Book (Prayer)

I
A Diary of Prayer
PRAYER
ELIZABETH
GOUDGE
COWARD-McCANN, Inc.
NEW YORK
Copyright © 1966 by Elizabeth Goudge
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission in writing from the Publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
Decoration by Fritz Kredel

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
<»^»0X»0>O^^»<»<>K»C>>^
The compiler and the publishers are grateful to the following for
permission to include prayers in this anthology:
Geoffrey Bles, Ltd., for extracts from C. S. Lewis' Poems.
The British Broadcasting Corporation for prayers taken from New
Every Morning.
William Collins and Sons and Editions du Seuil, Paris, for the
extract from Le Milieu Divin by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Darton, Longman and Todd, Ltd., for the prayer by Pere Olier taken
from A Cowley Father's Letters.
J. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd., for the prayers taken from Jacopone da
Todi by Evelyn Underbill.
The Epworth Press for the prayer from The Methodist Shorter Book
of Offices.
Clare Kirchberger for extracts from the anthology The Coasts of the
Country, published by Henry Regnery Company.
William Heffer & Sons, Ltd., for the poem of J. S. Hoyland.
The Houghton Mifflin Company for the poem of William Dean
Howells.
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., for two extracts from The Prophet by Kahlil
Gibran.
Longmans, Green & Co., Ltd., for extracts from A Cambridge Bede
Book by Eric Milner- White.
The Macmillan Company for "Student Taper" from the Collected
Poems of James Stephens.
A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., for the prayer from the Life and Letters
of Father Andrew; for extracts from The Face of Love by
Gilbert Shaw; for prayers from Memorials Upon Several
Occasions (published under the present title After the Third
Collect).
The Oxford University Press for the poems of Gerard Manley
Hopkins; for extracts from A Diary of Private Prayer by John
Baillie; for the poem of D. M. Dolben; for extracts from Daily
Prayer by Eric Milner-White; and for the extract from Nevill
Coghill's translation of Visions From Piers Plowman.
Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd., for prayers from the Service of the
Orthodox Synagogue.
St. Martin's Press, Inc., The Macmillan Company of Canada, and
Macmillan & Co., Ltd., London, for the extract from The
Battle of Maldon translated by Kevin Crossley-Holland and
edited by Bruce Mitchell.
[5]
The S. C. M. from A Book of Prayers for
Press, Ltd., for prayers
Students,from Jewish Prayer and Worship, and from Daily
Prayer by Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs.
Sheed & Ward, Ltd., for extracts from the translation by F. J.
Sheed of the Confessions of St. Augustine.
Sheed and Ward, The Society of Heshaim for prayers from the
Sephardi Prayer Book; and for the poem from The Flowering
Tree by Caryll Houselander.
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge for prayers from
My God My Glory by Eric Milner-White and from A Proces-
sion of Passion Prayers, also by Eric Milner-White.
The Literary Trustees of Walter de la Mare and the Society of
Authors as their representative for the poem of Walter de
la Mare.
The Trustees of the Tagore Estate and Macmillan & Co. Ltd. for
the extracts from "Gitanjali No. X," from Collected Poems
and Plays of Rabindranath Tagore.
The Father Provincial of the English Province of the Order of
Preachers for extracts from The True Prayers of St. Gertrude
and St. Mechtilde.
The Committee of the Appeal for Amnesty in Spain for the poem
"Nightwatch" by Marcos Ana.
Miss Norah Thompson for her "Litany for the Animals."
The Rt. Rev. Trevor Huddleston, C. R., for his prayer "God Bless
Africa."
The Rt. Rev. Joost de Blank for his prayer for racial peace.
The Rev. Dr. Leslie D. Weatherhead, C. B. E., for two prayers
from A Private House of Prayer, published by Hodder &
Stoughton.
The Publications Committee of the Episcopal Church in Scotland
Representative Church Council for prayers from the Book of
Common Prayer of that church.
The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church in the U. S. A.
for prayers taken from the Book of Common Prayer of that
church.
The Taize Community for the prayer from The Rule of Taizi.
The West London Synagogue of British Jews for a prayer from the
West London Synagogue Prayer Book.
Singer's Prayer Book Publication Committee for prayers from the
Authorized Daily Prayer Book translated by the Rev. S. Singer.
The Viking Press, Inc., for extracts from Prayers From the Ark by
Carmen Bemos de Gasztold, translated by Rumer Godden,
copyright © 1962 by Rumer Godden, reprinted by permission
of The Viking Press, Inc.
The text of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer is Crown Copyright,
and extracts used herein are reproduced by permission.
Extracts from the Prayer Book as Proposed in 1928 are printed
with the permission of the Holders of the Copyright.
[6]
For Sonia Harwood
PREFACE
0>OX»<»<VK»5>fOX»O>O>0f
These prayers, a mixture of old and new, were not col-

lected for literary merit, though some of the great prayers of
the worid are among them, but as practical help for a Christian
still A proportion of them were
in the kindergarten of prayer.
collected over the years, with no thought of an eventual an-
thology, and so the sources were not always noted and it has
not been easy to discover them. If mistakes have been made
we would ask forgiveness for this. The prayers have been ar-
ranged in diary form, one or two for each day of the year, but
because Christmas is the only great feast of the Church with a
fixed date, prayers for the other feasts will, I am afraid, need
the help of the list of contents to find them. I would like to
thank my friend Adelaide Makower for the help she has given
me. I owe to her the Jewish prayers, and others which she
found and sent to me.
[9]
CONTENTS
JANUARY
Acknowledgments, p.5 / Preface, p. 9
Poem for the Month, p, 14 / Our Dedication of Ourselves to God

and His Presence With Us, p. 14 / For the Church, p. 18 / In
Darkness and Tribulation, p. 22
FEBRUARY
Poem for the Month, p. 30 / Seeking and Longing for God, p. 31 /
For Those Who Suffer 35 / The Will of God, and Our
in Illness, p,
Work, p. 40
MARCH
Poem for the Month, p. 46 / In Praise of Christ Our Lord, p, 47 /
Penitence, p. 52 / The 56
Cross, p.
APRIL
Poem for the Month, p, 64 / Easter, p. 65 / The Glory of the
World, p, 68 / For Our Friends, p. 74
MAY
Poem for the Month, p. 80 / For Prisoners, p. 81 / The Ascen-
sion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, p. 86 / Whitsuntide, p, 89 / The
Holy Trinity, p. 93
JUNE
Poem for the Month, p. 98 / For the Poor and Homeless, the
Refugees, the Lonely, the Unemployed and Those Whose Work Is
Too Hard, p. 99 / The Sacrament of Holy Communion, p. 103 /
For Peace, p, 107
JULY
Poem for the Month, p. 114 / For Deliverance From Self, p. 114
/ For Queen and Commonwealth. Schools and Universities. Teachers,
Scientists,Writers, Artists, Craftsmen and Farmers, p, 120 /
Morning Prayers, p. 124
[11]
AUGUST
Poem for the Month, p. 132 / Prayers of Kings and Queens, p. 133
/ Prayers in Old Age, p, 137 / For Special Graces, p. 142
SEPTEMBER
Poem for the Month, p, 150 / Praise and Thanksgiving, p. 151 /
For Travellers. For Doctors, Nurses and Missionaries. For Those
Who Do Not Know the Mercy of God, p. 154 / Angels, p. 159
OCTOBER
Poem for the Month, p. 166 / For Animals, p, 166 / For Ourselves
When We Are Sick or Sorry, p. 172 / Evening Prayers, p. 177
NOVEMBER
Poem for the Month, p. 184 / All Saints, p. 185 / All Souls. Those
Who Mourn. The Hope of Heaven, p. 186 / Prayers of the Saints,
p. 194
DECEMBER
Poem for the Month, p. 202 / Death and Judgement, p, 203 / For
Children, p. 209 / Christmas, p. 212
[12]
•e@
January
POEM FOR THE MONTH page 14
OUR DEDICATION OF OURSELVES TO GOD

AND HIS PRESENCE WITH US page 14
FOR THE CHURCH page 18
IN DARKNESS AND TRIBULATION page 22

Poem for the Month
JANUARY
He whom I bow to only knows to whom I bow

When I attempt the ineffable Name, murmuring Thou,
And dream of Pheidian fancies and embrace in heart
Symbols (I know) which cannot be the thing Thou art.
Thus always, taken at their word, all prayers blaspheme
Worshipping with frail images a folk-lore dream,
And all men in their praying, self-deceived, address
The coinage of their own unquiet thoughts, unless
Thou in magnetic mercy to Thyself divert
Our arrows, aimed unskillfuUy, beyond desert;
And all men are idolators, crying unheard
To a deaf idol, if Thou take them at their word.
Take not. Oh Lord, our literal sense. Lord, in Thy great,

Unbroken speech our limping metaphor translate.
C. S. LEWIS
Our Dedication of Ourselves to God

and His Presence With Us
JANUARY 1
NEW year's day
Eternal God, who makest all things new, and abidest for
ever the same: Grant us to begin this year in thy faith, and to
continue it in thy favour; that, guided in all our doings, and
guarded all our days, we may spend our lives in thy service,
and finally, by the grace, attain the glory of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ORDER OF DrVINE SERVICE FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP
O Lord our God, great, eternal, wonderful in glory, who

keepest covenant and promise for those that love Thee with
[14]
theirwhole heart; we come before Thee in this our new begin-
ning, beggingThee to cleanse us from our sins, and from every
thought displeasing to Thy goodness, that with a pure heart
and a clear mind we may venture confidently and fearlessly to
pray unto Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
COPTIC LITURGY OF ST. BASIL (ADAPTED)
JANUARY 2
O LordGod, Holy Father ... I am no longer my own, but

Thine. Put me
to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt;
put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for
thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for
thee; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let
me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to thy
pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, Thou art mine, and I am Thine. So be it. And the
Covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
THE METHODIST SHORTER BOOK OF OFFICES
JANUARY 3
O Lord, our God! bless for us this year;
As also every kind of its produce for our benefit:

And bestow dew and rain for a blessing
Upon the face of the earth:
And water the face of the earth;
And satisfy the world with thy goodness:
Replenish our hands with thy blessings,
And with the rich gifts of thy hands.
Protect and guard this year from all manner of evil,
And every form of calamity and destruction:

