suffrages – A Collection of Prayers

An Intercessory Prayer

In the source, this is printed as a responsive prayer.

Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and give us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7)

Lord, save our rulers!
Answer us in the day we call! (Psalm 20:9)

May your servants be clothed with righteousness.
May your favored ones shout for joy. (Psalm 132:9)

Save your people, and bless the people that belong to you.
Shepherd them, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:9)

Give us peace in our time,
For there is no one who fights for us but you, O Lord. (from 2 Chronicles 20:15)

Create in me a pure heart, O God.
Renew an unwavering spirit within me.. (Psalm 51:10)

Source: Attributed to the Latin Church, found in Allgemeines evangelisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch zum Kirchen und Hausgebrauch, Hamburg, 1846, p. 437#1. Scripture adapted from the Evangelical Heritage Version, www.wartburgproject.org.

Many lines in this responsive prayer are in common with the General Suffrages.

In the psalm sources: “Lord, save our rulers!… is “Lord, save the king! and “May your servants …” is “May your priests…”

From the German source:

O Herr erzeig Deine Barmherzigkeit über uns:
Und schenk uns Dein Heil.
O Herr segne den König:
Und erhör uns gnädiglich, wenn wir Dich anrufen.
Rüst Deine Diener aus mit Gerechtigkeit:
Und laß Deine Heiligen sich freuen.
O Herr, hilf Deinem Volk:
Und segne Dein Erbtheil.
Schenk uns Frieden in unsrer Zeit:
Denn es ist niemand, der für uns streitet, denn
allein Du, o Gott.
Schaff in uns Gott ein reines Herz:
Und gieb uns einen neuen gewissen Geist.

The Itinerarium

The Itinerarium is a short service similiar to the Suffrages, which included special prayers for travel.

Into the way of peace.

THE BENEDICTUS (Luke 1:68-79)

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited us and prepared redemption for his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
just as he said long ago through the mouth of his holy prophets.
He raised up salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
in order to show mercy to our fathers by remembering his holy covenant,
the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,
to grant deliverance to us from the hand of our enemies,
that we are able to serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
because you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,
because of God’s tender mercies,
by which the Rising Sun from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

May the almighty and merciful Lord lead us into the way of peace, and may his holy angels be with us on our way that that we may come to our home again in peace, health, and gladness.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

PRECES (Responsive Verses)

O God, save your servants who trust in you. (Psalm 86:2)
O Lord, send us help from the holy place. Support us from Zion. (Psalm 20:2)

You have been a refuge for us, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy. (Psalm 61:3)
Do not let the enemy overcome us. Do not let our foes rejoice when we fall. (from Psalm 13:4)

Blessed be the Lord.
Day by day he bears our burdens. He is the God who saves us. (Psalm 68:19)

Make known to us your ways, O Lord.
Teach us your paths. (Psalm 25:4)

If only our ways were unwavering in keeping your statutes! (Psalm 119:5)
The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. (Isaiah 40:4)

He will give a command to his angels concerning you,
to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

(One or more of the following prayers may be read.)

O God, you made the children of Israel walk with dry feet through the midst of the sea, and by the guiding of a star you showed the wise men from the east the way that led to you. Grant us a safe and quiet journey. Let your holy angel accompany us during our pilgrimage, that in the end we may attain the haven of eternal salvation.

O God, you called your servant Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, and you kept him from evil on all the paths of his pilgrimage. O Lord, keep us. Be our help when we go forward, our comfort by the way, our shadow from the heat, our covering from the rain and the cold, our chariot when we are weary, our refuge in trouble, our staff on uncertain paths, our safety in disaster. Lead us that we may happily reach our destination and return home safely.

O Lord, direct our journeys in the safe path that leads to salvation in you, that with the many changes of this life’s pilgrimage your protection may always shield us.

O almighty God, guide your family on the path of salvation, and by listening to the preaching of the blessed forerunner John the Baptist, we may behold the Lamb whom John pointed to, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Let us go forth in peace.
In the name of the Lord. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from http://preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Varia/Itinerarium.html. See the article on the Itinerarium in the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia.

The same rite is also found in the Breviary Offices of Sarum.

Scripture is from the Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org).

The couplet, “Blessed be the Lord. Day by day …” in the original is “V. Blessed be the Lord daily. R. The God of our salvation maketh our way prosperous.”

The end of the prayer “O God, you called your servant Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees…” “our safety in disaster” in the original reads “our refuge in shipwreck.”

