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
Prayer
Prayers

A Prayer for Mission (2)

Evening Prayer

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

Provenance

After St. Augustine, c. 1913 / BCP 1979

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

A night prayer for those who work, watch, weep, or sleep, long cherished as the prayer of St. Augustine, which took its present English form in the early 20th century and entered Anglican liturgy through the 1979 American prayer book.