Prayer of a Housefather.
Gracious and Eternal God! Who Thyself in Paradise hast ordained holy
matrimony, vouchsafe unto me Thy grace and help in my married life, that
I may ever maintain the true Christian love and fidelity toward my
spouse. Grant, that I may dwell with her, as with the weaker vessel, in
kindness and harmony according to knowledge, giving honor unto her, as
being heirs together of the grace of life, and guide her together with my
children and servants to the true knowledge of Thy divine glory, and to
modesty and honesty. Grant to them also, O Lord, that they follow Thee,
and suffer themselves to be guided. Preserve us, O Thou God of Peace,
from strife and dissensions, and the calumnies of the enemy, from undue
suspicion, which the devil sows as a seed of perdition, and for the
destruction of conjugal love and faith. Grant, that as Thy children we
may suffer and forgive each other in love and charity. Give us faithful
servants and keep them in good health. Bless our labor and all that
contributes to the wants of the body. Enable us to bear our cross with
patience, and grant that we be together again in the after-life. Amen.
Prayer of a Housemother.
O God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou giver of all blessing and
consolation, behold me, whom Thou hast placed in the estate of holy
wedlock and made me the mother of this family, with the eyes of Thy
mercy. Vouchsafe unto Thy handmaiden Thy grace, that I may love Thee
above all things, seek Thee, and ever be diligent in Thy service. And
grant that next to Thee I may honor, fear, and love my husband, and obey
him with patience and kindness, in pure and modest conduct, in piety and
humility well pleasing to Thee, and that the hidden life of my heart be
constantly adorned with a meek and gentle disposition and every virtue,
even as in former times the consecrated women, who trusted in God and
continued in subjection to their husbands. Enable me to train my children
and servants with meekness, to the honor and glory of Thy holy name. Give
grace, that they follow me with gentleness, and grant, that I with my
husband and family may satisfy the wants of this life in good health and
according to Thy divine will. Protect us from harm and from enemies.
Enable us so to use this world that we be not hindered in our salvation,
but in all things seek Thee, O Lord, and endeavor to be well-favored in
Thy sight. May we not despise the cross neither murmur against it, but
bear it in patience, and thus remain in Thy keeping unto the end. May we
as servants of God bring forth abundant fruitage, live holy lives in this
world, and attain to the everlasting inheritance in the world to come.
Amen.
Prayer of a Child.
Almighty and Eternal God! Thou hast commanded me to honor my parents, and
in all things, which are not contrary to Thy word, to obey them. I
beseech Thee, for the sake of the obedience of Thy dear Son, Jesus
Christ, my Lord, grant unto me, that I may duly honor my father and
mother, serve them, obey, love, and esteem them, so that their blessing
may dwell with me to the end of my days. Keep me from sin and evil
communications, that I may not anger or grieve my dear parents with
hatred, sadness, scornfulness, disobedience, or obstinacy, and thus bring
upon myself on this earth already their and Thy curse, and in the
after-life Thy eternal wrath. And since I have sinned many times through
weakness, I beseech Thee, work in me sorrow and true repentance, through
Jesus Christ, my Savior, who gave to me the example of true obedience.
Grant, that according to His example I may ever grow, and increase in
wisdom, stature, and grace before Thee, O God, and all men. Amen.
Prayer of a Youth or a Maiden.
Lord, Almighty and Holy God, who lovest a pure heart, a chaste mind, and
a holy life: I pray Thee, create in me also a clean heart, and renew a
right spirit within me, so that I may serve Thee with sincere faith and
true fear, and love Thee with all my strength. And keep me from all
impure communications. Subdue the evil lusts in my heart, and extinguish
the fires of fleshly desire. Preserve me from unchaste and dissolute
associations, from rioting and drunkenness, which lead to excess. May all
filthiness, and foolish talking, unbecoming a Christian, be ever foreign
to my life. Keep me from arrogant pomp, or idleness and lounging, from
the snares and nets of the devil. Grant, that I may serve Thee with a
pure soul and an undefiled body in true faith, as did pious and chaste
Joseph in Egypt, and graciously take me into Thy safekeeping against all
temptations and seductions of life, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy
dear Son. Amen.
