Holy Father, you show yourself to your children by discipline, which is sometimes unpleasant and painful. We turn to you in our anxiety and commit our troubles to your help. You have been with us in good times and in bad. Do not let our faith fail, even if our path is rough, but sustain us with the comfort and peace which are in Jesus Christ. God, grant that the fiery trial that is happening among us to test us will lead us to courage and patience, and let our patience bear good fruit, that we lack nothing, and draw closer to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Adapted from Henry Wilder Foote (1858–1889), 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.
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.
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.
Almighty God, your Word calls your people to walk in the way of peace, (Luke 1:79) and your dear Son has given us a peace that the world cannot give. (John 14:27) Lead us in love, that our thoughts, words and actions always seek your peace which is ours in Jesus. Let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with the salt of your truth and love. (Colossians 4:6) Calm troubled hearts. When we are upset, keep us from sin. (Psalm 4:4) Guard and protect your people from all violence. Heal those who are hurting, and turn the hearts of those who are hurtful. Lord, you love righteousness and justice. Let your mercy fill the earth; (Psalm 33:25) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Paul C. Stratman, July 14, 2024
In a paragraph:
Almighty God, your Word calls your people to walk in the way of peace, (Luke 1:79) and your dear Son has given us a peace that the world cannot give. (John 14:27) Lead us in love, that our thoughts, words and actions always seek your peace which is ours in Jesus. Let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with the salt of your truth and love. (Colossians 4:6) Calm troubled hearts. When we are upset, keep us from sin. (Psalm 4:4) Guard and protect your people from all violence. Heal those who are hurting, and turn the hearts of those who are hurtful. Lord, you love righteousness and justice. Let your mercy fill the earth; (Psalm 33:25) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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 Lord, be our Sanctifier and the Shepherd. Strengthen and help us, that in our daily life walk with you, we serve you in all quietness of spirit; through Jesus Christ our Master. 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 God, the comfort of all who are sorrowful, and the salvation of those who put their trust in you, in this dying life, give us that peace for which we humbly pray, and finally receive us into eternal joy in your presence; through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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 Lord, look mercifully on us, and grant that we may choose the way of peace. Rescue us from the captivity of the sins which have oppressed us, that we may attain the dwellings of the heavenly Jerusalem; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Source: Sarum Rite, eleventh century Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.
