O God the Father, origin of Divinity, good beyond all that is good, fair beyond all that is fair, in whom is calmness, peace, and concord; do Thou make up the dissensions which divide us from each other, and bring us back into a unity of love, which may bear some likeness to Thy divine nature. And as Thou art above all things, make us one by the unanimity of a good mind, that through the embrace of charity and the bonds of affection, we may be spiritually one, as well in ourselves as in each other; through that peace of Thine which maketh all things peaceful, and through the grace, mercy, and tenderness of Thy Son, Jesus Christ.Amen.
—Dionysius of the Syrian Jacobite Church
O Thou who art the everlasting Essence of things beyond space and time and yet within them; Thou who transcendest yet pervadest all things, manifest Thyself unto us, feeling after Thee, seeking Thee in the shades of ignorance. Stretch forth Thy hand to help us, who cannot without Thee come to Thee; and reveal Thyself unto us, who seek nothing beside Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—John Scotus Erigena
Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all creatures, we pray Thee for Thy great mercy, that Thou guide us better than we have done, towards Thee, and guide us to Thy will, to the need of our soul, better than we can ourselves. And steadfast our mind towards Thy will and to our soul’s need. And strengthen us against the temptations of the devil, and put far from us all lust, and every unrighteousness, and shield us against our foes, seen and unseen. And teach us to do Thy will, that we may inwardly love Thee before all things, with a pure mind. For Thou art our maker and our redeemer, our help, our comfort, our trust, our hope; praise and glory be to Thee now, ever and ever, world without end.Amen.
—Alfred the Great
O Thou who art the Father of that Son which hast awakened us, and yet urgest us out of the sleep of our sins, and exhortest us that we become Thine, to Thee, Lord, we pray, who art the supreme truth, for all truth that is, is from Thee. Thee we implore, O Lord, who art the highest wisdom, through Thee are wise, all those that are so. Thou art the supreme joy, and from Thee all have become happy that are so. Thouart the highest good, and from Thee all beauty springs. Thou art the intellectual light, and from Thee man derives his understanding. To Thee, O God, we call and speak. Hear us, O Lord, for Thou art our God and our Lord, our father and our creator, our ruler and our hope, our wealth and our honour, our home, our country, our salvation, and our life; hear, hear us, O Lord. Few of Thy servants comprehend Thee, but at least we love Thee—yea, love Thee above all other things. We seek Thee, we follow Thee, we are ready to serve Thee; under Thy power we desire to abide, for Thou art the Sovereign of all. We pray Thee to command us as Thou wilt; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord.Amen.
—Alfred the Great
We implore the mercy of Thy Majesty, that it may please Thee to give to us Thy servants, pardon of our sins, that we, being delivered from all the bonds of the enemy, may cleave to Thy commandments with our whole heart, and evermore love Thee alone, with all our strength, and one day be counted worthy to attain to the sight of Thy blessedness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—Old Rheims Manuscript
May our Lord Jesus Christ be near us to defend us, within us to refresh us, around us to preserve us, before us to guide us, behind us to justify us, above us to bless us, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, God for evermore.Amen.
—Anonymous
We beseech Thee, Lord, open Thy heavens; from thence may Thy gifts descend tohim. Put forth Thine own hand from heaven and touchhishead. Mayhefeel the touch of Thy hand, and receive the joy of the Holy Spirit, thathemay remain blessed for evermore.Amen.
—Ethelwold of York
OLord, O King, resplendent on the citadel of heaven, all hail continually; and of Thy clemency upon Thy people still do Thouhave mercy.
Lord, Whom the hosts of cherubim in songs and hymns with praise continually proclaim, do Thouuponus eternallyhave mercy.
The armies aloft, OLord, do sing high praiseto Thee, even they to whom the seraphim reply, “do Thouhave mercy.”
OChrist, enthroned as King above, whom the nine orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing, deign Thouupon us, Thy servants, ever tohave mercy.
OChrist, whom Thy one only Church throughout the world doth hymn, O Thou to whom the sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, do service ever, do Thouhave mercy.
OChrist, those holy ones, the heirs of the eternal country, one and all with utter joy proclaim Thee in a most worthy strain: do Thouhave mercy upon us.
OLord, O gentle Son of Mary free, O King of Kings, blessed Redeemer, upon those who have been ransomed from the power of death, by Thine own blood, everhave mercy.