Prayer of a Servant.
Merciful God, Who through the precious suffering and death of Thy dear
Son, Jesus Christ, hast redeemed and made me free from eternal servitude,
from the power of sin, from the dominion of darkness, from the cruel
tyranny of the devil, and the mastery of death and hell: I beseech Thee,
grant me grace, so that in my present station and calling, in which Thou
hast placed me on earth according to Thy good pleasure, I may not be
dissatisfied, nor murmur impatiently against Thy ordinance, nor yet envy
others in their more exalted stations, but help me to do such Thy will
from the heart, with good will, ever thinking that I serve Thee, O God in
Heaven, and not men. Help Thou, dear Father, that I serve Thee, the
supreme Lord of heaven and earth, in true knowledge and upright fear,
love Thee above all things, put all my hope and salvation in Thee, and
continue in Thy commandments without blame. May I also be subject to my
masters and mistresses according to the flesh, not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the froward, and patiently obey them in everything
that is not contrary to Thy pleasure, with fear and singleness of heart,
as unto Christ my Lord, not with eye-service, as man pleaser, but from
the depths of my heart and for the sake of Thy will and commandment.
Grant me grace that I may be found faithful in all things committed and
entrusted to my care, not neglect nor bring them to naught, suffer no
harm to come through carelessness on my part; also that I may not covet
nor fraudulently appropriate to my own use the possessions of another
entrusted to my care. Preserve my health, strengthen my limbs and all the
powers of my body. Endow me with wisdom and understanding, that I may
perform the labor of my masters and mistresses, with Thy help improve
their living. May they be blessed through my industry; and all that I do
and perform, may it redound to Thy divine glory and a blessed exercise of
my faith. For Christ, Thy dear Son's sake, who liveth and reigneth with
Thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Prayer of a School Child for the Holy Spirit.
O my dear Lord, Jesus Christ, I thank Thee, that to the present day, Thou
ordainest church and school ordinances and regulations, and hast given
unto my parents and me grace, that I too may be thus trained. I beseech
Thee, fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may ever obey my dear parents
and teachers, who only seek my welfare. Give unto me a docile heart, that
I may learn my catechism, noble arts and language, and thus increase in
godliness, wisdom, understanding, and every virtue. O my dear Lord Jesus
Christ, create in me a pure, chaste, and modest heart. May I ever serve
Thee in upright faith and true fear, and love Thee from all my heart.
Subdue in me all evil lusts. Endow me with Thy Holy Spirit. Help me to
continue in true humility. Grant me an obedient heart, to honor my
parents according to Thy commandment, and neither anger nor grieve them.
May they live long on this earth, and protect Thou and preserve them from
disease, evil, and harm. Be gracious unto us and merciful. Bless us in
body and soul, now and forevermore. Amen.
Prayer During a Thunder Storm.
Most Mighty God! All the powers of the earth shall honor Thy holy name,
and worship Thee, Eternal Father, in the beauty of holiness. For Thou art
the Lord, who reigneth over all. Thou showest Thy might and power
throughout the universe. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The
Lord of glory thundereth. The Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the
Lord is powerful and full of majesty. The earth shook and trembled. The
foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken. There went up smoke
out of Thy nostrils, and fire out of Thy mouth devoured: coals are
kindled by it. Thy pavilion round about Thee are dark waters and thick
clouds of the skies. The Lord thundereth in the heavens, and the Highest
gave His voice. All things are subject to Thee. All things acknowledge
Thee as their maker, and tremble before Thy divine majesty. The mountains
and the depths of the abyss are sore vexed when Thou art wroth, the earth
trembleth, and the sea and the waters flee because of Thy wrath. The
voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord
shaketh the wilderness. The Lord is king forever. The Lord will give
strength unto His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace. O
merciful God, preserve us from Thy wrath, which is beyond endurance!
Forgive us our sins! Make Thy face shine upon us! Cause this grievous
tempest to pass by without harm to us! Protect us in body and soul, our
house and home. Keep the fruits of the fields from hail and storm, from
great inundation by water and all harm. O Holy God, preserve us from an
evil death, and protect us, that no disaster befall us. Amen.
