Commontide

Preparation for Personal Prayer

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Commontide
Collect
Prayers

A Collect for Grace

Wednesday — Morning Prayer

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Domine Sancte Pater omnipotens æterne Deus: qui nos ad principium hujus diei pervenire fecisti: tua nos hodie salva virtute, et concede: ut in hac die ad nullum declinemus peccatum nec ullum incurramus periculum: sed semper ad tuam justitiam faciendam omnis nostra actio tuo moderamine dirigatur.

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Original-language source · public domain

Provenance

Sarum Prime, med.; Cranmer 1549

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

This morning collect was prayed at the opening of the Christian day in the medieval Latin offices. Cranmer translated it from the Latin breviary of Salisbury for the first English prayer book in 1549, and the essential petition, for protection from sin and danger as the day begins, has not changed since.