O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son, having no beginning of age, yet without effort (in the weakness of God) excelling all things, upon this Thy congregation in Thy pity,Lord have mercy.
O Sun of Righteousness, in all unclouded glory, supreme dispenser of justice, in that great day when Thou shalt strictly judge all nations, we earnestly beseech Thee, upon This Thy people, who here stand before Thy presence, in Thy pity,Lord, then have mercy upon us.Amen.
—Dunstan of Canterbury
Glory be to Thee, Almighty Father, who hast given to them that fear Thee the heavenly bread of life, that we may be mindful of the marvels which Thou hast wrought upon the earth, by sending us Thy only begotten Son, very man, born of a pure virgin. We give thanks, as is most justly due, to Thee, O Holy Father, who didst create us ere yet we were, and whilst we were yet sinners didst make us partakers of Thy heavenly grace, through the same Thy Son, our Lord and God, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost maketh, ordereth, and ruleth all things for ever and ever, world without end.Amen.
—Dunstan of Canterbury
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
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, drawnear to each; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—Anselm
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 usnow, 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
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
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
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 continuallyglorify Thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
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
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
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 withinus, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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, andwe 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
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
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
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
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
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
Almighty God, we invoke Thee, the fountain of everlasting light, and entreat Thee to sendforth Thy truth into our hearts, and to pour upon us the glory of Thy brightness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—Sarum Breviary
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
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
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 allsuch things as be well-pleasing in the sight of Thy Divine Majesty; for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord.Amen.
—Roman Breviary
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
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
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, bythe 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
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
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
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
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
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
[O God,] my heart is a vain heart, a vagabond and instable heart; while it is led by its own judgment, and wanting divine counsel, cannot subsist in itself; and whilst it divers ways seekest not, findeth none, but remaineth miserable through labor, and void of peace: it agreeth not with itself, it dissenteth from itself, it altereth resolutions, changeth the judgment, frameth new thoughts, pulleth down the old, and buildeth them up again: it willeth and willeth not; and never remaineth in the same state.
Come, Holy Spirit, and bring from heaven a ray of Thy light! Come, Thou father of the poor, Thou giver of gifts, Thou light of the world, the blessed Comforter, the dear guest of the soul, and its sweetest refreshment; Thou, our repose in labor, our coolness in heat, our comfort in affliction! O, most blessed Spirit, fill full the hearts of Thy faithful people! Without Thy influence there is nothing in man which is not weakness and guilt. O, cleanse that which is sordid; bedew that which is dried up; heal that which is wounded; bend that which is stubborn, cherish in Thy bosom that which is cold; guide that which is wandering; and grant unto Thy servants, putting their trust in Thee, the merit of Thy righteousness; grant them final salvation;grant them everlasting joy! O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come unto Thee.Amen.
—Bernard of Clairvaux
Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts!Thou fount of life! Thou light of men!From the best bliss that earth imparts,We turn unfilled to Thee again.
Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts!
Thou fount of life! Thou light of men!
From the best bliss that earth imparts,
We turn unfilled to Thee again.
Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;Thou savest those that on Thee call;To them that seek Thee, Thou art good,To them that find Thee—All in All!
Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on Thee call;
To them that seek Thee, Thou art good,
To them that find Thee—All in All!
We taste Thee, O Thou living bread,And long to feast upon Thee still;We drink of Thee, the fountain head,And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
We taste Thee, O Thou living bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the fountain head,
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,Where’er our changeful lot is cast;Glad, when Thy gracious smile we see,Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast.
Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,
Where’er our changeful lot is cast;
Glad, when Thy gracious smile we see,
Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast.
O Jesus, ever with us stay!Make all our moments calm and brightChase the dark night of sin away—Shed o’er the world Thy holy light!
O Jesus, ever with us stay!
Make all our moments calm and bright
Chase the dark night of sin away—
Shed o’er the world Thy holy light!
Amen.
Amen.
—Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux
O Lord Jesus, grant us Thy grace and give unto us time for repentance. We would keep Thy commandments and do Thy bidding, choose the better part and no longer follow after evil; grant us Thy strength that this may so be, O loving Saviour for Thine own name’s sake.Amen.
