Prayers

IN THE MORNING

    Into thy hands, O God, I commend myself this day. Let thy presence be with me even to its close, that at night I may again give thanks unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    Grant, O Lord, that I may not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto my life's end. Amen.
    Defend, O Lord, this thy Child with thy heavenly grace; that I may continue thine for ever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until I come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.

AT NIGHT

    O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.
    The God of peace himself sanctify me wholly, and may my spirit and soul and body be preserved entire without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
    Abide with us, O Lord, this night, and with all the sick and sorrowful, the forsaken and weary, to strengthen and to cheer, and to give rest. Amen.
    Thine is the day, O Lord, and thine the night; Grant that the sun of righteousness may abide in our hearts, to drive away the darkness of evil thoughts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    O Lord, Lover of men, who forgivest us our sins; Cleanse us of all that is base or selfish, and make us to be in all things thy servants, and the messengers of thy love. Amen.
    Grant, O Lord, that we may meet all difficulties and temptations with a stedfast heart, in the strength of thy indwelling spirit. Amen.
    Shield us, O God, from the darkness of soul which seeth thee not, and from the loneliness of heart which heareth not thy voice, and through life and in the valley of the shadow of death, forsake us not; for thy Name's sake. Amen.
    Deepen and quicken in us, O God, a sense of thy Presence, and make us to know and feel that thou art more ready to teach and to give than we to ask or to learn; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, May I know thee more clearly,
May I love thee more dearly,
May I follow thee more nearly. Amen.
    O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. Amen.

ON ENTERING CHURCH

    O Lord, I am in thy holy House. Help me to keep my thoughts on thee, that I may hear thee speaking in my heart, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
 

AT EARLY EUCHARIST

    As watchmen look for the morning, so do we look for thee, O Christ. Come with the dawning day, and make thyself known to us in the breaking of Bread, for thou art our God for ever and ever. Amen.

BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION

    Incline our hearts, O God, that by the grace of thy Holy Spirit we may worthily approach these sacred mysteries and offer ourselves to thee in answering love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AFTER CHURCH SERVICE

    Sanctify, O Lord, both our coming in and our going forth; and grant that when we leave thy House we may not leave thy Presence, but be thou ever near unto us and keep us near unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN ACT OF ADORATION

    Worthy art thou, O God, to receive the honour and the power; for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they are and were created.

Glory be to thee, O God.

    Glory to thee, O Christ, who didst redeem with thy love men of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.

Glory be to thee, O Christ.

    Glory to thee, O Holy Spirit, for thy work in the Church, which will not cease until thou hast made of all mankind one family, to the praise and glory of God.

Glory be to thee, O Holy Spirit.

FOR GOD'S HELP

    Grant us, O Lord, in all our duties thy help, in all our perplexities thy counsel, in all our dangers thy protection, and in all our sorrows thy peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
    Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR GOD'S PROTECTION

    O Almighty and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR AID AGAINST PERILS

    Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
 

FOR GOD'S MERCY

    O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

    O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR CHRISTIAN GLADNESS

    O God, Author of the world's joy, Bearer of the world's pain; At the heart of all our trouble and sorrow let unconquerable gladness dwell; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

FOR THE COMPANIONSHIP OF CHRIST

    O blessed Christ, who didst draw near to thy disciples as they walked together by the way and were sad; So draw near to us as we journey along our daily way. Open to us the meaning of life, and reveal thyself as our strength and our companion; as thou art our Lord and Saviour evermore. Amen.

FOR VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION

    Grant us, O Lord, to pass this day in gladness and peace, without stumbling and without stain; that, reaching the eventide victorious over all temptation, we may praise thee, the eternal God, who art blessed, and dost govern all things, world without end. Amen.

FOR CONTROL OF SPEECH

    O God, who knowest how often we sin against thee with our tongues; keep us free from all untrue, unkind, irreverent or unclean words; consecrate our speech to thy service; and keep us often silent, that our hearts may speak to thee and may listen for thy voice; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THOSE WE LOVE

    Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR LOYALTY TO OUR HOMES

    Grant, O Lord, to those in the service of their country who have left wives and children at home, a stedfast loyalty through all the days of separation, that returning at length to their beloved they may know the joy of unbroken fidelity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR FIDELITY

    Teach us, good Lord, to serve thee as thou deservest; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds: to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

FOR LOYALTY

    Almighty God, grant us thy gift of loyalty. For our homes, give us love and obedience; for our country, sacrifice and service; for our Church, reverence and devotion; and in everything make us true to thee; through thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

FOR COURAGE

    O Thou, who art heroic love: Keep alive in our hearts that adventurous spirit which makes men scorn the way of safety, so that thy will be done. For so only, O Lord, shall we be worthy of those courageous souls who in every age have ventured all in obedience to thy call; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR STEDFASTNESS

