A Collection of Prayers

Featured Prayers: Sundays after Trinity / Pentecost

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[A work in progress…]

Collects of the Day

The following prayers / collects were originally composed or chosen to go with the historic lectionary, a series of lessons that developed in the early church. It was a one-year series, that is, the same lessons would be read on the same Sundays, each year. For the historic lectionary on an interactive calendar, see www.sanctus.org.

Most of the collects designated as “historic” come from the sacramentaries of the Roman church.

The collects designated as “Mozarabic” come from the ancient Spanish church around the year 700. The Mozarabic church was isolated from the rest of Europe while Spain was occupied by Muslims. The Mozarabic tradition of liturgy and prayer developed independently from worship in Europe and Rome.

Veit Dietrich was a friend and associate of Martin Luther, and these prayers were written in the 1540s as part of a commentary on the historic gospels. They appeared in The Lutheran Hymnary (1913), a worship book prepared by Norwegian-American Lutherans.

Trinity 1 [Pentecost 2] Rich Man and Lazarus
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 2 [Pentecost 3] Invitation: The Great Supper
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 3 [Pentecost 4] Evangelism: The Lost Sheep
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 4 [Pentecost 5] Christian Unity and Peace
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 5 [Pentecost 6] Discipleship: Following Christ
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 6 [Pentecost 7] Christian Faith and Love, Sin and Righteousness
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 7 [Pentecost 8] Providence: Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 8 [Pentecost 9] Beware of False Prophets
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 9 [Pentecost 10] Stewardship: The Wise Steward
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 10 [Pentecost 11] Renewed Obedience: Jesus Cleanses the Temple
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 11 [Pentecost 12] Humility: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 12 [Pentecost 13] Jesus Heals the Sick
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 13 [Pentecost 14] Charity: The Good Samaritan
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 14 [Pentecost 15] Thanksgiving: The Ten Lepers
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 15 [Pentecost 16] Contentment: The Lilies of the Field
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 16 [Pentecost 17] Death and Burial: The Young Man of Nain
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 17 [Pentecost 18] Christian Freedom: Healing on the Sabbath
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 18 [Pentecost 19] Law and Gospel: The Great Commandment
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 19 [Pentecost 20] Absolution: Jesus Forgives the Paralytic
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 20 [Pentecost 21] Perseverance in Faith
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 21 [Pentecost 22] Spiritual Armor
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 22 [Pentecost 23] Forgive as Forgiven: The Unmerciful Servant
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 23 [Pentecost 24] Citizenship: Render to Caesar and to God
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 24 [Pentecost 25] Death, a Sleep: Jairus’ Daughter
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 25 [Pentecost 26] Signs of the End
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 26 [Pentecost 27] Last Judgment
(Historic) (Mozarabic) (Veit Dietrich)

Trinity 27 or Trinity Last [Pentecost Last] Heaven’s Eternal Joy
(Historic, Same as Trinity 23) (Mozarabic) (The Hymnal, Augustana Book Concern, 1925) (Veit Dietrich)

See also Featured Prayers: Last Sunday of the Church Year

Summer and Fall Commemorations

June 11, St. Barnabas, Apostle
Prayer attributed to Barnabas

June 24, Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Martin Luther
Mozarabic (Ember Days in Advent)
Pomeranian Agenda
Veit Dietrich (Advent 4)

June 25, Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (Lutheran)
Paul C. Stratman

June 29, St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
Pomeranian Agenda

July 2, The Visitation
Pomeranian Agenda

Nation, July 4 (US) / July 1 (Canada)
Common Service Book (Lutheran)
Veit Dietrich
Gregorian
Henry Eyster Jacobs
Leonine
Martin Luther
Mozarabic
Paul Zeller Strodach
Woodrow Wilson (1)
Woodrow Wilson (2)

July 22, St. Mary Magdalene
Girolamo Savonarola

July 25, St. James, Apostle
Mozarabic

July 29, Sts. Mary and Martha of Bethany
Paul C. Stratman (Part of a Home Liturgy for All Saints)

August 15, St. Mary, Mother of our Lord
Pomeranian Agenda (The Visitation)