—Dan Jeremy
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;Where hate rules, let me bring love,Where malice, forgiveness,Where disputes, reconciliation,Where error, truth,Where doubt, belief,Where despair, hope,Where darkness, Thy light,Where sorrow, joy!
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where hate rules, let me bring love,
Where malice, forgiveness,
Where disputes, reconciliation,
Where error, truth,
Where doubt, belief,
Where despair, hope,
Where darkness, Thy light,
Where sorrow, joy!
O Master, let me strive more to comfort others than to be comforted,To understand others than to be understood,To love others, more than to be loved!
O Master, let me strive more to comfort others than to be comforted,
To understand others than to be understood,
To love others, more than to be loved!
For he who gives, receives,He who forgets himself, finds,He who forgives, receives forgiveness,And dying, we rise again to eternal life.Amen.
For he who gives, receives,
He who forgets himself, finds,
He who forgives, receives forgiveness,
And dying, we rise again to eternal life.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
My God, and my all, who art Thou, sweetest Lord, my God? And who am I, a poor worm, Thy servant? Holiest Lord, I would love Thee! Sweetest Lord, I would love Thee! Lord, my God, I give to Thee all my heart and body, andvehemently desire, if I might know how, to do more for Thy love.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
Now to that God, who has suffered so much for us, who at one giving has conferred on us so many good things, and will yet confer so many more, to this God let every creature who is in heaven or upon the earth, in the sea or in the depth of the abyss, render praise, glory, honour and blessing. He is himself our virtue and our strength. He alone is good, lofty, almighty, admirable, and glorious; the only holy, worthy of praise and blessed through ages of ages.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
God, almighty, eternal, righteous, and merciful, give to us poor sinners to do for Thy sake all that we know of Thy will, and to will always what pleases Thee, so that inwardly purified, enlightened, and kindled by the fire of the Holy Spirit, we may follow in the footprints of Thy well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
Almighty, most holy, most high and supreme God, holy and just Father, Lord, king of heaven and earth, for Thyself we give thanks to Theebecause by Thy holy will, and by Thine only Son, Thou hast created all things spiritual and corporal in the Holy Ghost and didst place us made to Thine image and likeness in paradise, whence we fell by our own fault. And we give Thee thanks because, as by Thy Son Thou didst create us, so by the true and holy love with which Thou hast loved us, Thou didst cause Him, true God and true man, to be born.... And we give thanks to Thee because Thy Son Himself is to come again in the glory of His Majesty ... to say to all who have known Thee and adored Thee, and served Thee in repentance: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” And since all we wretches and sinners are not worthy to name Thee, we humbly beseech Thee, that our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, in whom Thou art well pleased, together with the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, may give thanks to Thee as it is pleasing to Thee and Them, for all.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
Almighty, most holy, most high, and supreme God, highest good, all good, wholly good, who alone art good, to Thee we render all praise, all glory, all thanks, all honor, all blessing, and we shall always refer all good to Thee.
Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God,give to us wretches to do for Thee what we know Thee to will and to will always that which is pleasing to Thee; so that inwardly purified, inwardly illumined and kindled by the flame of the Holy Ghost, we may be able to follow in the footsteps of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Thy grace alone come to Thee the Most High, who in perfect Trinity and simple unity livest and reignest and gloriest God Almighty for ever and ever.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
Lord Jesus, Thou didst choose Thine apostles to the number of twelve, and if one of them did betray Thee, the others, remaining united to Thee, preached Thy holy Gospel, filled with one and the same inspiration; and behold now, remembering the former days, Thou hast raised up the Religion of the Brothers in order to uphold faith, and that by them the mystery of Thy Gospel may be accomplished. Who will take their place if, instead of fulfilling their mission and being shining examples for all, they are seen to give themselves up to the works of darkness?Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
I beseech Thee, O Lord, that the fiery and sweet strength of Thy love may absorb my soulfrom all things that are under heaven, that I may die for love of Thy love as Thou didst deign to die for the love of my love.Amen.
—Francis of Assisi
Thanks be to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which Thou hast given us; for all the pains and insults which Thou hast borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother, may we know Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, and follow Thee more nearly; for Thine own sake.Amen.
—Richard of Chichester
Grant me, I beseech Thee, O merciful God, prudently to study, rightly to understand, and perfectly to fulfill that which is pleasing to Thee, to the praise and glory of Thy name.
