praise

Praise and Guidance

Almighty, most holy,
most high, and supreme God,
highest good, all good, wholly good,
you alone are good,
to you we render all praise, all glory,
all thanks, all honor, all blessing,
and we shall always ascribe all good to you.

Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God,
help us wretches to do for you
what we know is your will
and always desire whatever is pleasing to you.
Purify us within, enlighten us within,
kindle us with the flame of your Holy Spirit,
so we may be able to follow in the footsteps of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by your grace alone
come to you, the Most High,
who in perfect Trinity and simple unity lives and reigns and glorifies God Almighty for ever and ever. Amen.

Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

Now to God,
who has suffered so much for us,
who at once has given us so many good things,
and will yet give so much more,
to this God let every creature who is in heaven or on the earth,
in the sea or in the depth of the abyss,
render praise, glory, honor and blessing.
He is himself our virtue and our strength.
He alone is good, lofty, almighty, admirable, and glorious;
the only holy One, worthy of praise and blessed through ages of ages. Amen.

Source: Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

Praise, Thanks, Confession of Faith

Glory be to you, almighty Father,
you have given to those who fear you
the heavenly bread of life,
that we may be mindful of the marvels
which you have done on the earth,
by sending us your only Son,
fully human,
born of a pure virgin.
We give you thanks, holy Father,
for you created us before we were,
and while we were still sinners you made us partakers of your heavenly grace;
through your Son, our Lord and God,
who with you and the Holy Spirit
makes, orders, and rules all things, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Dunstan of Canterbury

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1954.

Hail, All Glorious Lord!

Hail, all glorious Lord, with holy mirth!
May Church and chancel praise your good counsel,
each chancel and church.
All plains and mountains,
and you three fountains–
two above wind,
and one above earth!
May light and darkness bless you.
Fine silk, green forest confess you.
Thus did Abraham, father
of faith, with joy possess you.
Bird and bee song bless you
among the lilies and roses!
All the old all the young
praise you with joyful tongue
As your praise was once sung
by Aaron and Moses,
Male and female,
the days that are seven,
the stars of heaven,
the air and the ether,
every book and fair letter;
fish in waters fair flowing,
and song and deed glowing,
grey sand and green sward
make your blessing’s award;
and all such as with good
have satisfied stood!
While my own mouth shall bless you
and my Savior confess you.
Hail glorious Lord!

Source: From a 12th century manuscript, “The Black Book of Carmarthen,” in A Celtic Psaltery, by Alfred Perceval Graves, F. A. Stokes Company, New York, 1917.

An Evening Prayer

“O children, praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord.”
We praise you, we sing hymns to you,
we bless you, we glorify you,
O Lord and heavenly King,
almighty God and Father.
O Lord God, the Father of Christ
the immaculate Lamb,
you take away the sin of the world,
receive our prayer,
You are worthy of praise.
You are worthy of hymns.
You are worthy of glory,
God and Father, through your Son,
in the most holy Spirit,
forever and ever. Amen.

Source: Apostolic Constitutions

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Some of this prayer is derived from the Gloria in Excelsis.

For the First-Fruits

We give thanks to you,
Lord Almighty,
Creator of the whole world,
Preserver of all,
through your only Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
for the first-fruits which are offered to you,
not because we must, but as we are able.
For who can worthily give you thanks
for all you have given?
You are the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob,
and of all the saints.
You made all things fruitful by your Word,
and commanded the earth to bring forth various fruits
for our food and our enjoyment.
You have given your lesser creatures
grass to those that eat grass,
and to some meat, to others seeds,
but to us grain, as good and proper food,
and many other things—
some for our needs,
some for our health,
and some for our pleasure.
For all of these,
you are worthy of exalted hymns of praise
for your blessings through Christ,
through him be glory, honor, and worship to you,
in the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

Source: Apostolic Constitutions

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953

Jesus, Sweet Jesus

freylinghausenja Who is like you, Jesus, sweet Jesus?
You are the light of those who are spiritually lost.
You are the life of those who are spiritually dead.
You are the liberation of those who are imprisoned by guilt.
You are the glory of those who hate themselves.
You are the guardian of those who are paralyzed by fear.
You are the guide of those who are bewildered by falsehood.
You are the peace of those who are in turmoil.
You are the prince of those who yearn to be led.
You are the priest of those who seek the truth.

Source: Johann Freylinghausen

Source of this version: http://bentonfbc.org/?p=10240

Variant:

Who is like you, Jesus, beautiful Jesus?

You are the light of those who are lost.
You are the life of those who are dead.
You are freedom for those imprisoned by guilt.

You are the glory of those who hate themselves.
You are the guardian of those paralysed by fear.
You are the guide of those bewildered by falsehood.

You are the peace of those in turmoil.
You are the prince of those who yearn to be led.
You are the priest of those who seek the truth.

http://justprayer.org/who-is-like-you-jesus-johann-freylinghausen/