August 24, St. Bartholomew, Apostle
Mozarabic

August 28, St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop
From The Confessions of St. Augustine
“Our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Other prayers tagged with Augustine as author

August 29, Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
Martin Luther
Mozarabic (Ember Days in Advent)
Pomeranian Agenda
Veit Dietrich (Advent 4)

September 14, Holy Cross Day
Ambrose of Milan
Armenian
Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Worship (Presbyterian, 1906)
Christaraksha, India
Veit Dietrich
Veit Dietrich, Franziskus Vierling
Matthew Henry
John Hunter (1903)
Pomeranian Agenda
Saxon Agenda

September 21, St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Mozarabic

September 29, St. Michael and All Angels
Mozarabic

October 18, St. Luke, Evangelist

October 23, St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of our Lord, Martyr

October 28, St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles

October 31, Reformation
Veit Dietrich
Hamburg
Saxon Agenda
Paul C. Stratman

November 1, All Saints Day
Veit Dietrich

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (Annotated)

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (Annotated) is now available through Amazon.com.

This collection of prayers for daily use has been gathered from many sources, ancient and modern. It has historical interest, and the literary quality has been carefully considered, but the primary object is to nourish the spiritual life. As the design is to provide a brief selection for every day, in many cases a portion only of a long prayer is given, or it is condensed by omission, but alterations have been made as sparingly as possible. Fourteen centuries of prayer, aspiration, and praise unite here in one harmony of devotion.
Mary Wilder Tileston, from the Preface to Prayers Ancient and Modern

The book Prayers Ancient and Modern was also published under the title Great Souls at Prayer. Mary Wilder Tileston made a revised edition in 1928 in which she removed about a quarter of the prayers from the 1897 edition and added newer prayers. This revision is based on the 1897 edition to give preference to ancient prayers.

All the prayers in this edition have been modified, some more freely than others. Most I revised in such a way that they remain direct quotes of the originals.

In all the revision and overhauling, I tried to keep some of the language and spirit of the originals. Prayers Ancient and Modern is available and downloadable from Google Books and from Archive.org if readers wish to compare this book with the original.

In this annotated edition, a short biography or explanation of the source is given the first time that author or source appears in this book. If no annotation of author or source is given for a prayer, consult the Index of Authors. Biographies and explanations are condensed from Wikipedia, archive.org, and other sources.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (Annotated) now has no substituted prayers. Every prayer from the 1897 edition of Prayers Ancient and Modern is now reproduced in modern English.

Available for Kindle and in paperback through Amazon.com.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Lord God, our heavenly Father,
you are high above all things,
holy beyond all that is holy,
good beyond all that is good.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you often told your disciples, “do not be afraid,”
and you also tell us, “Do not let your heart be troubled.”

Holy Spirit,
you create and strenghten faith
with Word and Sacrament,
communicating your promise
of life, peace, and forgiveness
to give us hope.

Today we remember the terrorist attacks on our country
twenty-five years ago.

Teach us to remember your goodness,
your consolation,
your promise,
that even in a broken world,
where people try to use fear and destruction
to bring about change,
we trust you,
and find our refuge,
peace,
and security
in you alone.

You live and reign, now and forever.
Amen.

Paul C. Stratman
September 11, 2026

September 11

My God, you are always new, even though you are most ancient. You alone are my food for eternity. I am to live forever; not for a time—and I have no power over my being. I must live on, with intellect and consciousness forever, despite myself. Without you, eternity would be another name for eternal misery. In you alone I have something to sustain me forever; you alone are the food of my soul. You alone are inexhaustible, and you always offer me something new to know, something new to love. And so, for eternity I will ever be like a little child starting to learn the basics of your infinite Divine nature. For you yourself are the seat and center of all good, and the only substance in this universe of shadows, and the heaven in which blessed spirits live and rejoice. Amen.

Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801–1890), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 10

Lord, I lay before you all sins and offences I have committed against you, from the day I first could sin to this very hour. Consume and burn them all with the fire of your love. Do away with all the stains of my sins, cleanse my conscience from all offences, restore to me your grace, fully forgiving me all, and mercifully give me your kiss of peace.

