Tag: Martin Luther

Before Communion

Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table, yet I have heard the sweet words of your invitation, and you have promised me forgiveness of my sins through your body and blood which I eat and drink in this sacrament. O dear Lord, I know that your divine Word and promise are true. I do not doubt them, and resting on them, I eat and drink with you. Let it be to me according to your Word.

Source: Attributed to Martin Luther, no German original found in Die Gebete Luthers, from The Collection of Baron Bunsen, p. 182 #3 Tr. Catherine Winkworth.

Version in traditional English by Catherine Winkworth:

Lord Jesu Christ, though of a truth I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof, yet am I in sore need of Thy help, and desirous of Thy grace, that I may attain godliness and salvation.  I come now in no other confidence than this, that I have heard the sweet words wherewith Thou invitest me to Thy table, and dost promise me, unworthy though I be, forgiveness of my sins through Thy body and blood, which I eat and drink in this Sacrament. O dear Lord, I know that Thy Divine word and promise are true; I doubt them not; and, resting on them, I eat and drink with Thee. Be it unto me according to Thy word. Amen.

Remembrance of Baptism

Lord God, heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the wonderful gift of baptism and the many gifts that come with it: forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life through your Son Jesus Christ. In your grace and mercy, preserve us in faith that we may never doubt your promise, but find our comfort in you in all temptations. Send us your Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin and always continue in the righteousness given us in baptism, until we receive eternal salvation by your grace.

Source: Adapted from two German prayers, one by Martin Luther and one from the Pomeranian Agenda.

Original in German:

Herr Gott himlischer Vater, wir danken dir je billich das du die selige gnadenreiche Tauf durch den heiligen Tauffer Johannem hast erstlich angerichtet, und uns auch dazu lassen kommen, in welcher du uns umb dienes Suns Christi Jesu willen zusagest vergebung der suenden, den heyligen Geyst und das ewige leben. Wir bitten dich, erhalte uns inn sochem vertruqen auff dein gnad und barmhertzigkeyt das wir an socher zusagung nymmer mehr zweyffelen, sonder der selben inn allerley anfecchtun uns troesten, und gib durch deinen heyligen Geyst das wir fuer suenden uns hueten, unnd in solcher unschuld dazu wir durch die Tauffe kommen sind, bleyben moegen, Oder ja wo wir fallen. Unnd menschlicher schwacheiyt halb nicht koennen bestehen das wir inn suenden nicht ligen bleyben, sonder durch rechtschaffene Buss uns bekehren und deiner gnad unnd zusagun uns wider troesten und also durch din genad ewig selig warden.

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Take My Soul into Your Hands

“Nothing Other Than Sheer Life”: Martin Luther on ...

O my heavenly Father,
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
God of all comfort,
I thank you for revealing to me
your dear Son, Jesus Christ,
in whom I believe,
whom I have preached and confessed,
whom I have loved and praised.

I pray, my Lord Jesus Christ,
take my soul into your hands.

Heavenly Father,
I know that
although I will live this body
and be taken from this life,
I will live with you forever,
and that no one can pluck me
out of your hands.

God so loved the world
that he gave his only-begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.

Our God is the God of salvation,
and the Lord delivers from death.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
You have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

Source: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther by Ernst August Brueggeman

 

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I Come According to Your Command

Heavenly Father, dearest God,
I am an unworthy, poor sinner,
not worthy to lift my eyes or hands to you
or to pray.
But since you have commanded us all to pray,
and since you have promised to hear,
and since you have taught us by word and example
through your dear Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come to you,
according to your command,
obedient to you,
and relying on your gracious promise,
and in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ,
with all your holy Christians on earth,
I pray as he has taught me:

Our Father…

Source: Martin Luther, in  Die Gebete Luthers, #135.