Cause our hope therein to be good.
So that it may end peacefully.
JEWISH PRAYER
[15]
JANUARY 4
Almighty God, who art beyond the reach of our highest

thought, and yet within the heart of the lowUest; come to us,
we pray thee, in all the beauty of light, in all the tenderness of
love, in all the liberty of truth. Mercifully help us todo jusdy,
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thee. Sanctify all our
desires and purposes, and upon each of us let thy blessing rest;
SERVICE BOOK AND ORDINAL OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOUTH AFRICA (ADAPTED)
JANUARY 5
We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to correct our wander-

ings; and by the guiding radiance of thy compassion to bring
us to the saving vision of thy truth, through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
GOTHIC MISSAL
Be thou, O Lord, our Protector, who art our redemption;

direct our minds by thy gracious presence, and watch over our
paths with guiding love; that, among the snares which lie hidden
in this path wherein we walk, we may so pass onwards with
hearts fixed on thee, that by the track of faith we may come to
be where thou wouldest have us.
MOZARABIC LITURGY
JANUARY 6
EPIPHANY
What gift shall we bring to Thee, O Christ, since Thou as
man on earth hast shown Thyself for us, since every creature
made by Thee brings to Thee its thanksgiving? The angels
brmg their song, the Heavens bring their star, the Magi bring
their gifts, the Shepherds bring their awe, earth gives a cave,
[16]
the wilderness a manger: and we the Virgin Mother bring. God
before all worids, have mercy upon us!
FIRST VESPERS OF CHRISTMAS IN THE GREEK CHURCH
JANUARY 7
Almighty Lord our God, direct our steps into the way of
peace, and strengthen our hearts to obey thy commandments;
may the Day-spring visit us from on high, and give light to
those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; that they
may adore thee for thy mercy, follow thee for thy truth, desire
thee for thy sweetness, who art the blessed Lord God of Israel.
ANCIENT COLLECT
Almighty God, who hast planted the Day-star in the

heavens, and, scattering the night, dost restore morning to the
world, j&ll us, we beseech thee, with thy mercy, so that, thou
being our Enlightener, all the darkness of our sins may be
dispersed, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
SARUM BREVIARY
JANUARY 8
O God, the protector of all the trust in thee, without whom

nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon
r us thy mercy; that, thou being our Ruler and Guide,

we
we may
so pass through things temporal that finally lose not the
things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's
sake our Lord.
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
JANUARY 9
O
Thou, who fillest heaven and earth, ever acting; ever at
rest, who art present everywhere and everywhere art wholly
present, who art not absent even when far off, who with thy
[17]
whole being fillest yet transcendest all things, who teachest the
hearts of the faithful without the din of words; teach us, we
pray thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ST. AUGUSTINE
JANUARY 10
O Saviour Christ, who dost lead them to immortal blessed-

ness, who commit themselves to thee: Grant that we, being
weak, presume not to trust in ourselves, but may always have
thee before our eyes, to follow thee, our guide; that thou, who
only knowest the way, mayst lead us to our heavenly desires. To
thee with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory for ever.
PRIMER (adapted)
For the Church
JANUARY 11
O mystery, deep, unsearchable, eternal, which hast decked,

with a splendid glory, the heavenly dominion, the legions of
fiery spirits in the chamber of light unapproachable. . . . Thou
who didst spread Thy creating arms to the stars, strengthen our
arms with power to intercede when we lift up our hands unto
Thee. Supreme, divine Sovereign of all being. Thou hast covered
us with a robe as with love, to be ministers of Thine holy
mystery. O heavenly King, keep Thy Church immovable, and
maintain in peace the worshippers of Thine Holy Name.
ARMENIAN PRAYER
JANUARY 12
Bless, O
Gracious Father, thy holy Catholic Church. Fill
it with truth and grace. When it is corrupt, purge it; when it
is in error, direct it; when it is superstitious, rectify it; when it
[18]
is amiss, reform it; when it is right, strengthen and confirm it;
when it is divided and rent asunder, heal the breaches of it. O

thou Holy One of Israel, bless all those who are called to any
ofl&ce or ministration in thy Church; replenish them with the
truth of thy doctrine, and with integrity and innocence of life;
remember all and accept their burnt sacrifice.
their offerings,
O Lord, let their prayers be precious in thine ears, and the cries
of all thy people, even of the city of God, be not in vain.
ARCHBISHOP LAUD
JANUARY 13
O Sovereign and Almighty Lord, bless all thy people and

all thy flock. Give peace, thy help, thy love unto us, thy servants,
we may be united in the bond of peace
the sheep of thy fold, that
and one body and one spirit, in one hope of our calling, in
love,
thy divine and boundless love; for the sake of Jesus Christ, the
great Shepherd of the sheep.
LITURGY OF ST. MARK
JANUARY 14
O God the Father, Fount of Godhead, 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 thy
people, and bring up back into an unity of love, which may
bear some likeness to thy sublime nature. Grant this, O Father,
through thine only-begotten Son, that all we who have been
redeemed by the mystery of his Incarnation may remain united
in the fellowship of perpetual peace.
JACOBITE LITURGY OF ST. DIONYSIUS
JANUARY 15
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who on the eve of thy Passion didst

pray that all thy disciples might be one, as thou art in the
[19]
Father, and the Father in thee, grant that we may suffer keenly
on account of the infidelity of our disunion. Grant us the loyalty
to recognize and the courage to reject all our hidden indifference
and mistrust, and our mutual hostility.
Grant that we may find each other in thee, so that from
our hearts and from our lips may ceaselessly arise thy prayer
for the Unity of Christians, such as thou wiliest and by the
means that thou wiliest. Grant that in thee. Who art perfect
charity, we may find the way that leads to Unity, in obedience
to thy love and to thy truth.
ABBE PAUL COUTURIER AND PERE MICHALON
JANUARY 16
O Lord, who wiliest that all thy children should be one in

thee, we pray thee for the unity of thy Church. Pardon all our
pride, and our lack of faith, of understanding and of charity,
which are the cause of our divisions. Deliver us from our narrow-
mindedness, from our bitterness, from our prejudices. Preserve
us from considering as normal that which is a scandal to the
world and an offence to thy love. Teach us to recognize the gifts
of thy grace amongst all those who call upon thee.
LITURGY OF THE REFORMED CHURCH OF FRANCE
JANUARY 17
For Priests and Ministers

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send
thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: Grant that the
ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare
and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the
world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who
livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever
one God, world without end.

[20]
JANUARY 18
O God our King and Saviour, look at this time in your

mercy upon the and ministers of thy Church, facing a
priests
world of danger and confusion, where faith grows weak as
doubts and sufferings increase. Grant to them the outpouring
of thy Holy Spirit that thy truth may be made plain to them and
thy will shine clear, their hearts know the strength of thy courage
and their souls thy peace. Lord, have mercy upon all Christian
people. Deepen our penitence, confirm our faith, increase our
love. Grant to a purged and united Church that she may become,
not in dream and hope only but in very truth, the ark and refuge
of mankind.
JANUARY 19
O God of all the nations of the earth, remember the multi-

tudes of the heathen, who, though created in thine image, have
not known thee, nor the dying of thy Son their Saviour Jesus
Christ; and grant that by the prayers and labours of thy holy
Church they may be brought from all ignorance and unbelief,
and brought to worship thee; through him whom thou hast
sent to be the Resurrection and the Life of all men, the same
thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
ST. FRANCIS XAVEER
JANUARY 20
Prayer of the Dove
The Ark waits.

Lord,
the Ark waits on Your will,
and the sign of Your peace.

I am the dove
simple,
as the sweetness that comes from You.
[21]
The Ark waits,
Lord;
it has endured.
Let me carry it
a sprig of hope and joy,

and put, at the heart of its forsakenness,
this, in which Your love clothes me,
Grace immaculate.
CARMEN BERNOS DE GASZTOLD
In Darkness and Tribulation
JANUARY 21
Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord, Lord,
hear my voice.
let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint.
If thou. Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss,
O Lord, who may abide it?
For there is mercy with thee, therefore shalt thou be feared.

1 look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him: in his word
is my trust.
My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch, I

say before the morning watch.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is
mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins.
PSALM 130
JANUARY 22
Aforetime in our distress, O Lord,
Thou wast wont to vouchsafe unto us thy charity.
Thou didst hold our hands when they faltered;
Thou didst teach us. Do this and live.
But our overthrow came of a sudden.

And then were no hands to stay us.
[22]
Let healing come to the driven leaf.
Repent thee concerning dust and ashes,

And cast our sins far away,
In pity for thy handiwork.
See, we have none to intercede for us.

O deal thou with us mercifully.
JEWISH PRAYER
O answer now the whisper of my prayer;

Be gracious to my cry,
Most holy God!
JEWISH PRAYER
JANUARY 23
O God our Father, hear me, who am trembling in this
darkness, and stretch forth thy hand unto me; hold forth thy
light before me; recall me from my wanderings; and, thou being
my guide, may I be restored to myself and to thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Lord, I am unable to stand under the cross, unable of

myself, but be thou pleased to ease this load by fortifying my
spirit, that I may be strongest when I am weakest, and may be
able to do and suffer everything that thou pleasest, through
Christ who strengthenest me.
JEREMY TAYLOR
JANUARY 24
O Thou God enthroned.
great
Succour me betimes with Thy goodness;
Make my sins unclean
To part from me this night
[23]
For mine afflictions forsake me not,
For my tears' sake do not leave me!
Jesu! Thou likeness of the sun,
In the day of my need be near me!
Leave me not in dumbness,

Dead in the wilderness;
Leave me not to my stumbling.
For my trust is in Thee, my Saviour!
Jesu, meet Thou my soul!

Jesu, clotheme in Thy love!
Jesu, shield Thou my spirit!
Jesu, stretch out to me Thine hand!
THE SUN DANCES
JANUARY 25
O thou whose love to man was proven in the passion and
death of Jesus Christ our Lord, let the power of his cross be
with me to-day. Let me love as he loved. Let my obedience be
unto death. In leaning upon his Cross, let me not refuse my
own; yet in bearing mme, let me bear it by the strength of his.
JOHN BAILLIE
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who comforts
us in all our tribulations. Thank be to God.
THE LITTLE CHAPTER
JANUARY 26
Thou, who art the eternal protection and salvation of our
souls, arm us, we entreat thee, with the helmet of hope, and
the shield of thy invincible defence; that so, helped by thee in
the straits of our necessities, we may be filled with joy and glad-
ness with those who love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SARUM BREVIARY
[24]
JANUARY 27
O Father, help us to know that the hiding of Thy face is
wise love. Thy love is not fond, doting and reasonless. Thy
baims must often have the frosty cold side of the hill, and set
down both their bare feetamongst the thorns: Thy love hath
eyes, and m the meantime is looking on. Our pride must have
winter weather.
! GEORGE MACDONALD
Lord, for the erring thought

Not into evil wrought:
Lord, for the wicked will
Betrayed and baffled still:
For the heart from itself kept,

Our thanksgiving accept.
For ignorant hopes that were

Broken to our blind prayer:
I
For pain, death, sorrow, sent
Unto our chastisement:
For all loss of seeming good,
Quicken our gratitude.
WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS
JANUARY 28
O Saviour Christ, we beseech thee, when the wind is
boisterous, and our weak, and we begin to sink even as

faith
we would fain come to thee on the water, stretch forth thy hand,
O Lord, as of old to thy fearful disciple,and say to the sea of
our difficulties, Peace be still; for thy holy Name's sake.
DEAN VAUGHAN
O Lord God, without Whose sparrow doth not fall

will a
to the ground: Grant and adversity to be quiet,

us in all trouble
without impatience and without murmuring, with our whole trust
[25]
. .
and confidence in thee, who workest all things for the best; to
whom be glory for ever and ever.
PRAYERS OF 1559
JANUARY 29
O my God, thou hast wounded me with love.
Behold the wound that is still vibrating,
O my God, thou hast wounded me with love.
O my God, thy fear hath fallen upon me,

Behold the bum is there, and it throbs aloud.
O my God, thy fear hath fallen upon me.
O my God, I have known all that is vile,

And thy glory hath stationed itself in me,
O my God, I have known all that is vile . .
Take my blood that I have not poured out,
Take my fleshunworthy of thy suffering.