I also lay before you all that is good in me, for you have made me right and sanctified me. Make me grateful and accepting of you, always growing more and more. By your grace, bring me also to a good and blessed end. Amen.

Source: Adapted from Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380-1471), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 9

Lord, give us grace to hear and obey your voice which says to every one of us “This is the way, walk in it.” Do not let us hear it behind us, saying, “This is the way,” but rather before us, saying, “Follow me.” When you lead us, go before us. When the way is too difficult for us, carry us. In the shadow of death, comfort us. In the day of resurrection, satisfy us. Amen.

Source: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, sanctify and shepherd your people, that we who are strengthened by your help may walk with you daily, and serve you with a quiet spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Roman Breviary, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 8

Good Lord, you alone do all things well. I cast myself on your infinite mercy. I trust you with my all, myself, and all I love, and all I desire, my present and my future, my hopes and my fears, my time and my eternity, my joys and my sorrows. Deal with me as you know best. Keep me safe in your eternal love. Amen.

Source: Treasury of Devotion, 1869, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, Fountain of all goodness, your tender mercies are over all your people, and you have compassion on all who fear you, just as a father pities his children. In the many changes and sorrows of this earthly life, grant us a patient acceptance of your will, and contentment under your promise. Amen.

Source: New Church Book of Worship, 1876, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 7

Warm my cold heart, Lord. Form me after your own image. Give me grace to obey you in all things and to always follow where you lead. Teach me to be kind to others, to be gentle and unselfish, careful to hurt no one by word or deed, but eager to do good to all and to make others happy. Lord, forgive the sins of my temper. Pardon all my hasty words and unchristian thoughts. Make me watchful, so that I do not offend with my tongue. Give me a meek and loving spirit, which is of high value in your sight. I do not want to live for myself, but for you. Keep me today, Lord, from all sin, and from anything that displeases you; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Source: Bishop Ashton Oxenden (1808-1892), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 6

Eternal and most glorious God, do not let me undervalue myself that I give away my soul for nothing, for I am your soul, your dear and precious soul. All the world is nothing, so why would I give my soul for it? Preserve my soul, Lord, for it belongs to you, and preserve my body because it belongs to my soul. You alone pilot my boat through its voyage, but a pilot has a greater concern for a boat when it comes to a narrow current, or to a dangerous waterfall. You care for the preservation of my body throughout my life. When death draws near, open your eyes wider, and watch me carefully that no illness or agony may shake or numb my soul. Prepare my bed, that in any sickness or hardship, under your hand, I may be content with any bed you make. Amen.

Source: John Donne (1573–1631), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 5

Eternal God, darkness and light are the same to you, yet you send us your mercy by day and at night your song is with me. There is no light but yours, without, within. As you lift the curtain of night, take the veil from our hearts. Let your day dawn on our souls. Awaken all our labor and our prayer. Although everything else declines, let the noonday sun of your grace and peace remain. Let us follow Jesus while it is day, just as he finished your most divine work in his few years. Amen.

Source: Adapted from James Martineau (1805-1900), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Lord, make us reflect your heavenly kingdom here through mutual love, that all hatred may be banished, and all hearts full of love, joy and gladness. Amen.

Source: Ludovicus (Juan Luis) Vives, 1492-1540, revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.

September 4

Almighty God, since we are bathed in the new light of your eternal truth, show yourself to us clearly, that with heart and mind we follow you in word and deed. Amen.

Rowland Williams (1818-1870), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Almighty God, giver of all wisdom, enlighten my understanding with knowledge of right, and govern my will by your laws, that no deceit may mislead me, no temptation may corrupt me, that I may always endeavor to do good, and to hinder evil. Amid all the hopes and fears of this world, do not take your Holy Spirit from me, but grant that my thoughts may be fixed on you, and that I may finally enter your eternal happiness, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784), revised from Prayers Ancient and Modern.

Prayers Ancient Made Modern (annotated) is available in print and on Amazon Kindle through Amazon.com.

Based on Prayers Ancient and Modern originally selected and arranged by Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897. Now in public domain.