Thanksgiving After a Thunderstorm.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who has said, Call upon Me in the day
of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me; we praise and
thank Thee most heartily. For Thou hast graciously heard our prayer and
hast made this storm to pass that no harm befell us in life and property.
Thus hast Thou again revealed to us Thy fatherly compassion, and that
Thou wouldest not deal with us after our sins, neither reward us
according to our iniquities. Grant us, O Merciful Father, for the sake of
Thy only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that we may take heed of Thy earnest
and fatherly admonitions, improve our lives, and live in the fear of
Thee. May we constantly prepare and make ready ourselves for the coming
of Thy dear Son, when the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the
earth also, and the works thereof, shall be burned up, and may we meet
Him with rejoicing and enter the new heaven, wherein dwelleth
righteousness, and forever be with Thee; through the same, Thy dear Son,
our Master and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer on the Eve of a Journey.
Almighty and Gracious God and Father, Thou protector of all that trust in
Thee from their hearts! In Thy name will I proceed and undertake this
journey. For Thou art my God and preservest my going out and my coming
in. Thou leadest my feet in right paths and wilt not suffer them to be
moved. I heartily beseech Thee to be my gracious guide and companion on
this present journey. Send Thy holy angels, and command them, in all my
wanderings, to keep me from all evil in body and soul. Lead me on the
paths of the righteous and bring me safely to my destination, that I may
laud and magnify Thee, here in time and in eternity forever. And now, O
Lord God and Father, into Thy hands do I commit my body and soul and all
that I possess. Thy holy angel be my safe guard. Amen.
Prayer During a Journey.
Almighty and Most Merciful God! We are always in Thy sight wherever we
be. Thou preservest our coming in and our going out, and leadest us on
the right paths that we slip not. I pray Thee, that as Thou didst lead
Thy servant Abraham from the land of the Chaldees and kept him unharmed
in his pilgrimage, and didst say to his grandson Jacob when he journeyed
to Mesopotamia, I am with thee, and will bring thee again into this land;
and as Thou also didst lead the Children of Israel through the Red Sea
and through the desert, and didst go before them, by day in a pillar of a
cloud and night in a pillar of fire: thus wouldst Thou also be with me on
my wandering, protect me on land and sea, by day and by night, and keep
me from all harm and danger. And when my business is completed bring me
home again in full health of body and soul. And as Thou didst accompany
youthful Tobias through Thy angel Raphael, likewise do Thou accompany me
in all my ways, so that when I, too, have happily returned to my home, I
with all mine own may have the greater reason to laud and praise Thee as
my true and faithful guide. Meanwhile I commend to Thy care all that I
leave at home, and beseech Thee to have charge concerning them, and
suffer me to find them unharmed when I return. Amen.
Prayer of Children for Their Father Engaged on a Journey.
O Eternal Son of God, Thou Savior of all who call upon Thee in faith! We
Thy children, baptized into Thy blood, consecrated by Thy Spirit a royal
priesthood, and ordained Thy brethren and co-heirs with Thee in grace,
call upon Thee with innocent tongues, and earnestly pray Thee, graciously
to safeguard our dear father now journeying over land for the sake of his
calling and to gain the means of livelihood. Help him to discharge his
duties with favor and despatch, and return him to us in health and joy,
as Thou through Thy angels didst preserve and guide Thy servant Jacob on
his journeys, for Thou art the faithful guide and companion of all who
fear Thee and trust in Thy mercy. Amen.
Thanksgiving After a Completed Journey.
Gracious God and Father! Most heartily do I thank Thee that Thou hast
enabled me to bring my journey to a happy end. Through the ministrations
of Thy dear angels Thou hast again brought me to my home, guarded and
kept me from all evil, preserved me from the murderous and robbing hands
of evildoers, and the teeth of wild beasts, and kept me from all other
dangers of body and soul. In short, that I have been led to and fro in
health and happiness: I owe it altogether to Thy fatherly goodness and
almighty care. And I beseech Thee from all my heart, continue to keep me
and mine under Thy protection, and preserve us, body and soul, to the
eternal life, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
A Birthday Prayer.
