ELEVENTH CENTURY PRAYERS
Reading edition
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For Pardon, Grace, and Guidance
O Thou plenteous source of every good and perfect gift, shed abroad the cheering light of Thy sevenfold grace over our hearts. Yea, Spirit of love and gentleness, we most humbly implore Thy assistance. Thou knowest our faults, our failings, our necessities, the dulness of our understanding, the waywardness of our affections, the perverseness of our will. When, therefore, we neglect to practise what we know, visit us, we beseech Thee, with Thy grace, enlighten our minds, rectify our desires, correct our wanderings, and pardon our omissions, so that by Thy guidance we may be preserved from making shipwreck of faith, and keep a good conscience, and may at length be landed safe in the haven of eternal rest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Anselm
For the Afflicted and Distressed
We bring before Thee, O Lord, the troubles and perils of people and nations, the sighing of prisoners and captives, the sorrows of the bereaved, the necessities of strangers, the helplessness of the weak, the despondency of the weary, the failing powers of the aged. O Lord, draw 47 near to each; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Anselm
For Blessedness
O God, Thou art life, wisdom, truth, bounty, and blessedness, the Eternal, the only true Good! My God and my Lord, Thou art my hope and my heart’s joy. I confess, with thanksgiving, that Thou hast made me in Thine image, that I may direct all my thoughts to Thee, and love Thee. Lord, make me to know Thee aright, that I may more and more love, and enjoy, and possess Thee. And since, in the life here below, I cannot fully attain this blessedness, let it at least grow in me day by day, until it all be fulfilled at last in the life to come. Here be the knowledge of Thee increased, and there let it be perfected. Here let my love to Thee grow, and there let it ripen; that my joy being here great in hope, may there in fruition be made perfect. Amen.
—Anselm
For Our Friends
O fountain of love, love Thou our friends and teach them to love Thee with all their hearts, that they may think and speak and do only such things as are well-pleasing to Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Anselm
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For Heavenly-Mindedness
O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray Thee, with the graces of Thy Holy Spirit, with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Teach us to love those who hate us, to pray for those who despitefully use us, that we may be the children of Thee our Father, who makest Thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Anselm
For the Presence of the Holy Spirit
O holy Paraclete, sweetest consolation of the sorrowful, gracious Spirit come down at this time with Thy mighty power into the depths of our hearts. Gladden there with Thy brightness every dark retreat, and enrich all with the dew of Thine abundant comfort. Kindle our inward parts with holy favour, that the incense of our prayers and praises may ever go up to Thee, O our God; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Amen.
—Anselm
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For Zeal
O almighty and merciful Father, who pourest Thy benefits upon us, forgive the unthankfulness with which we have requited Thy goodness. We have remained before Thee with dead and senseless hearts, unkindled with love of Thy gentle and enduring goodness. Turn Thou us, O merciful Father, and so shall we be turned. Make us with our whole heart to hunger and thirst after Thee, and with all our longing to desire Thee. Make us with our whole heart to serve Thee alone and with all our zeal to seek those things which are well-pleasing in Thy sight; for the sake of Thine only begotten Son, to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
—Anselm
For Union with God
O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire Thee with our whole heart, that so desiring, we may seek and find Thee; and so finding Thee we may love Thee; and loving Thee we may hate those sins from which Thou hast redeemed us; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Anselm
For Holy Week
O Father, most merciful, who in the beginning didst create us, and by the passion of Thine only begotten Son hast created us anew, work in us 50 now, we beseech Thee, both to will and to do of Thy good pleasure. And forasmuch as we are weak, and can do no good thing of ourselves, grant us Thy grace and heavenly benediction, that in whatsoever work we engage we may do all to Thy honour and glory; and that, being kept from sin and daily increasing in good works, so long as we live in the body we may ever show forth some service to Thee; and after our departure may receive pardon of all our sins, and attain eternal life; through Him who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.