Take my blood that I have not poured out . .
Take my heart that has beaten for vain things,

To throb under the thorns of Calvary,
Take my heart that has beaten for vain things
Ah, thou God of pardon and promises,

What is the pit of mine mgratitude!
Ah, thou God of pardon and promises.
God of terror and God of holiness,

Alas, my sinfulness is a black abyss,
God of terror and holiness.
Thou God of peace, of joy and delight,

All my tears, all my ignorances.
Thou God of peace, of joyous delight.
[26]
Thou, God, knowest all this, all this,
How poor I am, poorer than any man,
Thou, O God, knowest all this, all this.
And what I have, my God, I give to thee.
PAUL VERLAINE
JANUARY 30
The Prayer of the Glow-worm
Dear God,
would You take Your Light
a little farther away
from me?
I am like a morsel
of cinder
I and need Your night
for my heart to dare
to flicker out its feeble star:
its hope, to give the other hearts,
what can be stolen from all poverty-
a gleam of joy.
JANUARY 31
O God, the might of all them that put their trust in thee;
Grant that we may be more than conquerors over all that makes
war upon our souls, and in the end may enter into perfect peace
in thy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ROMAN BREVIARY
O praise our God, ye people, and make the voice of his

praise to be heard;
Who holdeth our soul on life and suffereth not our feet
to slip.
[27]
.
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou also hast tried us,
like as silver is tried ... we went through fire and water, and
thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. . .
O come and hearken, all ye that fear God, and I

hither,
will tell you what he hath done for my soul
Praised be God who hath not cast out my prayer nor

turned his mercy from me.
PSALM 66
[28]
I
February
SEEKING AND LONGING FOR GOD page 31
FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER IN ILLNESS page 35
THE WILL OF GOD, AND OUR WORK page 40

Poem for the Month
FEBRUARY
Lord of the world, he reigned alone

While yet the universe was naught.
When by his will all things were wrought,
Then first his sovran Name was known.
And when the All shall cease to be,

In dread lone splendour he shall reign.
He was, he is, he shall remain
In glorious eternity.
For he is one, no second shares

His nature or his loneliness;
Unending and beginningless.
All strength is his, all sway he bears.
He is the living God to save.

My Rock while sorrow's toils endure,
My banner and my stronghold sure,
The cup of life whene'er I crave.
I place my palm
soul within his
Before when I wake.
I sleep as
And though my body I forsake.

Rest in the Lord in fearless calm.
JEWISH HYMN
[30]
Seeking and Longing for God
FEBRUARY 1
Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks, so longeth my

soul after thee, O God.
My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God:
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
PSALM 42
O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee.

My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee,
in a barren and dry land where no water is.
For thy loving-kindness is better than life itself: my lips

shall praise thee.
Have I my bed, and thought upon
not remembered thee in
thee when was waking?
I
Because thou hast been my helper, therefore under the

shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
PSALM 63
FEBRUARY 2
Thou brightness of eternal glory, thou comforter of the

pilgrim soul, with thee is my tongue without voice, and my
very silence speaketh unto thee. Come, oh, come; for without
thee I shall have no joyful day or hour; for thou art my joy,
and without thee my table is empty. Praise and glory be unto
thee; let my mouth, my soul, and all creatures together, praise
and bless thee.
THOMAS A KEMPIS
And I talked with you as friends talk, my glory and my

riches and my Salvation, my Lord God O thou, the Power
of my soul, enter into it and fit it for thyself, that thou mayest
have it and possess it without spot or wrinkle. This is my hope,
this is my prayer.
CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE
[31]
FEBRUARY 3
Thyself, O my God, thyself for thine own sake above all things
I love.
Thyself as my last end I long for.
Make me therefore in this life present alway

to love thee before all things,
to seek thee in all things,
and at the last in the life to come
to find and to keep thee for ever.
THOMAS BRADWARDINE, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
O Eternal Light, shine in our hearts,

O Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,
O Eternal Power, be our support,

O Eternal Wisdom, scatter our darkness,
O Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;
that with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may
seek Thy face and be brought by Thine infinite mercy to Thy
holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ALEVIN
FEBRUARY 4
We praise thee, O unseen Father, giver of immortality.

Thou art the fount of life, the fount of light, the fount of all
grace and all truth, O lover of men, O lover of the poor, who
dost reconcile thyself toall, and draw all to thyself through the
coming of thy beloved Son. We beseech thee, make us living

men. Give us a spirit of light that we may know thee, the True,
and him whom thou didst send, Jesus Christ. Give us holy
Spirit, that we may be able to tell forth and declare thine
ineffable mysteries. May the Lord Jesus speak in us, and holy
Spirit, and hymn thee through us.
SACRAMENTARY OF SAREPION
[32]
FEBRUARY 5
Open our eyes, O Lord of all goodness, that they may see
thy ways, who hast prepared ours from all eternity; and our
hearts that they may learn of thine, who, when thou lovest,
lovest to the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ERIC MILNER-WHriE
FEBRUARY 6
By the forgiving tenderness, O Lord, wherewith thou didst

ever wait for us; by that tender love wherewith whenever we
wandered, thou didst watch over us; by thine infinite love
wherewith thou wiliest that we should love thee eternally; Give
us love like thine, that we may glow in thy love, and dwelling
in love may dwell in thee.
EDWARD BOUVERIE PUSEY
FEBRUARY 7
You, God of my Love, are the Life of souls, the Life of

lives, Livingness itself, and You shall not change, O Life of
my soul.
We are the mediocre,

we are the half givers,
we are the half lovers,
we are the savourless salt.
Lord Jesus Christ,

restore us now,
to the primal splendour
of first love.
To the austere light
of the breakmg day.
Let us hunger and thirst,
let us bum in the flame.
[33]
Break the hard crust
of complacency.
Quicken in us
the sharp grace of desire.
CARYLL HOUSELANDER
FEBRUARY 8
And if still I cannot find thee, O God, then let me search

my heart and know whether it is not rather I who am blind
than thou who art obscure, and I who am fleeing from thee
rather than thou from me; and let me confess these my sins
before thee and seek thy pardon in Jesus Christ my Lord.
JOHN BAILLIE
Our God, it is thy will in us that willeth.

It is thy desire in us that desireth.
It is thy urge in us that would turn our nights, which are
thine, into days, which are thine also.
We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs
before they are bom in us:
Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou
givest us all.
KAHLIL GIBRAN
FEBRUARY 9
My spirit longs for thee

Within my troubled breast,
Though I unworthy be
Of so divine a Guest.
Of so divine a Guest
Unworthy though I be,
Yet has my heart no rest
Unless it come from thee.
[34]
Unless it come from thee,
In vain I look around;
In all that I can see
No rest is to be found.
No rest is to be found
But in thy blessed love:
O, let my wish be crowned,
And send it from above!
J. BYROM
FEBRUARY 10
God be in my head
And in my understanding.
God be in mine eyes
And in my looking.
God be in my mouth
And in my speaking.
God be in my heart
And in my thinking.
God be at mine end
And at my departing.
SARUM PRIMER (1527)
Thine are goodness, grace, love, kindness, O thou Lover

of men! Gentleness, tenderness, forbearance, long-suffering,
manifold mercies, great mercies, abundant tender compassions.
Glory be to thee, O Lord.
LANCELOT ANDRE WES (16tH CENTURY)
For Those Who Suffer in Illness
FEBRUARY 11
Almighty and everlasting God, who canst banish all aJBBic-

tion both of souland body; show forth the power of thine aid
[35]
upon those who are sick, that by the help of thy mercy they
may be restored to serve thee afresh in holiness of Uving; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
GELASIAN SACRAMENTARY
O thou who art the Healer of all flesh

And bindest up their wounds,
Send a perfect healing from heaven,
A healing of soul and body,
Unto all who lie on a bed of pain in our city.
Turn their weakness into strength,

And bless them with bodily vigour;
Restore them to perfect health,
And prolong their days in happiness and well-being;
And let us say. Amen.
JEWISH PRAYER
FEBRUARY 12
For Those Who Suffer in Severe Illness
Our Saviour Christ,your love for us passes knowledge,

yet kneeling before your cross we see and know that the suf-
fering we inflicted upon you there is turned by the glory of
your love into blessing for us. Your woe
is our weal, your
death our and by your stripes we are healed. Remembering

life,
this, we humbly pray for those who in illness suffer the same
fear, pain and exhaustion that you knew in your passion, know-
mg it for their sakes, that in suffering they might be one with

you in the greatest hour of your redeeming love. We pray for
them that this union with you may be revealed to them in an
increase of courage and strength. We pray that if it be thy will
healing may come to them with all the joy of your resurrection,
but that whether in life or death your love may be made known
to them and your peace bless them for ever.
[36]
FEBRUARY 13
For the Crippled
O Lord Jesus Christ, bound to the pillar and nailed to the

cross, we pray to thee for those who have lost their physical
freedom and can no longer walk with other men and share
their work and joy. We pray for those who lie in iron lungs,
and all held captive by crippling diseases, all injured in accidents
or maimed by war. We remember the young, and we remember
too those who have spent many years in pain and weariness.
Grant, O Lord, that we who have our freedom may never
forget them but may have them always in our hearts and prayers.
Knowing ourselves incapable of their courage and cheerfulness,
we ask with humility and reverence that the bestowals of your
grace may come to them with increasing blessing. Lord, illumine
and patience with your own, uphold them
their fortitude in your
love and possess them with your peace.
FEBRUARY 14
For the Mentally III
O God of light and peace, give light and peace to them

that are of a troubled mind; Grant them courage and patience,
that they may seek for the causes of their ills; and give wisdom
to thosewho help them to do so. And, for those whose sufferings
continue, we pray that they may be cared for in love, and that
none may add to their griefs. We ask this in the name of him
who succoured the distressed, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
SOCIETY OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE
HOLY CROSS, MASSACHUSETTS
For the Nervously III
Lord of great compassion, we pray to you for those who

are nervously ill, and too weak and anxious to lift themselves
above the fear and sadness that threaten to overwhelm them.