    O God, Who rulest the world from everlasting to everlasting: Speak to our hearts when courage fails, and we faint for fear; when our love grows cold, and there is distress of nations upon the earth. Keep us resolute and stedfast in the things that cannot be shaken, abounding in hope and knowing that our labor is not in vain in thee. Deepen our faith in thine eternal purpose; renew in us that love which never fails; and make us to lift up our eyes to behold, beyond the things which are seen and temporal, the things which are unseen and eternal. We ask all in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR GRACE TO FORGIVE

    Merciful God, in whose dear Son we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins; give us such strong belief in this the only power that can abolish evil that we shall be enabled to forgive our enemies; and grant us grace not only to forgive but to accept forgiveness through Christ, the crucified. Amen.

FOR A DAY OF BATTLE

    Heavenly Father, on a day of battle I commit myself body and soul to thy keeping. When I am in peril of life give me courage to do my duty. When I am tempted to sin give me strength to resist. If I am sick or wounded grant me healing. If I fall, of thy mercy receive me to thyself, forgiving me all my sins. Bless all who are near and dear to me and keep them in thy fatherly care. And in thy good providence, out of this evil bring a lasting peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE NATION

    O eternal God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR ALL IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY

    O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defense, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

FOR OUR ARMED FORCES

    Heavenly Father, we commend to thy gracious care and keeping all the men and women in our Armed Forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with thy heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that beset them; and help them to know that none can pluck out of thy hand those who put their trust in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    O Eternal God, we commend to thy fatherly care all those who are enlisted ill the Armed Forces. In time of preparation grant that discipline and training may fit them worthily to serve our country, and in the day of strife guide and sustain them in upholding the cause of justice and freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR SERVICEMEN AND SERVICEWOMEN

    Almighty Father, we commit to thy loving care all those servicemen and servicewomen upon whose faithfulness the welfare of our Armed Forces depends. In the fulfilment of their duties give them patience, loyalty, and courage; and grant that those who are sustained by their toil may remember them with gratitude; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE ARMY

    O Lord God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the soldiers of our country. Support them in the day of battle, and in the times of rest and training keep them safe from all evil; endue them with courage and loyalty; and grant that in all things they may serve without reproach; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE NAVY

    O eternal Lord God, who alone spread est out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; Vouchsafe to take into thy almighty and most gracious protection our country's Navy, and all who serve therein. Preserve them from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy; that they may be a safeguard unto the United States of America, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our land may in peace and quietness serve thee our God, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE AIR FORCE

    O Lord God of hosts, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; Watch over and protect, we pray thee, the airmen of our country as they fly upon their appointed tasks. Give them courage as they face the foe, and skill in the performance of their duty. Sustain them with thy Everlasting Arms. May thy hand lead them and thy right hand hold them up that they may return to the earth with a grateful sense of thy mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE MARINE CORPS

    O Eternal Father, we commend to thy protection and care the members of the Marine Corps. Guide and direct them in the defense of our country and in the maintenance of justice among nations. Protect them in the hour of danger. Grant that wherever they serve they may be loyal to their high traditions and that at all times they may put their trust in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

FOR THE COAST GUARD

    O Lord, who of old didst still the raging of the sea, watch over, we beseech thee, the men of the Coast Guard as they sail upon their missions of helpfulness and succour. Grant them courage and skill and a safe return, and a grateful sense of thy mercy toward them; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE MERCHANT MARINE

    Almighty God, who raiseth the wind and who makketh the storm a calm, we pray thee for thy blessing upon the seamen of the Merchant Marine, Grant that they that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, may see thy works, O Lord, and thy wonders in the deep. Preserve them from all peril, both of body and of soul, both at sea and ashore; and give them a heart to praise thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR CHAPLAINS IN THE ARMED FORCES

    Blessed Lord, who didst commission thy disciples to continue the work which the Father sent thee into the world to do, support, we beseech thee, with thy Holy Spirit, those who minister in the Armed Forces of our country. Give them grace that they may both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy sacraments. Strengthen them in their temptations and make them courageous in the perils of their calling, that they may glorify thee before all men; and do thou hold them ever in thy gracious keeping; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THOSE WHO MINISTER TO THE WOUNDED AND SICK

    O merciful God, whose blessed Son went about doing good; Uphold with thy strength and grace those who do service to the wounded and the sick; grant to the ministers of thy gospel faithfulness and love, to the physicians and surgeons wisdom and skill, to the nurses sympathy and patience; and we beseech thee to protect and bless them in all dangers, anxieties, and labours; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND ALL IN CIVIL AUTHORITY

    Almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite; Have mercy upon this whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, The Governor of this State, and all others in authority, that they, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thy honour and glory: and that we and all the People, duly considering whose authority they hear, may faithfully and obediently honour them, according to thy blessed Word and ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY

    O Lord God Almighty, guide, we pray thee, all those to whom thou hast committed the government of this nation, and grant to them at this time special gifts of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and strength; that upholding what is right, and following what is true, they may obey thy holy will and fulfil thy divine purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM

    O God, the King of righteousness, lead us, we pray thee, in ways of justice and peace; inspire us to break down all tyranny and oppression, to gain for every man his due reward, and from every man his due service; that each may live for all and all may care for each, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IN TIME OF WAR

    O God, who seest that in this warfare we are seeking to serve thee, and yet in the waging of it must needs do many things that are an offence against thy love, because of the frailty of our nature. Accept we pray thee, our imperfect offering. Arm us with thy Spirit that our warfare may further the victory of thy justice and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR WORLD PEACE

    Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed; Kindle, we pray thee, in the hearts of all men the true love of peace, and guide with thy strong and peaceful wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility thy kingdom may go forward, till the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    O God, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the whole earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh; Grant that all men everywhere may seek after thee and find thee. Guide, we beseech thee, the Nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
    Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, and no strength known but the strength of love; So guide and inspire, we pray thee, the work of all who seek thy kingdom, that the nations may find their security not in force of arms but in that perfect love which casteth out fear, and in that fellowship revealed to us by thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR A WILL TO PEACE

    Almighty God, by whose grace we look for the day when nation shall not any more lift up sword against nation, and when men shall live without fear in security and peace, grant to us in this time of strife the will to labor for peace even while our sword is drawn to resist the oppressor. Let not the evil we oppose turn us from our purpose to achieve unity and concord among the nations of the earth, to thy honor and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE UNITED NATIONS

    Almighty God, we pray thee to guide by thy Holy Spirit the Council and the Assembly of the United Nations. Give to them a right judgment in all things, and the will to seek not only the welfare of their own people, but the greater good of the security and peace and unity of all mankind, that so thy Kingdom may be advanced in the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

FOR THE WOUNDED

    O Lord, we pray thee to have mercy upon all who are this day wounded and suffering. Though kindred and friends be far away, let thy grace be their comfort. Raise them to health again, if it be thy good pleasure; but chiefly give them patience and faith in thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THOSE IN MENTAL DARKNESS

    O Heavenly Father, we beseech thee to have mercy upon all thy children who are living in mental darkness. Restore them to strength of mind and cheerfulness of spirit, and give them health and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR PRISONERS

    We beseech thee, O God, for all prisoners and captives, and all who suffer from oppression, that thou wilt manifest thy mercy toward them, and make the heart of man merciful as thine own, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE LONELY

    Have compassion, O most merciful Lord, on all who are lonely and desolate. Be thou their Comforter and Friend; give them such earthly solace as thou seest to be best for them; and bring them to the fuller knowledge of thy love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE PERSECUTED

    O blessed Lord, who thyself didst undergo the pain and suffering of the Cross; Uphold, we beseech thee, with thy promised gift of strength all those of our brethren who are suffering for their faith in thee. Grant that in the midst of all persecutions they may hold fast by this faith, and that from their stedfastness thy Church may grow in grace and we ourselves in perseverance, to the honor of thy Name, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost art one God, world without end. Amen.

FOR THE DYING

    Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

FOR ONE DEPARTED

    Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant (N.), and we pray thee that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive him more and more into thy joyful service; that he may win, with thee and thy servants everywhere, the eternal victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

    Almighty God, who didst offer thy only Son to be made perfect through suffering, and to win our salvation by enduring the cross; sustain with thy healing power all those whose loved ones have given their lives in the service of our country. Redeem, we pray thee, the pain of their bereavement, that knowing their loss to be the price of our freedom, they may remember the gratitude of the nation for which they gave so costly a sacrifice. And grant, O Lord, that these dead shall not have died in vain, and that out of the distress of this present age there may arise a new and better world in which thy will shall rule, to the honor of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

FOR OUR ENEMIES

    O Saviour of the world, our Redeemer, whose love embraces all mankind, we hear thy prayer from the Cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Forgive, O Lord, those who have poured out the innocent blood and caused suffering in the world. May our prayers be for them a ministry of reconciliation. We ask it in thine own Name. Amen.

BENEDICTIONS

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us evermore. Amen.
    The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace, this night and evermore. Amen.

FOR THOSE AT HOME

    Into thy hands, O Father, I commend this day (this night) my home, my family, and all who are dear to me. Bless them with the knowledge of thy continual presence, uphold them in all cares and trials, sustain them with thy power; and grant that, drawing nearer to thee and to each other, we may ever rejoice in the fellowship of those who trust in thy goodness and thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.