Thou, O Christ, art the King of glory; Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.Amen.
—Thomas Aquinas
Grant me, I beseech Thee, almighty and most merciful God, fervently to desire, wisely to search out, and perfectly to fulfill, all that is well-pleasing unto Thee. Order Thou my worldly condition to the glory of Thy name; and, of all that Thourequirest me to do, grant me the knowledge, the desire, and the ability, that I may so fulfill it as I ought, and may my path to Thee, I pray, be safe, straightforward, and perfect to the end.
Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give me an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give me an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow upon me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace Thee.Amen.
—Thomas Aquinas
Ah! sweet Jesus, pierce the marrow of my soul with the healthful shafts of Thy love, that it may truly burn, and melt, and languish, with the only desire of Thee; that it may desire to be dissolved, and to be with Thee; let it hunger alone for the bread of life: let it thirst after Thee, the spring and fountain of eternal light, the stream of true pleasure; let it always desire Thee, seek Thee, and find Thee, and sweetly rest in Thee.Amen.
—Bonaventura
O Holy God, in whom is all goodness, whose pity and mercy made Thee to descend from thehigh throne down into this world, the valley of woe and weeping, and here to take our nature, and in that nature to suffer pain and death, to bring our souls to Thy Kingdom. Merciful Lord, forgive us all our sins that we have done, thought, and said. O glorious Trinity, send us cleanness of heart and purity of soul; restore us with Thy Holy Spirit, and strengthen us with Thy might, that we may always withstand evil temptations. Comfort us with Thy Holy Ghost, and fulfill us with grace and charity, that we may henceforth live virtuously and love Thee with all our heart, with all our might, and with all our soul, so that we may never offend Thee, but ever follow Thy pleasure in will, word, thought, and deed. Now grant us this, good Lord, that art infinite, which eternally shall endure; through Jesus Christ Thy Son.Amen.
—Richard Rolle
May Jesus Christ, the King of glory, help us to make the right use of all the suffering that God sends, and to offer to Him the true incense of our hearts; for His name’s sake.Amen.
—Johannes Tauler
Grant, most gracious God, that we may love and seek Thee always and everywhere, above all things and for Thy sake, in the life present, and may at length find Thee and for ever hold Thee fast in the life to come. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—Thomas Bradwardine
O Lord Jesus Christ, by Thy glorious resurrection, in which Thou didst appear alive and immortal to Thy disciples and faithful followers, by Thy forty days’ abiding and sweet converse, in which by many infallible proofs, speaking of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, Thou didst comfort them and assure them of Thine actual resurrection, removing all doubt from their hearts. We beseech Thee, O Lord, grant that we may be numbered among those who were fore-ordained by God to be witnesses of Thy resurrection,not only by word of mouth, but in reality of good works; for Thine honour and glory, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest ever one God, world without end.Amen.
—Ludolphus of Saxony
O most blessed Lord, deign to help us, and of Thy great mercy abolish our sins; detach our minds from earthly things, and raise them to the love of heavenly riches. Most merciful God, who dost favour all true love, do Thou so aid and direct us that we may love Thee above all things, and recognizing Thine infinite benefits, may keep them in memory, and give Thee everlasting thanks for them. Finally, grant that ours may be the blessed life which shall enjoy Thy love for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
—Raymond Jordanus
If a man may attain thereunto, to be unto God as his hand is unto man, let him be therewith content, and not seek further....
That we may thus deny ourselves, and forsake and renounce all things for God’s sake, and give up our own wills, and die unto ourselves, and live unto God alone and to his will, may He help us who gave up His will to His heavenlyFather,—Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be blessing for ever and ever.Amen.
—Theologia Germanica
Now, he who will hold to God, loves all things in the One which is One and All; and the One in All, because All is in the One; and he who loves somewhat, this or that, otherwise than in the One, and for the sake of the One, loves not God; for he loves somewhat which is not God, therefore he loves it more than God. But he who loves somewhat more than God, or equally with God, loves not God; for God must be and will be alone loved, and in truth nothing ought to be loved but God alone. And when the True Light and the True divine Love dwell in a man, he loves nothing else but God alone. For he loves God as the Good, and for the sake of the Good, and all Goods as One, and One as All. For, verily, All is One and One is All in God.Amen.
—Theologia Germanica