Do you yourself, O Lord, lift them up and deliver them, as
[37]
you delivered your disciples in the storm at sea, strengthening
their faith and banishing their fear. Turning to you, O Lord,
may they find you, and finding you may they find also all that
you have laid up for them within the safe fortress of your love
and peace.
FEBRUARY 15
For the Blind

O Lord Jesus upon
Christ, blindfolded as the sun rose
the day of your passion, so that you could not tell who it was
that struck you, knowing only that it was those you loved,
we pray to you for the blind who may no longer look upon
the beauty of this world or the faces of their friends. Lord in
your mercy grant them increasing awareness of the other
world, of which this of our senses is no more than a shadow or
reflection, and of yourself. Light of all worlds. Light of God,
friend and Saviour of our souls, whom to seek is mercy and
to find is rest.
For the Deaf

We pray to thee, O Lord, for those who are deaf and can
no longer hear the birds singing, the music of stringed instru-
ments and all the many voices of the world. We beseech thee,
turn the colours of the world into singing for them, and the
order of it to melodious harmony. Lord, deliver their silence
from emptiness and grant that they may find within it the
full-ness of your love.
FEBRUARY 16
For Sick and Crippled Children

O most loving Lord, you who know all things know that
nothing weighs more heavily on our hearts and minds than the
suffering of sick or crippled children. If sinners can so grieve,
[38]
O Lord, what can this grief be for you in the perfection of your
love? As you bore our sins, so you bear our sorrows, and
would receive our prayers too into your heart, to become a part
of your love that is forever working for us in ways we do not
understand, but in ways that we trust and adore. Lord,
strengthen, bless and direct all the labour, all the prayer, and
all the love that is poured out upon children who suffer, and
grant that there may be no heart left that is unconcerned for

them, and no mind unresolved to make of this sinful world a
safer and happier home for them.
FEBRUARY 17
For the Dying

O Saviour of the world, lifted upon the cross that all men
might be drawn to your love, dying for the salvation of us all,
we beseech thee to make that love and that salvation a growing
reality of glory to those who face their death. Grant to them,
O Lord, thy gift of a perfect repentance, and then may the
heaven of thy forgiveness banish all fear from them forever.
FEBRUARY 18
O Lord we beseech thee,

who art the succour of the succourless,
the hope of them that are past hope,
the saviour of the tempest-tossed,
the harbour of the voyagers,
the physician of the sick;
Thyself become all things to all men,
who knowest each one and his petition,
each house and its need.
And receive us all into thy kingdom
making us children of light;
and thy peace and love bestow upon us,
O Lord our God.
LITURGY OF ST. BASIL
[39]
The Will of God, and Our Work
FEBRUARY 19
God Almighty, Eternal, Righteous, and Merciful, give to

us poor sinners to do for thy sake all that we know of thy will,
and always what pleases
to will 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.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
FEBRUARY 20
Lord, help us to accomplish thy Divine Will, in whatever
manner you may wish to be served by us in this world; using
diligence to keep ourselves peaceful and tranquil, taking every-
thing from the Hand of our Heavenly Father, for in your Hand
alone is the cup from which we have to drink.
JOHN OF BONELLA (ADAPTED)
FEBRUARY 21
O God, who hast made of all those who are bom again in
power
Christ a royal and a priestly race, give us the will and the
to do what thou commandest; that thy people, being called into
eternity, may have one faith in their hearts and one law in their
lives.
GREGORIAN SACRAMENTARY
FEBRUARY 22
Lord, we know not what we ought to ask of thee; thou
only knowest what we need, thou lovest us better than we know
how to love ourselves. O Father, give to us, thy children, that
[40]
which we ourselves know not how to ask. We would have no
other desire than to accomplish thy will. Teach us to pray.
Pray thyself in us; for Christ's sake.
FRANQOIS FENELON (ADAPTED)
FEBRUARY 23
O God, who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired,

should be sought by labour, and who, by thy blessing, bringest
honest labour to good effect; look with mercy upon my studies
and endeavours. Grant me, O Lord, to design only what is law-
ful and right; and afford me calmness of mind, and steadiness of
purpose, that I may so do thy will in this short life, as to
obtain happiness in the world to come, for the sake of Jesus
Christ our Lord.
SAMUEL JOHNSON
FEBRUARY 24
O God, renew our spirits by thy Holy Spirit, and draw our
hearts unto thyself, that our work may not be a burden, but a
delight. Let us not serve as slaves with the spirit of bondage,
but with freedom and gladness as thy sons, rejoicing in thy
will; for Jesus Christ's sake.
BENJAMIN JENKS (17TH CENTURY)
Stir us up to offer to thee, O Lord, our bodies, our souls,

our spirits, in all we love and all we learn, in all we plan and
all we do, to offer our labours, our pleasures, our sorrows to
thee; to work through them for thy Kingdom, to live as those
who are not their own, but bought with thy blood, fed with
thy body; thine from our birth-hour, thine now, and thine for
ever and ever.
CHARLES KINGSLEY
[41]
FEBRUARY 25
Lord, teach us to work with love, knowing that work is
love made visible.
Teach us to weave the cloth with threads drawn from our

heart, even as if you our beloved were to wear that cloth.
To build a house with affection, even as if you were to

dwell in that house.
To sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with

joy, even as if you were to eat the fruit.
To charge all things we fashion with a breath of our own

spirit,
And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about
us and watching.
KAHLIL GIBRAN (ADAPTED)
FEBRUARY 26
Before Starting Any Work

Lord, in union with the love which made Thee deign to
occupy Thyself in work ... I beg Thee to unite my work with
Thy most perfect acts and make it perfect; as a drop of water,
poured into a great river, does all that river does.
THE TRUE PRAYERS OF ST. GERTRUDE AND ST. MECHTILDE
A Cook's Prayer
I desire that, at all times, those who profit by my

Lord,
labour may be not only refreshed in body, but may be also
drawn to Thy love and strengthened in every good.
THE TRUE PRAYERS OF ST. GERTRUDE AND ST. MECHTILDE
[42]
FEBRUARY 27
O Lord, thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I
forget thee, do not forget me.

JACOB ASTLEY BEFORE THE BATTLE OF EDGEHILL
O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour

any great matter, grant us to know that it is not the beginning
but the continuing of the same, until it be thoroughly finished,
which yieldeth the true glory.
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
Keep us. Lord, so awake in the duties of our calling that

we may sleep in thy peace and wake in thy glory.
JOHN DONNE
FEBRUARY 28
Prayers of Two Workers
THE BEE
Lord,
I am not one to despise your gifts.
I May you be blessed

who spread the riches of your sweetness
for my zeal . . .
Let my small span of ardent life
melt into our great communal task;

to lift up to your glory
this temple of sweetness,
a citadel of incense,
a holy candle, myriad-celled,
moulded of your graces
and of my hidden work.
[43
THE OX
Dear God, give me time.

Men are always so driven!
Make them understand that I can never hurry.
Give me time to eat.
Give me time to plod.
Give me time to sleep.
Give me time to think.
[44]
March
IN PRAISE OF CHRIST OUR LORD page 47
PENITENCE page 52
THE CROSS page 56

.
Poem for the Month
MARCH
When Christ came from the shadows by the stream

Of Phlegethon,
Scars were upon his feet, his hands, his side.
Not, as dulled souls might deem,

That he who had the power
Of healing all the wounds whereof men died
Could not have healed his own.
But that those scars had some divinity,
Carriage of mystery.
Life's source to bear the stigmata of death . .
By these same scars, in prayer for all mankind,

Before his Father's face
He pleads our wounds within his mortal flesh.
And all the Travail of his mortal days.

For ever interceding for his grace.
Remembering where forgetfulness were blind,
For ever pitiful, for ever kind,
Instant thatGodhead should take thought for man,
Remembering the manhood of his Son,
His only Son, and the deep wounds he bore.
By these same scars his folk will not give o'er

Oflice of worship, while they see,
Passion, thy mystery;
In those dark wounds, their weal,
In that descent to hell their climb to the stars.
His death, their life;
Their wreath, his crown of thorns.
THEODULF, A JUDGE UNDER CHARLEMAGNE
[46]
In Praise of Christ Our Lord
MARCH 1
All hail! the worship of the world, the mirror of samts,

whom spirits of heaven covet for to see. Cleanse us from every
spot of vice and join us to the fellowship of blessed men. All
hail! our joy in this hard life, sliding and fragile, soon for to
pass. . . . Lead us to a country, to Christ's face to be seen, that
is full We beseech thee, be to us a siker helper, a sweet
clear.
defender, and a counsellor that a grievous enemy noye us

not, but enjoy we rest. All folks say they: "So be it."
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE MS.
MARCH 2
Sacrifices of praise may we be accounted worthy to offer

unto thee, O Lord, a sweet-smelling savour, even all our thoughts
and words and deeds and holocausts, and without spot to ap-
pear before thee all the days of our life.
GREEK CHURCH
O Holy Jesus, most merciful

Redeemer, Friend and Brother
May I see thee more clearly.
Love thee more dearly, and
Follow thee more nearly.
Day by day.
ST. RICHARD OF CHICHESTER
MARCH 3
I say the prayer from my mouth,

I say the prayer from my heart,
I say the prayer to Thee Thyself,
O Healing Hand, O Son of the God of Salvation;
[47]
To give praise to Thee, Jesus,
Lord of sea and of land.
Lord of sun and of moon,
Lord of the beautiful stars.
O God of the weak,

O God of the lowly,
O God of the righteous,
O shield of homesteads:
Thou art calling upon us

In the voice of glory.
With the mouth of mercy
Of Thy beloved Son.
O may I find rest everlasting
In the home of Thy Trinity,

In the Paradise of the godly.
In the Sun-garden of Thy love.
THE SUN DANCES
MARCH 4
Good and great God! How should I fear

To come to Thee, if Christ not there!
Could I but think. He would not be
Present, to plead my cause for me;
To Hell I'd rather run, than I
Would see Thy face, and He not by.
ROBERT HERRICK
MARCH 5
Love, thou didst enter very softly in

To hold this heart of mine.
No sound, no stir, no sign!
How couldst thou cross my threshold all unseen?
[48]
O Love, thou fire divine, of laughter spun;
Love that art smile and jest,
Thou giv'st us of thy best,

Thy wealth unmeasured that is never done.
O sweet and gentle Love, thou art the key

Of heaven's city and fort:
Steer thou my ship to port.

And from the tempest's fury shelter me.
JACOPONE DA TODI
MARCH 6
O Lord Jesus Christ, who art the very bright Sun of the
world, ever rising, never going down: Shine, we beseech thee,
upon our spirit, that the night of sin and error being driven
away by thy inward light, we may walk without stumbling, as
in the day. Grant this, O Lord, who livest and reignest with the
Father and the Holy Ghost for evermore.
PRIMER OF 1559
To thee, O Jesu, I direct my eyes;

To thee my hands, to thee my humble knees;
To thee my heart shall offer sacrifice;
To thee my thoughts, who my thoughts only sees;
—
To thee my self, my self and all I give;
To thee I die; to thee I only live.
ATTRIBUTED TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH
MARCH 7
Saviour, Iknow that none other

Stumbled before thee as I stumbled,
Or did the deeds which I wrought.
But this too I know,
That the greatness of my stumblings
And the multitude of my sins
[49]
I
Go not beyond the measure
Of the long-suffering of my God,
Beyond the height of his loving-kindness.
These things make me to venture;
These things give me wings, O my Christ.
Therefore giving thanks in mind.
Giving thanks in heart,
Giving thanks in the members
Of my soul and of my body,
I worship thee, I magnify thee,
I glorify thee, my God
That art blessed
Now and for evermore.
GREEK fflERATIKON
MARCH 8
Jesus, preaching good tidings to the poor,

proclaiming release to the captives,
setting at liberty them that are bound,
I adore Thee.
Jesus, Friend of the poor.