The General Suffrages

LORD, HAVE MERCY

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

LORD’S PRAYER

PRECES (Responsive Verses)

I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.” (Psalm 41:4)

Turn, O Lord! How long!
Change your mind toward your servants. (Psalm 90:13)

May your mercy, O Lord, be on us,
even as we wait confidently for you. (Psalm 33:22)

May your servants be clothed with righteousness.
May your favored ones shout for joy. (Psalm 132:9)

Lord, save our rulers!
Answer us in the day we call! (Psalm 20:9)

Save your people, and bless the people that belong to you.
Shepherd them, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:9)

Remember your community that you purchased long ago,
the tribe that you redeemed to be your possession. (Psalm 74:2)

May there be peace within your fortifications,
prosperity within your citadels. (Psalm 122:7)

Let us pray for our absent brothers and sisters:
Save your servants, who trust in you—you are their God. (Psalm 86:2)

Let us pray for the brokenhearted and the captives:
Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress! (Psalm 25:22)

May he send you help from the holy place.
May he support you from Zion. (Psalm 20:2)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

PSALM

Here Psalm 130, De Profundis (Morning Prayer) or Psalm 51, Miserere Mei (Evening Prayer) may be read responsively.

God of Armies, restore us, and make your face shine,
so we will be saved. (Psalm 80:7)

Rise up, O Christ, come to our help!
Redeem us because of your mercy. (Psalm 44:26)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

PRAYERS

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

Prayers may be prayed here, concluding with the Prayer for Peace.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Give peace in our days, O Lord,
for there is no one but you who fights for us, O God.

May there be peace within your fortifications,
prosperity within your citadels. (from Psalm 122:7)

O God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us from the fear of our enemies, that we may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

This version of the suffrages combines elements from Common Service Book (1919) and The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)

Scripture is from the Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org).

A Morning Commendation

Short prayers to be committed unto perfect memory for our first Holy Exercise in the beginning of the day.

__________

When we first awake.

Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. (Psalm 13:3)

Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. (Ephesians 5:14)

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Psalm 119:18)

At our uprising.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for evermore.

Or this.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified for me, I arise from my own rest to do him service. By His Cross and Passion, may he save me, bless me, govern me and keep me this day and forever. Amen.

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. (Psalm 3:5)

At apparelling.

Clothe me with the garments of salvation; cover me with the robe of righteousness. (From Isaiah 61:10)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)

At the washing of our hands.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (Psalm 51:2)

Cleanse me, O Lord, in the bright fountain of your mercy, and water me with the dew of your abundant grace, that being purified from my sins I may grow up in good works truly serving you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.

And then humbly commending ourselves to God’s protection upon our knees.

Into the hands of your blessed protection and boundless mercy, O Lord, I commend this day my soul and my body,with all the faculties, powers and actions of them both. Always be with me to direct, sanctify and govern me in the ways of your laws and in the works of your commandments, that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, I may be preserved in body and soul to serve you, the only true God, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

Source: Modified from Collection of Private Devotions in the Practice of the Ancient Church, Called the Hours of Prayer, Ed. John Cosin, James Parker & Co, 1867, p. 47-49

The final prayer is also found in the Sarum Psalter.

Mozarabic Evening Prayer

In the name of Jesus + Christ our Lord, light and peace be with us.
Amen.

Sentence for Advent:
The Lord comes,
who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Sentence for Christmas to Epiphany:
The sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness. (Luke 1:78-79)

Sentence for Epiphany to Septuagesima:
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Sentence for Septuagesima to Lent:
Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes. (Psalm 119:135)

Sentence for Lent:
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us. (Psalm 67:1)

Sentence for Easter to Ascension:
Christ Jesus, has abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:10)

Sentence for Ascension to Pentecost:
Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3)

Sentence for Pentecost to Trinity:
With you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:9)

Sentence for Trinity to Advent:
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5,7)

Sentence for Minor Festivals:
Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart. (Psalm 97:11)

One of the Penitential Psalms may be said with accompanying prayers.
The Psalm concludes:

Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised! (Psalm 113:3)

Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forevermore.
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

A Psalm may be said, followed by the Gloria.

An Old Testament Lesson may be read. Before it shall be said:

The blessing of God almighty, who long ago spoke to our fathers by the prophets, be on you who hear his holy Word.
And upon you who read it.

A New Testament Lesson may be read. Before it shall be said:

The blessing of God almighty, who in these last days has spoken to us by his Son, be on you who hear his holy Word.
And upon you who read it.

After the Lesson, the Benedictus or a suitable hymn may be sung.

Then the Apostles’ Creed shall be said:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Then the Lord’s Prayer shall be said.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. [1] Amen.

Deliver us from evil, and confirm in us your faith, O Triune God, and let us constantly serve you, our God and Lord, who lives and governs all things, forever and ever.
Amen.

Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7)

O Lord, save our country,
And hear us when we call to you.

Let your servants be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy. (Psalm 132:9)

Oh, save your people
and bless your heritage! (Psalm 28:9)

Give peace in our time, O Lord.
You alone, O Lord, make us dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

A Prayer for Peace
O God, all good things come from you.
Strengthen your people against all troubles
and fill them with your peace,
so they may worship you with a quiet mind,
and forgetting all earthly troubles,
may give you honor and praise;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

A Prayer for Help in Troubles
O Lord, you have preserved us during the labors of the day.
Guard us through the dangers of the night.
Let your Holy Spirit watch over us,
and be our defense, now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Other prayers may be said, after which follows:
May the Lord hear us and bless us.
May he save us from our spiritual enemy and from all that is evil,
and keep us under the shadow of his wings, this night, and forevermore;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

In the name of Jesus + Christ our Lord, let us have quiet sleep this night, and rest in peace.
Amen.