—Anselm
For Perfection
O Lord Jesus Christ, our redemption and our salvation, we praise Thee and give Thee thanks; and though we be unworthy of Thy benefits, and cannot offer unto Thee due devotion, yet let Thy loving-kindness fill up that which our weakness endeavoureth. Before Thee, O Lord, is all our desire, and whatsoever our heart rightly willeth, it is of Thy gift. Grant that we may attain to love Thee even as Thou commandest. Let not Thy gift be unfruitful in us. Perfect that Thou hast begun, give that which Thou hast made us to long after, convert Thou our lukewarmness into fervent love of Thee; for the glory of Thy holy name. Amen.
—Anselm
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For Absent Friends
O blessed Lord and Saviour, who hast commanded us to love one another, grant us grace that, having received Thine undeserved bounty, we may love every man in Thee and for Thee. We beseech Thy blessing for all; but especially for the friends whom Thy love hast given to us. Love Thou them, O Thou fountain of love, and make them to love Thee with all their heart, with all their mind, and with all their soul, that those things only which are pleasing to Thee they may will, and speak, and do. And though our prayer is cold, because our charity is so little fervent, yet Thou art rich in mercy. Measure not to them Thy goodness by the dulness of our devotion; but as Thy kindness surpasseth all human affection, so let Thy hearing transcend our prayer. Do Thou to them what is expedient for them, according to Thy will, that they, being always and everywhere ruled and protected by Thee, may attain in the end to everlasting life; and to Thee, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and praise for ever and ever. Amen.
—Anselm
For Strength and Power
Most merciful God, the helper of all men, so strengthen us by Thy power that our sorrow may be turned into joy, and we may continually 52 glorify Thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Enlightenment
We beseech Thee, O Lord, let our hearts be graciously enlightened by Thy holy radiance, that we may serve Thee without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; that so we may escape the darkness of this world, and by Thy guidance attain the land of eternal brightness; through Thy mercy, O blessed Lord, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
In Time of Trouble
O God, who tellest the number of the stars, and callest them all by their names: heal, we beseech Thee, the contrite in heart, and gather together the outcasts, and enrich us with the fulness of Thy wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Whitsunday (Pentecost)
O God, who purifiest the heart of man from sin, and makest it more white than snow, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy; renew, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit within 53 us, that we may show forth Thy praise, and, strengthened by Thy grace, may obtain rest in the eternal mansions of the heavenly Jerusalem; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Holy Week
O Lord, who dost wash out our offences, do Thou comfort us who faithfully call upon Thee; and, we beseech Thee, that Thou wouldest blot out our transgressions, and restore us from death to the land of the living; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Spiritual Gladness
Hear us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and in our tribulations pity us, grant unto us spiritual gladness, and give us everlasting peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Acceptable Service
O glorious and almighty God, in whom all the spirits of the blessed place the confidence of their hope; grant to us that, by Thy help, we may be able ever to serve Thee with a pure mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
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For Light
Bestow Thy light upon us, O Lord, so that, being rid of the darkness of our hearts, we may attain unto the true Light; through Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Grace and Deliverance
Feed Thy people, O Lord, with Thy grace, and deliver our souls from the death of sin; so that, being filled with Thy mercy, we may be united with the joys of the righteous; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For the Spread of Christ’s Kingdom
Almighty God and heavenly Father, who of Thine infinite love and goodness towards us, hast given to us Thy only and most dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be our redeemer and the author of everlasting life, who, after He made perfect our redemption, by His death and was ascended into heaven, sent abroad into the world His apostles, prophets, evangelists, doctors, and pastors; by whose labour and ministry He gathered together a great flock from all parts of the world, to set forth the eternal praise of Thy holy name: for these so great benefits of Thy eternal goodness we render unto Thee most hearty thanks. We praise and worship Thee, and 55 we humbly beseech Thee, by the same Thy blessed Son, to grant unto all which here or elsewhere, call upon Thy holy name, that we may continue to show ourselves thankful unto Thee for these and all other Thy benefits, and that we may daily increase and go forward in the knowledge and faith of Thee and Thy Son by the Holy Spirit, so that Thy holy name may be for ever glorified, and Thy blessed Kingdom enlarged; through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Deliverance from Sin