Feeder of the hungry,
Healer of the sick,
I adore Thee.
Jesus, denouncing the oppressor,

instructing the simple,
going about doing good,
I adore Thee.
Jesus, Teacher of patience,

Pattern of gentleness.
Prophet of the kingdom of heaven,
I adore Thee.
A BOOK OF PRAYERS FOR STUDENTS
[50]
—
MARCH 9
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said that thou art the
way, the truth, and the life: any time to stray
Suffer us not at
from thee, who way; nor to distrust thy promises, who
art the
art the truth; nor to rest in any other thing than thee, who art
the life; beyond which there is nothing to be desired, neither in
heaven, nor in earth; for thy Name's sake.
CHRISTIAN PRAYER (1578)
O Master Christ!
Thou hast loved us with an everlasting love:
Thou hast forgiven us, trained us, disciplined us:
Thou hast broken us loose and laid Thy commands upon us:
Thou hast set us in the thick of things and deigned to use us:
Thou hast shown Thyself to us, fed us, guided us:
Be graciously pleased to accept and forgive our poor efforts,
And keep us Thy free bondslaves for ever.
ANON.
MARCH 10
O God, I love thee, I love thee

Not out of hope of heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
In the everlasting burning.
Thou, thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach thine arms out dying.
For my sake sufferedst nails and lance.
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number.
Sweat and care and cumber.
Yea and death, and this for me,
And thou couldst see me sinning:
Then I, why should I not love thee,
Jesu, so much in love with me?
Not for heaven's sake; not to be
Out of hell by loving thee;
I [51 ]
Not for any gains I see;
But just the way that thou didst me
I do love and I will love thee:
What must I love thee, Lord, for then?
For being my king and God. Amen.
GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS
Penitence
MARCH 11
O my Creator!
Consume the thorns of all my offences.
Make clean my soul, make holy my mind,
Nail down my being in thy fear,
Ever keep watch, guard and protect me
From every act and word that destroyeth the soul.
Make me holy, make me clean, set me in order.
Make me comely, give me understanding, give me light.
Show me as the tabernacle of thy Spirit alone,
And no more the tabernacle of sin.
And make thy slave a child of light.
For it is thou that makest holy, and we know none other that
is good but thee;
Thou art the shining brightness of souls
And to thee, as is justly due, as God and Master,
We all give glory every day.
PRAYER OF SIMEON THE TRANSLATOR
MARCH 12
We beseech thee, supreme King of kings, great, mighty

and tremendous God, that it be in thy grace
to comfort us and purify us all our
transgressions and sms.
[52]
O look down upon us from thy dwelling place, even
from Heaven, and from there pour forth forgiveness
upon thy servant who now prostrates himself
before thee, so that thou prolong his days and
pardon and transgressions.
his sins, his iniquities
Stretch out thy right hand to receive him in perfect
repentance, and open thy good treasure to
satisfy the thirsting soul.
JEWISH PRAYER
MARCH 13
O our God ... would go ill with the most praiseworthy

it
life lived by men, you were to examine it with your mercy

if
laid aside! . . . Our one hope, our one confidence, our one
firm promise is your mercy.
ST. AUGUSTINE
OLord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my

sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of
flesh, a heart to love and adore thee, a heart to delight in thee,
to follow and to enjoy thee, for Christ's sake.
ST. AMBROSE
MARCH 14
Good Jesu, God's Son, knower of all things, help me in

wicked thoughts, that I displease thee not . . . Courteous Jesu,
when thy will is, put them away and take me to thy grace.
Jesu Christ, God's Son, which stood still before the judge
nothing answering, withdraw my tongue till I think what and
how I shall speak that may be to thy worship.
Jesu Christ, God's Son, whose hands were bound for my
love full sore, govern and teach mine hands and all mine other
[53]
limbs that all my works may begin and graciously end to thy most
pleasing.
A priest's prayer (from BODLEIAN MS.)
MARCH 15
God of charity and peace, who dost bow thyself down to

the prayers of those that abase themselves, have pity on us.
Hearken unto us. Abate the fury of the tempests that assail us,
and give unto us the peace of thy tranquility. And if through
the multitude of our sins we have lost it, give it to us again
through thy pitiful mercy.
GOTHIC MISSAL
MARCH 16
O Lord my God, when sore bested

My evil life I do bewail.
What times the life I might have led
Arising smites me like a flail:
When I regard the past of sin,
TiU sorrow drowns me like despair;
The saint in me that might have been

With what I am when I compare:
Then grant the life that might have been

To be in fact through penitence;
All my past years discharged of sin,
And spent in grace and innocence:
And grant that I, when I fore cast.

And shrink in fear of coming things,
May take this comfort of the past,
And lay it on my imaginings.
DIXON
[54]
—
MARCH 17
I have deferred repentance, and thou hast prolonged pa-

tience, O thou that art mercy, thou that art a fountain inex-
haustible.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
O everlasting God, let the light of Thine eternity now

fall upon my passing days. O holy God, let the light of Thy
perfect righteousness fall upon my sinful ways. O most merciful
God, let the light of Thy love pierce to the most secret comers
of my heart and overcome the darkness of sin within me.
JOHN BAD-LIE
MARCH 18
Times without number have I pray'd,
"This only once forgive";

Relapsing, when Thy hand was stay'd,
And suffer'd me to live:
Yet now the kingdom of Thy peace,

Lord, to my heart restore;
Forgive my vain repentances.
And bid me sin no more.
CHARLES WESLEY
MARCH 19
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, grant us of

thy tender grace true fellowship with thee in thy sufferings, by
abhorring and renouncing the open sins and the secret sins, the
habitual sins and the sudden sins, the little sins and the great
sins, which crucify thee afresh; who now livest and reignest with
the Father and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
[55]
MARCH 20
Lord Jesus Christ! A whole life long didst thou suffer that
I too might be saved; and yet thy suffering is not yet at an end;
but this too wilt thou endure, saving and redeeming me, this
patient suffering of having to do with me, I who so often go
astray from the right path, or even when I remained on the
straight path stumbled along it or crept so slowly along the
right path. Infinite patience, suffering of infinite patience. How
many times have I not been impatient, wished to give up and
forsake everything; wished to take the terribly easy way out,
despair: but thou didst not lose patience. Oh, I cannot say what
thy chosen servant says: that he filled up that which is behind
of the afflictions of Christ in his flesh; no, I can only say that
I increased thy sufferings, added new ones to those which thou
didst once suffer in order to save me.
KIERKEGAARD JOURNALS
The Cross
MARCH 21
O Loving Saviour, we would linger by thy Cross, that the

light of thy perfect love may shine with the secret places of our
souls, showing what is vile there, so that it may shrink away;

and nurturing whatever there is pure or lovely or of good report,
so that beholding thee, we may become more like thee, thou
Revealer of God to men, thou Guide of men to God.
WILLIAM TEMPLE
MARCH 22
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy
but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he
was crucified; Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of
[56]
the Cross, may none other than the way of life and peace;
find it
through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

REV. WILLIAM REED-HUNTINGDON
O Lord forasmuch as thy life was despised by the

Jesus,
world, grant us so to imitate thee, though the world despise,
and with thy image always before our eyes, to learn that only
the servants of the Cross can find the way of blessedness and of
true light. Hear us and save us. Lord Christ.
THOMAS X KEMPIS
MARCH 23
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, set thine holy
Passion, Cross and Death between thy judgment and our souls,
both now and in the hour of death. And vouchsafe, we beseech
thee, to grant unto the living mercy and grace, to the dead par-
don and rest, to Church peace and concord, and to us
thine holy
miserable sinners and joy everlasting; who livest and reignest
life
with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without
end.
THE PRIMER
MARCH 24
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast given thy life to redeem me,
thy-self for my example, thy word for my rule, thy grace for my
guide, thybody on the cross for the sin of my soul: Enter in
and take possession of my heart, and dwell with me for ever.
JEREMY TAYLOR
O Lamb of God,
that takestaway the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Thou that takest away the sms of the world,
Have mercy on us.
[57]
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
Receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
Have mercy on us.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
MARCH 25
PALM SUNDAY
O Lord, our good Redeemer, who dost draw near to the

passion of our redemption, a gentle rider on a gentle beast, thy
path thickly strewn with branches, and palms of triumph waved
for thee together with the uplifted voice of praise: we beseech
thy Divine Majesty to be pleased to receive the homage of
our lips and the subjection of our bodies unto fasting. And
grant that we may bring forth fruit to perfection; that, even as
these came meet thee bearing branches of trees, so we,
forth to
when thou dost again in thy glory, may be found worthy
come
to run before thee with gladness, bearing the palms of victory
in our hands.
GOTHIC MISSAL
MARCH 26
MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK
Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love

towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross,
that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility;
Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his
patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
[58]
MARCH 27
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
O Lord God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his

back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame; Grant us
grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full
assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same

thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMERICAN BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
MARCH 28
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
O God, eternal Might, hasten unto us. Thou, who by thy

power makest things future to be as things past, and also by
thy presence, things past to be as things present; grant that thy
Passion may be as saving to us as if it were present this day:
Thou who reignest forever with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
now begin to reign over us, Man, God, Christ Jesus, King for
ever and ever.
MOZARABIC LITURGY (ADAPTED)
I MARCH 29
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ sanctify us:

Body of Christ save us:
Blood of Christ refresh us:
Water from the side of Christ wash us:
Passion of Christ strengthen us:
O Good Jesus, hear us:
[59]
Within thy wounds hide us:
Suffer us not to be separated from thee:
From the malicious enemy defend us:
In the hour of our death call us,
And bid us come to thee.
That with thy saints we may praise thee
For ever and ever.
ANON.
May the sacred feast of thy table, O Lord, always strengthen

and renew and protect our weakness amid the storms
us, guide
of the world, and bring us into the haven of everlasting salva-
tion; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
LEONINE SACRAMENTARY
MARCH 30
GOOD FRIDAY
Blessed be thy name, O Jesu,Son of the most high God;

blessed be the sorrow thou sufiferedst when thy holy hands and
feet were nailed to the tree; and blessed thy love when, the
fullness of pain accomplished, thou didst give thy soul into the
hands of the Father; so by thy Cross and precious Blood re-
deeming all the world, all longing souls departed and the
numberless unborn; who now livest and reignest in the glory of
the eternal Trinity for ever and ever.
JEREMY TAYLOR
O praise God in his holiness, praise him in the firmament

of his power.
Praise him in his noble acts, praise him according to his
excellent greatness.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
PSALM 150
[60]
MARCH 31
EASTER EVE
Thou, the Life, wert laid in the grave, O Christ; and the
hosts of the angels shuddered, praising thy humility.
RITUAL OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
O holy Jesus Christ, grant us so to perfect our repentance

that our sins may be buried in Thy grave; and prepare our
hearts to greet thee with loving joy on the morning of Thy
resurrection. Who didst die and was buried and didst rise again
for us, our only Lord and Saviour.
ANON.
It is meet and right, holy Father, Almighty, Eternal God,

at all times to give praise to thy goodness; but on this night
and day the more abundantly, from souls exulting in joy. For
this night is the mother not of darkness but of light, whereon
day rose for ever; even our resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ.
MOZARABIC MISSAL
[61]
\
EASTER page 65
THE GLORY OF THE WORLD page 68
FOR OUR FRIENDS page 74

.
Poem for the Month
APRIL
This morning, lying couched amid the grass

In the deep, deep dingle south of Llangwyth's Pass,
While it was yet neither quite bright nor dark,
I heard a new and wonderful High Mass.
The Chief was the nightingale: the lark
Priest
And thrush assisted him: and some small bird
(I do not weet his name) acted as Clerk.
My spirit was lapped in ecstasy: each word,
Word after word, thrilled through me like the deep
Rich music of a dream: not wholly asleep
Nor all awake was I, but, as it were
Tranced somewhere between one state and the other.
All heavy thoughts that through the long day smother
Man's heart and soul with weariness and care
Were gone, and in their place reigned pure delight.
The nightingale, sent from a far and bright
Land by my golden sister, prophesied
Of blessed days to come, in a sweet voice:
And the small bird, responding, sang "Rejoice, rejoice!'
I heard his tinkle and jingle
little bill
With a clear silver sound that filled the dingle.