Original in German:

Ach himmlischer Vatter, du lieber GOtt, ich bin eyn unwürdiger, armer Sünder, nicht werth, das ich meine augen oder hende gegen dir auffhebe oder bette. Aber weil du uns allen gebotten hast zu betten und darzu auch erhörung verheyssen und über1 dasselbe uns beyde wort und weise gelehret durch deinen lieben Son, unsern Herren Jesum Christ, so komme ich auff solch dein Gebott, dir gehorsam zu sein, und verlasse mich auff deine gnädige verheyssung, und im Namen meines HErrn Jesu Christi bette ich mit allen deinen heyligen Christen auff Erden, wie er mich gelehret hat:

 

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Remembering John the Baptist

John the Baptist has two commemorations. The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, June 24, his ‘birthday,’ is six months before Jesus’ ‘birthday,’ December 25. Saints are usually remembered on their ‘birthday to life eternal.’ The Christian Church also observes the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist on August 29. 

Dear Lord God,
we thank and praise you for giving us the blessed John the Baptist
and for his joyful preaching and blessed pointing
to Christ the Lamb of God,
that we may know where to find salvation and eternal life
so that we may have comfort
and redemption against sin and death
and that God’s goodness and grace may comfort us forever.
God grant this to us all. Amen.

Martin Luther, Die Gebete Luthers, #677

Keep Us Safe, Lead Us Home

Dear God,
lead us with the Wise Men
by the star of your holy Word
to your Son, Christ Jesus,
and always protect us
from every attack.

Then we will return
to our home country
by another route,
that is, to God
by whom we are created,
and finally come to the source again,
as in a great golden ring.

God help us,
through Christ,
our King and Priest,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from  Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #575.

Original in German:

Lieber Gott, führe uns mit den Weisen durch den Stern deines heiligen Worts zu deinem Sohn Christo Jesu, und bewahre uns vor allem Anstoß in Ewigkeit, so kommen wir recht in unser Vaterland, da wir herkommen sind, das ist zu Gott, von dem wir geschaffen sind, und kommt das Ende mit dem Ursprung wieder zusammen, wie ein goldener Ring; das helf uns Gott durch Christum, unsern König und Priester in Ewigkeit. Amen.

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Awaken Us

Advent 1

Dear Lord God,
awaken us,
that we may be ready
when your dear Son comes,
that we may receive him with joy
and serve you with pure hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 282. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

This prayer has also been attributed to Martin Luther. [Die Gebete Luthers, #10]

Original in German:

Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf, daß wir bereit sind, wenn dein lieber Sohn kömmt, ihn mit Freuden zu empfahen, und dir mit reinem Herzen zu dienen, durch denselbigen deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.

 

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Two Advent Prayers

Advent 1

Dear God,
protect us and keep us in your grace
that we may be that little flock,
which gladly receives Christ,
singing, “Hosanna! God be praised,”
that we receive him as our King,
and that we may be Christians.
We know why we are called Christians,
namely, after our King Christ,
since we are baptized in his name
and washed in his blood.
Help us remain in him.
Amen.

O dear God, heavenly Father,
give prosperity and salvation
to the Son of David,
your dear Son Christ Jesus,
and to his kingdom.
Let him also
come to us
in your name,
that we also may be blessed.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther

Source of this version: Translated for A Collection of Prayers. German source: Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #553, 554.

Originals in German:

553 Lieber Gott, behüte uns und gieb uns deine Gnade, daß wir das Häuflein sind, die Christum gern wollen annehmen und singen: Hosianna, Gott sei gelobet, daß wir diesen König haben und Christen sind und heißen: wir wissen, warum wir also heißen, nämlich von unserm König Christo, daß wir in seinen Namen getauft und in seinem Blut gewaschen sind; hilf daß wir dabei bleiben. Amen. Luther.

554 Ach du lieber Gott, himmlischer Vater, gieb Glück und Heil dem Sohne Davids, deinem lieben Sohne Christo Jesu, zu seinem Königreich. Laß ihn auch bei uns einreiten in deinem Namen, daß es gebenedeiet sei und wohl gehe Amen Luther.

 

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Maintain Righteous Government

Image result for luther and princesLord,
preserve your people.
Maintain righteous government everywhere,
so that all things may take place
in an orderly way
and peace may not be destroyed
by revolution or secret enmity,
nor the eternal good order
be corrupted by debased living
or disturbed by other offenses.
Amen.

Source: Attributed to Martin Luther, modified slightly from http://www.antiochchurch.ca/famousQuotes.html

 

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