THIRD CENTURY PRAYERS
For Blessings
We most earnestly beseech Thee, O Thou Lover of mankind, to bless all
Thy people, the flocks of Thy fold. Send down into our hearts the peace
of heaven, and grant us also the peace of this life. Give life to the
souls of all of us, and let no deadly sin prevail against us, or any of
Thy people. Deliver all who are in trouble, for Thou art our God, who
settest the captives free; who givest hope to the hopeless, and help to
the helpless; who liftest up the fallen; and who art the Haven of the
shipwrecked. Give Thy pity, pardon, and refreshment to every Christian
soul, whether in affliction or error. Preserve us, in our pilgrimage
through this life from hurt and danger, and grant that we may end our
lives as Christians, well-pleasing to Thee and free from sin, and that
we may have our portion and lot with all Thy saints. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
For Light
O God of Light, Father of Life, Giver of Wisdom, Benefactor of our
souls, who givest to the fainthearted who put their trust in Thee those
things into which the angels desire to look; O Sovereign Lord, who hast
brought us up from the depths of darkness to light, who hast given us
life from death, who hast graciously bestowed upon us freedom from
slavery, and who hast scattered the darkness of sin within us, do Thou
now also enlighten the eyes of our understanding, and sanctify us wholly
in soul, body, and spirit. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
For the Peace of Christ’s Flock
O Sovereign and Almighty Lord, bless all Thy people and all Thy flock.
Give peace, Thy help, Thy love unto us, Thy servants the sheep of Thy
fold, that we may be united in the bond of peace and love, one body and
one spirit, in one hope of our calling, in Thy Divine and boundless
love; for the sake of Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep.
Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
Before the Holy Communion
O God of light, Father of life, Author of grace, Creator of worlds,
Founder of knowledge, Giver of wisdom, Treasure of holiness, Teacher of
pure prayers, Benefactor of our souls, who givest to the faint-hearted
who put their trust in Thee those things into which the angels desire to
look: O Sovereign Lord, who hast brought us up from the depths of
darkness to light, who hast given us life from death, who hast
graciously bestowed upon us freedom from slavery, who hast scattered the
darkness of sin within us, through the presence of Thine only-begotten
Son, do Thou now also, through the visitation of Thy all-holy Spirit,
enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may partake without
fear of condemnation of this heavenly and immortal food, and sanctify us
wholly in soul, body, and spirit, that with Thy holy disciples and
apostles we may say this prayer to Thee: Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
For Divine Strength
O mightiest King, co-eternal with the Father, who by Thy might hast
vanquished hell and trodden death under foot, who hast bound the strong
man, and by Thy miraculous power and the enlightening radiance of Thy
unspeakable Godhead hast raised Adam from the tomb, send forth Thy
invisible right hand, which is full of blessing, and bless us all.
Pity us, O Lord, and strengthen us by Thy divine power.
Take away from us the sinful and wicked influence of carnal desire.
Let the light shine into our souls, and dispell the surrounding darkness
of sin.
Unite us to the all-blessed assembly that is well-pleasing unto Thee;
for through Thee and with Thee, all praise, honour, power, adoration,
and thanksgiving are due unto the Father and the Holy Spirit, now,
henceforth, and for evermore. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
For Blessings
O Sovereign and Almighty Lord, bless all Thy people, and all Thy flock.
Give Thy peace, Thy help, Thy love unto us Thy servants, the sheep of
Thy fold, that we may be united in the bond of peace and love, one body
and one spirit, in one hope of our calling, in Thy divine and boundless
love. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
A Morning Prayer
We give Thee thanks—yea, more than thanks O Lord our God, for all Thy
goodness at all times, and in all places, because Thou hast shielded,
rescued, helped, and guided us all the days of our lives, and brought us
unto this hour. We pray and beseech Thee, merciful God, to grant in Thy
goodness that we may spend this day, and all the time of our lives,
without sin, in fullness of joy, holiness, and reverence of Thee. But
drive away from us, O Lord, all envy, all fear, and all temptations.