Heaven is a state wherein bliss and devotion mingle,
And such was mine this morn: I could have died
Of rapture. . .
DAVID OF GWYLYN (14tH CENTURY)
[64]
Easter
APRIL 1
EASTER DAY
Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day

didst make thy triumph over death and sin:
and having harrowed hell, didst bring away
captivity thence captive us to win:
This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin,
and grant that we for whom thou diddest die
being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin,
may live for ever in felicity.

And that thy love we weighing worthily,
may likewise love thee for the same again:
and for thy sake that all like dear didst buy,
with love may one another entertain.
So let us love, dear love, like as we ought,
love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.
EDMUND SPENSER
APRIL 2
Make our hearts to bum within us, O Christ, as we walk

with thee in the way and listen to thy words; that we may go
in the strength of thy presence and thy truth all our journey
through, and at itsend behold thee, in the glory of the Eternal
Trinity, God for ever and ever.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
O Almighty God, hear thy people who this day glorify the
Resurrection of thy Son our Lord; and guide them on from this
festivity to eternal gladness, from the exulting joy of this solem-
nity to joys that have no end; through the same Jesus Christ
our Lord.
GOTfflC MISSAL (ADAPTED)
[65]
APRIL 3
Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus

Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of
everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special
grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires,
so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth
with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever, one God, world without end.
APRIL 4
Glory be to thee, O Lord, glory to thee. Creator of the

light and enlightener of the world. O by thy Resurrection
. . .
raise us up into newness of life, supplying to us frames of

repentance. The God of peace, who did bring again from the
dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, perfect us in every
good work to do his will, working in us what is acceptable
before him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
APRIL 5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again
unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, to joy and rejoicing unspeakable and full of glory in
him; to whom with thee, O Father, and thee, O one
Holy Spirit,
blessed Trinity, be ascribed all honour, might, majesty, and

dominion, now and for ever.
FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER
[66]
APRIL 6
Almighty God, who didst from the dead our Lord

raise
Jesus Christ and didst set Him Thy
right hand in glory ever-
at
lasting, I thank Thee for this hope of immortality with which
through many ages Thou hast cheered and enlightened the souls
of Thy saints, and which Thou didst most surely seal through
the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
JOHN BAILLIE
APRIL 7
Thanks be unto thee, O Christ, because thou hast broken

for us the bonds of sin and brought us into fellowship with the
Father;
Thanks be unto thee, O Christ, because thou hast over-
come death and opened to us the gates of eternal life;
Thanks be unto thee, O Christ, because where two or three
are gathered together in thy name there art thou in the midst
of them;
Thanks be unto thee, O Christ, because thou ever livest
to make intercession for us.
For these and all other benefits of thy mighty resurrection,
thanks be unto thee, O Christ.
B.B.C.: NEW EVERY MORNING
APRIL 8
I adore and praise and bless Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,

giving thanks for the love and confidence with which, having
overcome death, rising from the tomb Thou hast glorified our
human flesh; and, ascending into heaven, hast placed it at the
righthand of God; beseeching Thee on behalf of the souls for
which I pray, that Thou wilt deign to make them partakers of
Thy glory and Thy victory.
THE TRUE PRAYERS OF ST. GERTRUDE AND
ST.MECHTILDE
[67]
APRIL 9
Bright, O Lord, is the Heavenly Ray; by whose unwonted

light, brought to us through the Resurrection of thy Son, the
horror of the perpetual night is shattered. We bear witness to
the glory of thy mighty works; for thou didst make the day of
things that pass radiant with a Light which is eternal. Do thou,
therefore,Almighty God, Father of our Lord, receive in thine
unmoved serenity the supplications that rise to heaven from
thy praying people. Strengthen us. Grant us the gifts of hope. To
them that make offering give thou peace, and to them that are
dead give the quiet of eternal rest.
MOZARABIC MISSAL
APRIL 10
O Christ, whose wondrous birth meaneth nothing unless

we be bom again, whose death and sacrijQce nothing unless we
die unto sin, whose resurrection nothing if thou be risen alone:
Raise and exult us, O Saviour, both now to the estate of grace
and hereafter to the state of glory; where with the Father and
the Holy Spirit thou livest and reignest, God for ever and ever.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
The Glory of the World
APRIL 1 1
Sweet sovereign Lord of this so pined-for Spring,
How breathe the homage of but one poor heart

With such small compass of thy everything?
Ev'n though I know were my life's last hour,

this
It yet would lie, past hope, beyond my power

One instant of my gratitude to prove,
My praise, my love.
[68]
That "Everything"! when — this, my human dust,
Whereto return I must,
Were scant to bring to bloom a single flower!
WALTER DE LA MARE
APRIL 12
But let my soul praise Thee that it may love Thee, and
let it tell Thee Thy mercies that it may praise Thee. Without
ceasing Thy whole Thy praise the spirit of
creation speaks —
every man by the words that his mouth directs to Thee, animals
and lifeless matter by the mouth of those who look upon them
that so our soul rises out of its mortal weariness unto Thee,
helped upward by the things Thoumade and passing beyond
hast
them unto Thee who hast wonderfully made them: and there
refreshment is and strength unfailing.
APRIL 13
All shall extol thee, thou Creator of all:
O God,
Who openest every day the doors of the gates of the East,
And cleavest the windows of the firmament,
Bringing forth the sun from his place,
And the moon from her dwelling;
Giving light to the whole world and the inhabitants thereof.
Whom thou createdst by the attribute of mercy.
In mercy thou givest light to the earth

And to them that dwell thereon,
And in thy goodness renewest the creation every day continually.
O King, thou alone hast been exalted of yore;
Praised, glorified and extolled from days of old.
jewish prayer
(service of the synagogue for the
festival of tabernacles)
[69]
—
APRIL 14
Creator Spirit, who broodest everlastingly over the lands
and waters of earth, enduring them with forms and colours
which no human skill can copy, give me to-day, I beseech thee,
the mind and heart to rejoice in thy creation.
JOHN BAILLIE
Almighty One, in the woods I am blessed. Happy everyone

in the woods. Every tree speaks through thee. O God! What
glory in the woodland! On the heights is peace —peace to serve
him.
BEETHOVEN
APRIL 15
O love Divine and Great,

Why dost thou still besiege my heart?
Of me infatuate thou art.
From me thou canst not rest!
If I come forth by way of Light,

Love, Love is all around;
In radiance painted on the skies.
In colour on the ground:
They plead with me, in beauty drowned,
To take Thee to my breast.
If I come forth by Heaven's gate,

O what is this I hear?
What is this woven mist of sound
That breaks upon mine ear?
Here's no escape! Thy voice is clear,
'Tis Love, in music drest.
O Love, why do I flee from thee?

Why should I fear to yield?
Because thou wouldst re-make my heart,
[70]
—
In fires of love annealed?

No more myself, in thee concealed,
And by thy love possessed.
I Lead me to Christ, who died for me,

Draw me from sea to shore:
And make me mourn in penitence
The wounds and griefs he bore:
Why did he suffer pains so sore?
That I might be at rest.
PART OF A POEM WRITTEN BY

JACOPONE DA TODI WHEN HE CAME OUT
INTO THE GLORY OF THE WORLD AGAIN
AFTER LONG IMPRISONMENT
APRIL 16
We magnify thee, O Lord, we bless the excellency of thy

name in the great works of thy hands, the manifold vestures
of earth and sky and sea, the course of the stars and light, the
songs of birds, the hues of flowers, the frame and attributes of
everything that hath breath, and, upholding all, thy wisdom,
I marvellous worthy to be praised; but most, that by thy sure
promise we now do only taste the glory that shall be revealed,
when thou, O God, wilt take the power and reign, world with-
out end.
* MEMORIALS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
APRIL 17
I offer thee
Every flower that ever grew,
Every bird that ever flew.
Every wind that ever blew.
Good God!
Every thunder rolling,
Every church bell tolling.
Every leaf and sod.
Laudamus Te!
[71]
——
I offer thee
Every wave that ever moved,
Every heart that ever loved,
Thee, thy Father's Well-Beloved.
Dear Lord.
Every river dashing.
Every lightning flashing.
Like an angel's sword.
Benedicamos Te.
I offer thee
Every cloud that ever swept
O'er the skies, and broke and wept
In rain, and with the flowerets slept.
My King!
Each communicant praying.
Every angel staying
Before thy throne to sing.
Adoramus Te!
I offer thee
Every flake of virgin snow.
Every spring of earth below.
Every human joy and woe,
My Love!
O Lord! And all thy glorious
Self o'er death victorious,
Throned in heaven above.
Glorificamus Te!
ANCIENT IRISH PRAYER
APRIL 18
Blessed art thou, O Lord, who didst create the firmament

of heaven, the two lights, sun and moon, the greater and the
lesser, and the stars for lights, for signs, for seasons, to rule
over day and night. Blessed art thou, O Lord, for waters above
the heavens, for showers, dew, hail, snow as wool, clouds from
the ends of the earth; lightnings, thunders, winds out of thy
[72]
treasures, storms; waters beneath the heavens, for drinking and
for bathing. Blessed art thou, O Lord.
LANCELOT ANDRE WES (ADAPTED)
APRIL 19
Praise the Lord! ye heavens, adore him;

Praise him, angels, in the height;
Sun and moon, rejoice before him.
Praise him, all ye stars and light:
Praise the Lord! for he hath spoken,