O Lord, vouchsafe to look mercifully upon us, and grant that we may choose the way of peace; so that, rescued from the captivity of the sins which have oppressed us, we may attain the dwellings of the heavenly Jerusalem; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Brotherly Kindness
Pour upon us, O Lord, the spirit of brotherly kindness and peace; so that, sprinkled with the dew of Thy benediction, we may be made glad by Thy glory and grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
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For Health
O God, who through the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, dost pour the gift of love into the hearts of Thy faithful people, grant unto us health, both of mind and body, that we may love Thee with our whole strength, and with entire satisfaction may perform those things which are pleasing unto Thee this day; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Grace to Walk in Holiness
O God of strength, passing all understanding, who mercifully givest to Thy people mercy and judgment; grant to us, we beseech Thee, faithfully to love Thee, and to walk this day in the way of righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
A Prayer for Today
In this hour of this day, fill us, O Lord, with Thy mercy, that rejoicing throughout the whole day, we may take delight in Thy praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
Supplication
Almighty God, we invoke Thee, the fountain of everlasting light, and entreat Thee to send 57 forth Thy truth into our hearts, and to pour upon us the glory of Thy brightness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
For Divine Control
O Lord God, King of heaven and earth, may it please Thee this day to order and to hallow, to rule and to govern, our hearts and our bodies, our thoughts, our works, and our words, according to Thy commandments, that we, being helped by Thee, may here and for ever be delivered and saved; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For a Knowledge of God’s Will
Most gracious God, to know and love whose will is righteousness, enlighten our souls with the brightness of Thy presence, that we may both know Thy will and be enabled to perform it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Increased Love Toward God
O Lord, we beseech Thee that Thy people may grow ever in love toward Thee, their Father, who art in heaven, and may so be schooled by holy works, that ever, as Thou dost pour Thy gifts upon them, they may walk before Thee in all 58 such things as be well-pleasing in the sight of Thy Divine Majesty; for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Peace
O God, the consolation of all such as be sorrowful, and the salvation of them that put their trust in Thee, grant unto us, in this dying life, that peace for which we humbly pray, and hereafter to attain unto everlasting joy in Thy presence; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Defense from Evil
Grant unto us, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who seek the shelter of Thy protection, being defended from all evils, may serve Thee in peace and quietness of spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Assistance in Temptation
Almighty and merciful God, who dost grant unto Thy faithful people the grace to make every path of life temporal, the strait and narrow way which leadeth unto life eternal, grant that we, who know that we have no strength as of ourselves to help ourselves, and therefore do put all our trust in Thine almighty power, may, by 59 the assistance of Thy heavenly grace, always prevail in all things, against whatsoever shall arise to fight against us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Protection
O God, the Shepherd of all Thy people, deliver the same from all sins which do assail them, that so they may ever be pleasing in Thy sight, and safe under Thy shelter; for Christ’s sake. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Loyal Service
Almighty and everlasting God, grant that our wills be ever meekly subject to Thy will, and our hearts be ever honestly ready to serve Thee; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For Purified Lives
O God, mercifully grant unto us that the fire of Thy love may burn up in us all things that displease Thee, and make us meet for Thy heavenly Kingdom; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
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For Strength
Be Thou Thyself, O Lord, the Sanctifier and the Shepherd of Thy people, that we, who are strengthened by Thy help, may in our daily life walk with Thee, and in all quietness of spirit serve Thee; through Jesus Christ our Master. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
For the Prisoner
O God, let the sighing of the prisoner come before Thee, and mercifully grant unto us that we may be delivered by Thine almighty power from all bonds and chains of sin, whether in our bodies or in our souls, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Roman Breviary
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