardened, warm the loveless, cool the angry, cleanse our hearts. Mercy!
Father and maker of all, you let this world stand because you are gracious. Work that same grace within us that we love because you first loved us, that we imitate you as your beloved children, and live our lives in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Savior of all people and lover of all souls, show us what love is yet again by setting your selfless love before our eyes. You welcomed tax collectors and zealots, and taught them all the way of love. When you were dying you forgave those who didn’t know what they were doing. You gave your friends who deserted you your greeting of peace. Empower us to love, forgive, and give us your peace; Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Holy Spirit, you caused Scripture to be written that we might learn love that is the fulfillment of the law, and that we might know Jesus and follow him in love. You give the spark of faith and you fan faith into flame. Move us to put our faith and hope to work with an active love, that we listen before speaking, think before acting, and consider the needs of others before our own. Amen.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, written during the violence in early June, 2020
References to Father, Son and Holy Spirit at the beginning, middle and end reflect characteristics of traditional litanies, and this is being written near Trinity Sunday.
The opening phrases “Good God,” “O Jesus” take the exclamations people often make when hearing bad news and develop them into petitions.
The shortening of responses “have mercy on us,” “have mercy, Lord,” “have mercy,” and finally “Mercy!” are intended to show a growing weariness.
O God,
let the fire of your love burn up in us all things that displease you,
and prepare us for your heavenly Kingdom;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Source: Roman Breviary, 11th Century Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
O blessed Lord, you have commanded us to love one another. Just as we have received your undeserved blessings, may we love everyone in you and for you.
We ask your kindness for all, but especially for the friends whom your love has given to us. Love them, O fountain of love, and move them to love you with all their heart, that they may will, and speak, and do only those things which are pleasing to you.
Our prayer is cold, because our love is so feeble, but you are rich in mercy. Do not measure your goodness to them by the dullness of our devotion, but as your kindness surpasses all human affection, so let your hearing transcend our prayer. Do what is best for them, according to your will, that being ruled and protected by you always and everywhere, they may receive eternal life in the end; to you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
Source: St. Anselm, eleventh century Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