Worlds his mighty voice obeyed;
Laws, which never hath been broken.
For their guidance he hath made.
HYMN OF THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL
Hosanna upon the earth . . . O Lord, vouchsafe blessings

of fountainsand the deep beneath, courses of sun, conjunctions
of moons, summits of eastern mountains, of the everlasting hills.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
APRIL 20
The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of the

Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty which art,
and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken thy great
power and hast reigned.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour
and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure
they are and were created.
BOOK OF REVELATION
[73]
For Our Friends
APRIL 21
For Those Who Have Asked for Our Prayers

Lord, thou seest well that many there be which trust to
my prayer for grace, that thou showest to me more than I am
worthy. Thou wost well Lord, that I am not such as they ween,
but though my prayer be unworthy, take regard to their lowli-
ness and to their devotion, and what they desire to thy worship,
grant them of thy goodness. Grant them and me and to all other
for whom we be holden to pray, grace to love what is to thy
liking, thee to love to thy most pleasing, nothing to desire that
thee should displease, all manner temptations mightily to with-

stand, all other vanities for thy love to despise, thee good Lord,
ever to have in mind, and in thy service for to abide till our
life's end.
A priest's prayer (BODLEIAN MS.)
APRIL 22
Lord, I see clearly that any affection which I have ever had
is scarcely as one drop in the vast ocean of all the seas, when
compared with the tenderness of Thy divine Heart towards
those whom I love . . . Therefore I cannot even by one thought
wish anything other than that which Thy almighty wisdom has
appointed for each of them . . . Lord, bless Thy special friends
and mine, according to the good pleasure of Thy divine goodness.
ST.MECHTILDE
APRIL 23
Teach us, O Father, to trust Thee with life and with death.
And (though this is harder by far)
With the life and the death of those that are dearer to us than
our life.
[74]
Teach us stillness and confident peace
In thy perfect will,
Deep calm of soul, and content
In what thou wilt do with these lives thou hast given.
Teach us to wait and be still,
To rest in thyself,
To hush this clamorous anxiety,
To lay in thine arms all this wealth thou hast given.
Thou lovest these souls that we love

With a love as far surpassing our own
As the glory of noon surpasses the gleam of a candle.
Therefore will we be still,
And trust in thee.

J. S. HOYLAND
APRIL 24
OGod, our heavenly Father, who hast commanded us to

love one another as Thy children, and hast ordained the highest
friendship in the bond of Thy Spirit, we beseech Thee to main-
tain and preserve us always in the same bond, to Thy glory,
and our mutual comfort, with all those to whom we are bound
by any special tie, either of nature or of choice; that we may be
perfected together in that love which is from above, and which
never faileth when all other things shall fail. Send down the
dew of Thy heavenly grace upon us, that we may have joy in
each other that passeth not away; and having lived together in
love here according to Thy commandment, may live forever
together with them, being made one in Thee, in Thy glorious
kingdom hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
HICKES' DEVOTIONS
[75]
—
APRIL 25
Lord, I beseech thee on behalf of all who have recom-
mended themselves to my prayers, and who cherish the memory

of thy countenance; that they may at last behold thee. May the
light of thy countenance be their everlasting happiness. O most
loving Lord, our Brother, deign to offer to the Father all the
good works which they have done, but multiplied a hundredfold
by thee; and, wherever they have failed, to supply for them with
thine. And so lead their souls to thy Heavenly Father, in the
presence of all thy saints, enriched inestimably. Lord, I praise
thee; in thy eternity, in thy immensity, in thy beauty, in thy

truth, in thy justice.

ST. MECHTILDE (ADAPTED)
APRIL 26
TWO GAELIC BLESSINGS
Be the great God between thy two shoulders

To protect thee in thy going and in thy coming,
Be the Son of Mary Virgin near thine heart,
And be the perfect spirit upon thee pouring
Oh, the perfect spirit upon thee pouring!
May God shield thee.

May God fill thee.
May God keep thee.
May God watch thee.
May God bring thee
To the land of peace.
To the country of the King,
To the peace of eternity.
(SLIGHTLY ADAPTED)
THE SUN DANCES
[76]
APRIL 27
Most High God, our loving Father, we humbly beseech

Thee for all those near and dear to us, those for whom we are
bound to pray, and those for whom no-one prays. Grant them
pardon for their sins, perfect their work, grant them their heart's
desires, and keep them close to thee.
ANON.
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;
ST. ANSELM
APRIL 28
O Lord our God, whose might is without compare and

whose glory surpasses understanding, whose mercy is without
measure and love of men beyond telling; look thou thyself O
Master, according to thy tenderness of heart, on us and all whom
we love; and deal with us, and all for whom we pray, in the
riches of thy mercies and thy compassions.
LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (ADAPTED)
APRIL 29
Lord, we thank thee for all the love that has been given to
us, for the love of family and friends, and above all for your
own love poured out upon us every moment of our lives in
steadfast glory. Forgive our unworthiness. Forgive the many
times we have disappointed those who love us, have failed them,
wearied them, saddened them. Failing them we have failed you,
and hurting them we have wounded our Saviour who for love's
sake died for us. Lord, have mercy on us, and forgive. You
do not fail those who love you. You do not change nor vary.
Teach us your own constancy in love, your humility, selflessness
[77]
and generosity. Look in pity on our small and tarnished loving,
protect, foster and strengthen it, that it may be less unworthy
to be offered to you and to your children. O Light of the world,
teach us how to love.
APRIL 30
A "Prayer for Enemies
Merciful and loving Father,
We beseech thee most humbly, even with all our
hearts, topour out upon our enemies with bountiful
hands, whatsoever things thou knowest will do
them good.
And sound and uncorrupt mind wherethrough
chiefly a
they may know thee and love thee in true charity
and with their whole heart, and love us, thy children,
for thy sake.
Let not their first hating of us turn to their harm,
seeing that we cannot do them good for want of ability.
Lord, we desire their amendment and our own.
Separate them not from us by punishing them, but
join and knit them to us by thy favourable
dealing with them.
And seeing that we be all ordained to be citizens
of one everlasting City, let us begin to enter into
that way here already by mutual Love which may
bring us right forth thither.
ANON. (16th-century OLD ENGLISH PRAYER)
[78]
FOR PRISONERS page 81
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST page 86
WHITSUNTIDE page 89
THE HOLY TRINITY page 93

Poem for the Month
MAY
Listen friends.
With drowsy eyes
I have seen
Something I want to tell you.
It is daybreak. Opposite me
a prisoner wakes up.
He raises himself on one elbow.
Takes out a cigarette. Sits up.
His gaze as he smokes
is lost,
and his forehead is untroubled.

(The wind is dreaming
in the window.)
He draws at the cigarette. Bends forward.
Takes a piece of bread,
eats it slowly
and then begins to cry.
(This does not matter perhaps.

I am just telling you.)
As for me, you know that the jflagstones
have worn down the core of my heart,
but to see a man crying

is always a terrible thing.
And this prisoner is not

a broken tree. He is still unscarred.
But all at once everything he possesses
has stood before him during this quiet night
With his pain in my breast

I look at him. He cannot see me.
His gaze is very distant.
[80]
He shields his eyes, crying
so softly, so deep down
that the air and the silence hardly stir.
A sudden watchword makes him start.
(In the yard

you can hear the guard changing over.)
MARCOS ANA
For Prisoners
MAY 1
For Political Prisoners
Be merciful, O Father of all mercies, to such as are under

persecution for the testimony of their conscience.
ANON, (prayer of 1585)
O
Lord Jesus Christ, unjustly taken prisoner and unjustly
tried and condemned, we pray to you to-day for all those men
and women, all over the world, who are in prison for their
faith. From one country to another their beliefs may differ and
be at variance, but it is the integrity of their souls that is
precious in your sight, their courage and loyalty, and these

we beg you to preserve for them in strength and purity. Comfort
them, O
Lord of Compassion, in loneliness and despair, and
comfort and succour those who love them and must fend with-
out them. To those who have the care of them, O Lord, grant
wisdom and kindness, and that respect for a differing faith that
you asked of us with your command that we should love our
enemies. And to all of us, O Lord, the prisoners and those
who look after them, and we who pray for them, grant the
light of the Holy Spirit that shall lead us into all truth.
[81]
MAY 2
The Prayer of a Prisoner
O Thou, who hast all power in Heaven and earth; Come

and let the light of thy divine Presence illuminate the shadows
of the prison-house, and fill the hearts of our brothers in bonds
with hope and courage to endure patiently each his peculiar
burdens and trials. Support and comfort any who are cast down,
or forsaken by earthly friends, or who suffer physical or mental
pain or sickness. And if any are appointed to go hence, be
thou their rod and staff through the dark valley, and at the last
receive them unto thyself in Paradise.
O. G., A LIFE PRISONER
MAY 3
We most earnestly beseech thee, O thou Lover of man-

kind, to look in thy mercy upon Send down into
all prisoners.
their hearts the peace of heaven. Give and let
life to their souls
no deadly sin prevail against them, or any of thy people. De-
liver all who are in trouble, for thou art our God, who settest
the captives free; who givest hope to the hopeless, and help to
the helpless; and who art the Haven of the shipwrecked. Give
thy pity, pardon and refreshment to them, and to us who pray
for them. Preserve us, in our pilgrimage through this life, from
hurt and danger, and grant that we may end our lives well-
pleasing to thee and free from sin.
LITURGY OF ST. MARK (ADAPTED)
MAY 4
For Young Prisoners
O Lord Jesus Christ, yourself a prisoner for our sakes and

your bonds, we bring to your great love and unending
sinless in
compassion all prisoners who are young, and all who are first
offenders, those who have come where they are through mis-
[82]
fortune or sudden temptation, and are afraid and bewildered.
Lord, uphold them in their shame and confusion, protect them
from evil and bring to their help those who will steady and
comfort them. We beseech you, O Lord, may the days pass
hopefully for them, and may they come to their freedom again
imembittered and unharmed.
MAY 5
For Prisoner^ Families

We pray to you, O Lord, for the broken homes of prisoners,
wives left without their husbands and children fatherless, whole
families in fear as they fear the loneliness and hardship that lie
before them. Help us, O Lord, to help them. Show us how to

bring to them all the love and aid in our power, in whatever
way is possible for us. Bless all that is done for them, O Lord,
comfort their fears and give them peace.
For Those Who Look After Prisoners
Grant your grace, O Lord, to all who have the care of

prisoners, the wardens and police, the prison governors, chap-
lains and doctors, the prison visitors, and those working for
discharged prisoners. Grant to them your gifts of wisdom,
courage and patience in all their diflSculties. To those among
them whose work is dangerous and unrewarding grant your
special grace, that they may be saved from cruelty and in-
difference. May your love be always present with them and
your mercy guide them.
MAY 6
For Prisoners of War