[1] In some liturgical traditions, the doxology of the Lord’s Prayer is omitted, or when used, it is used as a response.

Source: Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 61

Mozarabic Morning Prayer

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, light and peace be with us.
Amen.

Sentence for Advent:
The Lord comes,
who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Sentence for Christmas to Epiphany:
The sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness. (Luke 1:78-79)

Sentence for Epiphany to Septuagesima:
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Sentence for Septuagesima to Lent:
Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes. (Psalm 119:135)

Sentence for Lent:
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us. (Psalm 67:1)

Sentence for Easter to Ascension:
Christ Jesus, has abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:10)

Sentence for Ascension to Pentecost:
Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3)

Sentence for Pentecost to Trinity:
With you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:9)

Sentence for Trinity to Advent:
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5,7)

Sentence for Minor Festivals:
Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart. (Psalm 97:11)

One of the Penitential Psalms may be said with accompanying prayers.
The Psalm concludes:

Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised! (Psalm 113:3)

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Let us pray.

Deliver us from evil, and confirm in us your faith, O Triune God, and let us constantly serve you, our God and Lord, who lives and governs all things, forever and ever.
Amen.

Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7)

O Lord, save our country,
And hear us when we call to you.

Let your servants be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy. (Psalm 132:9)

Oh, save your people
and bless your heritage! (Psalm 28:9)

Give peace in our time, O Lord.
You alone, O Lord, make us dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

Create in us clean hearts, O God,
Do not take your Holy Spirit from us. (Psalm 51:10-11)

The Prayer of the Day follows, after which another prayer for the season may be said.

Then the following prayers shall be said:

A Prayer for Peace
O God, you are the author of peace.
Spread abroad your peace in our hearts and minds,
guard and protect us in all danger,
and lead us to always trust in your defense,
that we may serve you without fear
all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

A Prayer for Grace
O Lord Jesus Christ,
you took on yourself the weakness of our mortal nature.
Grant that we may pass this day in safety without sin,
resisting all the temptations of the enemy,
that in the evening, we may joyfully praise you,
O King eternal, through your mercy.
O our God, you are blessed, and live and rule over all things,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Other prayers may be said, after which follows:
May the everlasting God bless us this day.
May he save and defend us from all that is evil,
and make us partakers of his heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

In the name of Jesus + Christ our Lord, let us go to the work to which we are called this day, in peace.
Amen.
[1] In some liturgical traditions, the doxology of the Lord’s Prayer is omitted, or when used, it is used as a response.

Source: Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 61

The Evening Suffrages

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

LORD’S PRAYER

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

LESSONS AND PSALM

PRECES (Responsive Verses)

Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors,
and to be praised and highly exalted forever; (Song of the Three Holy Children, 29)

Let us praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
We praise and magnify him forever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven
and worthy of great praise, to be sung and glorified forever. (Psalm 145:3 and Song of the Three Holy Children, 34)

The almighty and merciful Lord bless and preserve us.
Amen.

O Lord, preserve us this night,
and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
have mercy on us.

May your mercy, O Lord, be on us,
even as we wait confidently for you. (Psalm 33:22)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Additional prayers may be prayed here.

EVENING PRAYER

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

This version of the suffrages combines elements from Common Service Book (1919) and The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)

Scriptures are from the Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org)

Quotes from The Song of the Three Holy Children are from The Apocrypha, The Lutheran Edition with Notes.

The Morning Suffrages

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

LORD’S PRAYER

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

LESSONS AND PSALM

PRECES (Responsive Verses)

I cry to you, O Lord,
and in the morning my prayer comes before you. (Psalm 88:13)

My mouth is filled with praise for you
and with your splendor all day long. (Psalm 71:8)

Hide your face from my sins.
Erase all my guilty deeds. (Psalm 51:9)

Create in me a pure heart, O God.
Renew an unwavering spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Do not cast me from your presence.
Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

O Lord, preserve us this day,
and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
have mercy on us.

May your mercy, O Lord, be on us,
even as we wait confidently for you. (Psalm 33:22)

O Lord, hear my prayer,
and let my cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

PRAYER FOR GRACE

Lord God, almighty Father, eternal God, you have brought us to the beginning of this day. Defend us today with your saving power so that we neither fall into sin nor run into any danger, but in everything we do, subject our words and direct our thoughts to what is right in your sight; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Additional prayers may be prayed here.

MORNING PRAYER

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

BLESSING

The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

This version of the suffrages combines elements from Common Service Book (1919) and The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)

Scriptures are from the Evangelical Heritage Version (www.wartburgproject.org)