Dear Father in heaven, I thank Thee from all my heart, that Thou hast put
me into this world and made me a rational being. I am born of Christian
parents and made a member of Thy holy Church. Today the anniversary of my
birth hath come, and since I have been permitted to reach this day and
thus complete another year of my pilgrimage, I thank Thee from all my
heart and joyfully reiterate the thanksgiving of Thy servant David,
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy
name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who
forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving
kindness and tender mercies."
Since every day of my life, however, is one step nearer to death, which
can strike me this hour, yes, this very minute, I beseech Thee so to
shape and rule every day of my life, that I may walk according to Thy
pleasure as in the day, that is circumspectly in Thy sight, honestly, and
conscious of my responsibility, in short as a true Christian and in
conformity with the promise made by me to Thee, my dear God, in my
baptism. And if this prove my last year and my last birthday, I place all
things into Thy gracious keeping. If it is Thy will that I should cease
to live, then I have lived enough. For if it is sufficient for Thee, it
is sufficient for me. Am I old enough for Thee, I am old enough for me.
Here I again put myself under Thy shield and protection, into Thy sublime
and eternal power. If I live this year, may I live in Thee; if I die, may
I die in Thee, so that I may live, and move, and have my being in Thee,
and whether living or dying I may be Thine to all eternity. Amen.
Prayer for Temporal Peace.
Eternal God, Everlasting Father! Thou art a God and lover of peace. From
Thee all true unity cometh. We pray Thee graciously to protect Thy
Christendom on earth against all its enemies, so that we may be kept in
peace, and ever serve Thee gladly in faithful doctrine and a pure
conduct. Grant us grace, so that all estates and rulers of Christendom
may live peacefully and harmoniously in perfect piety and godliness, so
that discipline and order prevail, churches and schools be not destroyed,
and the country be not devastated nor grievously oppressed. Grant us
grace, so that men will content themselves with what they have, and will
not for the sake of avarice or lusting after foreign lands and peoples,
nor yet because of pride, vain ambitions, and arrogance, enmity, hatred,
envy, nor any other cause, incite war, sedition, or revolution in this
our country. Hinder all evil counsel and purpose of unstable men, who
think only of that which is not good. Put them to naught in their
purposes, so that they must retreat and are utterly consumed with
terrors. Stretch forth Thine arm to protect us who are named after Thee,
so that Thy heritage be not destroyed. Support Thy faithful who rely upon
Thee and call upon Thy name. Hear us in our distress, and Thy holy name
protect us. Send us help from Thy sanctuary, and strengthen us from on
high. Bless the country and the cities in which Thy holy word dwelleth.
Prosperity must dwell within their palaces! O merciful God, incline the
hearts of all men to a Christian peace and concord, to the which Thou
hast called us through Thy word and gospel. And if bitterness prevail
among some, help that it be done away with, to the glory of Thy holy
name, the spreading of Thy word, and the betterment of Christendom, and
that the poor and distressed in the land may rejoice in Thee and praise
Thy holy name, for Thou only performest wonders and provest Thy powers
among the nations. Amen.
A Prayer for School.
We pray Thee, everlasting God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou eternal
and inseparable Trinity and inexpressible Unity, that Thou wouldest
faithfully take under Thy protecting wing the flock of Thy Christendom,
and ever abide in our midst with Thy grace and truth. Be Thou with us, O
Lord, our God. Be Thou a wall of fire round about us, and destroy them
who hate Thee and are hostile to Thy name. So rule us, O God, that we may
ever be guided by Thy clear and pure word and are not seduced by the
external appearance of things. Keep us, Lord Jesus, from error and false
doctrine, and send us faithful teachers who take heed unto Thy
congregation, purchased with Thy blood, and are anxious to perform Thy
will. Grant us obedient hearts, so that we, as lambs of Thy flock, may
obey Thy voice, and be filled with fruits of righteousness. Teach us ever
to do Thy will, for Thou art our God: Thy spirit is good. Lead us into
the land of uprightness, to the end that we, too, through a blessed
departure from this life may attain to Thee and the everlasting joy and
blessedness, and behold Thy glory to all eternity. Amen.