Bestow upon us what is good and meet. Whatever sin we commit in thought,
word, or deed, do Thou in Thy goodness and mercy be pleased to pardon.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; through the
grace, mercy, and love of Thine only begotten Son. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
Thanksgiving and Prayer for Pardon
We render unto Thee our thanksgiving, O Lord our God, Father of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, by all means, at all times, in all places. For
that Thou hast sheltered, assisted, supported, and led us on through the
time past of our life, and brought us to this hour. And we pray and
beseech Thee, O God and loving Lord, grant us to pass this day, this
year, and all the time of our life without sin, with all joy, health,
and salvation. But all envy, all fear, all temptation, all the working
of Satan, do Thou drive away, O God, from us, and from Thy holy Church.
Supply us with things good and profitable. Whereinsoever we have sinned
against Thee, in word, or deed, or thought, be Thou pleased in Thy love
and goodness to forgive, and forsake us not, O God, who hope in Thee,
neither lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one and
from his works; by the grace and compassion of Thine only begotten Son,
Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Liturgy of St. Mark.
For Friends and Relations
Have mercy, O Lord, upon all those whom Thou hast associated with us in
the bonds of friendship and kindredship, and grant that they, with us,
may be so perfectly conformed to Thy Holy Will, that being cleansed from
all sin, we may be found worthy, by the inspiration of Thy love, to be
partakers together of the blessedness of Thy heavenly kingdom; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Old Gallican Sacramentary.
For Christian Graces
Grant Thy servants, O God, to be set on fire with Thy Spirit,
strengthened by Thy power, illuminated by Thy splendour, filled with Thy
grace, and to go forward by Thine aid. Give them, O Lord, a right faith,
perfect love, true humility. Grant, O Lord, that there may be in us
simple affection, brave patience, persevering obedience, perpetual
peace, a pure mind, a right and honest heart, a good will, a holy
conscience, spiritual strength, a life unspotted and unblamable; and
after having manfully finished our course, may we be enabled happily to
enter into Thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Old Gallican Sacramentary.
A Table Grace
Abba, Father, fulfill the office of Thy Name towards Thy servants; do
Thou govern, protect, preserve, sanctify, guide, and console us. Let us
be so enkindled with love for Thee, that we may not be despised by Thee,
O most merciful Lord, most tender Father; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
—Old Gallican Sacramentary.
Morning Prayer
We give thee hearty thanks for the rest of the past night, and for the
gift of a new day, with its opportunities of pleasing thee. Grant that
we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of thy service, that at
eventide we may again give thanks unto thee; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
—The Eastern Church.
A Table Grace
In the evening and morning and noonday we praise Thee, we thank Thee,
and pray Thee, Master of all, to direct our prayers as incense before
Thee. Let not our hearts turn away to words or thoughts of wickedness,
but keep us from all things that might hurt us; for to Thee, O Lord, our
eyes look up, and our hope is in Thee: confound us not, O our God; for
the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Eastern Church Vespers.
For Ministers
O God, great in power, unsearchable in understanding, wondrous in
counsels towards the children of men, do Thou fill with the gift of Thy
Holy Spirit those whom Thou dost will to undertake the degree of the
priesthood that they may be worthy to stand before Thy holy altar
unblamably, to announce the Gospel of Thy kingdom, to administer the
Word of Thy Truth, to offer gifts and spiritual sacrifices unto Thee,
and to renew Thy people in the laver of regeneration; that at the second
coming of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Thine only begotten
Son, they may go forth to meet Him, and by the multitude of Thy mercies
receive their reward; for Thy venerable and majestic Name is blessed and
glorified. Amen.
—Eastern Church Liturgy.
For Illumination
Shine into our hearts, O loving Master, by the pure light of the
knowledge of Thyself, and open the eyes of our mind to the contemplation
of Thy teaching, and put into us the fear of Thy blessed commandments;
that trampling down all that is worldly, we may follow a spiritual life,
thinking and doing all things according to Thy good pleasure. For Thou
art our sanctification, and our illumination, and to Thee we render
glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.
—Eastern Church Liturgy.