O most merciful Father, who didst send thy Son Jesus
Christ to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and to set at
liberty them that are bruised: remember, we pray, all who are
[83]
in captivity, prisons and bitter bondage. In loneliness cheer
them, in sickness relieve them; and fill them continually with the
hope of thy everlasting mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
B.B.C.
For Prisoners Who Have Lost Hope
O almighty God, reveal the power of thy grace to all who
are in despair; that those who have ceased to hope may be

brought, even by despair, to confide in thee, who canst make all
things new.
B.B.C.
MAY 7
Prayer for Those Who Are Tortured
O Lord Christ, whose death for sinners was a death of

suffering, look in thy divine compassion upon all those who,
at this hour in which we pray, in prisons and in all places where
there is fighting, hatred and bitterness, are enduring torment at
the hands of their fellow men. All extremities of pain are known
to you. Lord; may the upholding of your presence be made
known to them. If they have ever heard your name, may they
now remember it; if it is strange to them let them not be strangers
to your courage and your peace. Lord, we know that you who
know all, and love all, and have suffered all, have had each
of them in your heart from all eternity; yet still we dare to pray
for them, knowing that your mercy will accept our prayer and
your love use it in the ways that are known to you alone.
MAY 8
For Those Who Inflict Torture
O Lord Christ, who prayed for those who crucified you,

"Father, forgive them," look in compassion upon those who
do these things, open their eyes to what they do and their hearts
to your mercy. May your courage in endurance be in them the
[84]
courage of refusal. And for those who command these men,
those who bound by the greater evil, we would ask that the
are
redeeming power of your pity set them free. And grant, Lord,
thatwe who pray for them, we who have been nurtured in your
love,may not forget the sharp words and harsh thoughts that
have wounded your heart as cruelly as any action of theirs.
Upon us all have mercy and grant us the cleansing of penitence
and the renewal of forgiveness and of love.
MAY 9
For Those Who Are Condemned to Death

O strength and stay, the rock of our salvation and our
God, be present, we beseech you, in all prisons throughout the
world where prisoners are waiting for their death. Only you, O
Christ, whose own human mind endured the ordeal of knowing
the exact hour and nature of a shameful death, can fully know
what they suffer. May the reality and depth of your comprehend-
ing love be made known to them. For ourselves we would ask,
in humble penitence, that as far as we are able in our ignorance
we may bear them company in their ordeal, uniting our love
and prayer with yours that is the upholding of all men, their
salvation and their peace.
Hear us, Jesus, Saviour of the world, to whom nothing is
impossible; save only to be without pity for the piteous.

ST.MECHTILDE
MAY 10
For Us All
O Sovereign Lord, thou lover of men's lives, whose in-
corruptible spirit is in all things: We bring to thee ourselves,
our sins and failures, as to a merciful Father, who understandest
all and forgivest all; for thy mercy's sake.
ADAPTED BY G. W. BRIGGS FROM ECCLESIASTICUS
[85]
O Lord forgive
the evils men have done
and do to-day to other men
to wound thee in the least of them thy brethren.
O Lord forgive
the pride of self that would make man supreme,
the ruler of his universe, defying God.
My Lord, my God, my Saviour, and my King,

I have not ought to say
nor any man can say, except
O Lord forgive.
GILBERT SHAW
The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
MAY 11
O Risen Saviour, bid me rise with thee

and seek those things which are above;
not only seek, but set my whole heart upon them.
Thou art in heaven, ever raising lives to thyself;

O, by thy grace, may mine be making that ascent
not in dreams, but in truth,
now, to-morrow, always.
Daily in spirit, in thy Holy Spirit,

Let me behold thee on the throne of God,
thou King reigning in holiness,
thou Conqueror of all evil,
thou Majesty of love,

very God and very Man,
of glory unimaginable and eternal,
in whom all hope is sure.
ERIC MILNER-W^ITE
[86]
MAY 12
Who shall speak of thy power, O Lord, and who shall be

able to tell the tale of all thy praises? Thou didst descend to
human things, not leaving behind heavenly things. Thou art
returned to things above, not abandoning things below. Every-

where thou art thy whole self, everywhere wonderful. In the
flesh, thou hast yet thy being in the Father; in thine Ascension
thou art not torn away from thy being in man. Look upon the
prayer of thy people, holy Lord, merciful God; that in this day
of thy holy Ascension, even as glory is given to thee on high,
so grace may be vouchsafed to us below.
MOZARABIC MISSAL
MAY 13
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things:
Mercifully give us faith to perceive that according to his promise
he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the
world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
SCOTTISH BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
MAY 14
O thou who, for our sakes, hast lifted upon the cross,
lifted up from the grave, lifted up into glory; draw us unto
thee, O good Lord, with cords of a man, with bands of love,
that we may seek thee in prayer, may follow thee in holy
obedience and may set our affections on things above where
thou sittest on the right hand of God.
ANON.
[87]
MAY 15
Lord Jesus! with what sweetness and delights,

Sure holy hopes, high joys and quick'ning flights
Dost thou feed thine! O thou! the hand that lifts
To him, who gives all good and perfect gifts.

Thy glorious, bright Ascension (though remov'd
So many ages from me) is so prov'd
And by thy spirit seal'd to me, that I
Feel me a sharer in thy victory.
I soar and rise
Up to the skies,
Leaving the worid their day,
And in my flight,
For the true light
Go seeking all the way.
HENRY VAUGHAN
MAY 16
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy living and immortal,

Who didst rise from the dead on the third day
And didst ascend with glory into heaven and sit down at the
right hand of the Father,
And shalt come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead,
Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
LITURGY OF THE ABYSSINIAN JACOBITES
[ 88
Whitsuntide
MAY 17
Almighty and everlasting God, so lead us into the fellow-

ship of heavenly joys that, bom again in the Holy Spirit, we
may enter into thy Kingdom; and that the simple sheep may
come thither, whither the noble Shepherd has gone before.
GREGORIAN SACRAMENTARY
O God who in the burning fire of thy love wast pleased to

pour out the Holy Spirit on thy disciples: Grant us by the same
Spirit to be new lit with heavenly desires and with the power to
fulfil them; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
MAY 18
WHITSUNDAY
O God the Holy Ghost who art Light unto thine elect.
Evermore enlighten us.

Thou who art Fire of Love,
Evermore enkindle us.
Thou who art Lord and Giver of Life,
Evermore live in us.
Thou who bestowest sevenfold grace,
Evermore replenish us.
As the wind is thy symbol,
So forward our goings.
As the dove.
So launch us heavenwards.
As water,
So purify our spirits.
As a cloud.
So abate our temptations.
As dew.
So revive our languor.
[89]
As fire,
So purge out our dross.

CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
MAY 19
Heavenly King, Paraclete, Spirit of Truth, present in all

places and filling all things. Treasury of good and Choir-master
of life: come and dwell within us, cleanse us from all stains and
save our souls.
LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
Oh
come, thou refreshment of them that languish and faint.
Come, thou Star and Guide of them that sail in the tempestuous
sea of the world; thou only Haven of the tossed and shipwrecked.
Come, thou Glory and Crown of the living, and only Safeguard
of the dying. Come, Holy Spirit, in much mercy, and make me
fit to receive thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
MAY 20
O King, enthroned on high.
Thou Comforter divine.
Blest Spirit of all truth, be nigh
And make us thine.
Thou art the Source of life.
Thou art our treasure-store;

Give us thy peace, and end our strife
For evermore.
Descend, O heavenly Dove,

Abide with us alway;
And in the fullness of thy love
Cleanse us, we pray.
ANON. (8th century)
[90]
MAY 21
May thy servants, O God, be set on fire with thy Spirit,
strengthened by thy power, illuminated by thy splendour, filled
with thy grace, and go forward by thine aid; and after having
I manfully finished our course, may we be enabled happily to
enter into thy kingdom.
GALLICAN SACRAMENTARY
MAY 22
O holy Spirit of God,
who with thy holy breath doth cleanse the
hearts and minds of men,
comforting them when they be in sorrow,
leading them when they be out of the way,
kindling them when they be cold,
knitting them together when they be at variance,
and enriching them with manifold gifts;
by whose working all things live:
We beseech thee to maintain and daily to increase
the gifts which thou hast vouchsafed to us;
that with thy light before us and within us
we may pass through this world
without stumbling and without straying;
who livest and reignest with the Father and the Son,
everlastingly.
CHRISTIAN PRAYER (1578; FROM ERASMUS)
MAY 23
Let our souls, we beseech thee. Almighty God, achieve this
their desire, to be kindled by thy Spirit; that being filled as lamps
by the divine gift, we may shine like blazing lights before the
presence of thy Son Christ at his coming.
[91 ]
Grant, Eternal Spirit, to us who kneel before Thy darkness
that it may become by Thy grace, for we have but a sickly
light
spark within us. Blow upon us with thy breath, though we feel
it not; lead us, though we follow not, receive us though our
pride reject thy consolation; for save by thee we cannot come

to thee, and, unless thou showest it, there is no end.
ANON.
MAY 24
In the hour of my distress,

When temptations me oppress,
And when I my sins confess.
Sweet Spirit comfort me!
When I lie within my bed.

Sick in heart, and sick in head,
And with doubts discomforted.
When the house doth sigh and weep,

And the world is drown'd in sleep.
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep;
When (God knows) I'm tossed about,

Either with despair, or doubt;
Yet before the glass be out,
Sweet Spirit cgmfort me!
When the judgment is reveal'd.

And that open'd which was seal'd.
When to Thee I have appeal'd;
ROBERT HERRICK
[92]
MAY 25
O Come, O Holy Spirit, cornel
Come as holy fire and bam in us.

Come as holy wind and cleanse us.
Come as holy light and lead us.
Come as holy truth and teach us,

Come as holy forgiveness and free us.
Come as holy love and enfold us.
Come as holy power and enable us.
Come as holy life and dwell in us.
Convict us, convert us.

Consecrate us, until we are wbc^ tlmie
for thy using, througjb Jesus Christ our Lord.
ADARTED BY CHARLES FSANOS WHISTOIf

FROM AN ANCIENT PRAYER
The Holy Trinity
MAY 26
O Lord Almighty, Father unbegotten, upon us miserable sinners.

Have mercy.
O Lord, who hast redeemed the work of Thy hands by thine
only Son,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lord, Adonai, blot oat our offences, and upon Thy p)eoplc
Have mercy.
O Christ, Brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image
of His person,
Have mercy upon us.
O Christ,who did^t save the worid at the command of the
Father,
Have upon us.
mere)'
O men,
Christ, Saviour of eterr.al Life of Angels,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lord, Spirit, the Comforter, Dispenser of pardon,
Have mercy upon us.
[93 ]
O Lord, Fountain of mercy and of sevenfold grace,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lord, most pitiful Forgiver, proceeding from Both,
O most bountiful Giver of gifts, Teacher, Quickener, of Thy
goodness
Have mercy upon us.
LITANY FROM THE SARUM MISSAL
MAY 27
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us
thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to ac-
knowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of
the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that
thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore
defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God,
world without end.
MAY 28
Prayer to the Holy Trinity
I am bending my knee
In the eye of the Father who created me,
In the eye of the Son who purchased me,
In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me.
In friendship and affection.
Through Thine own Anointed One, O God,
Bestow upon us fulness in our need.
Love towards God,
The affection of God,
The smile of God,
The wisdom of God,
The grace of God,
The fear of God,
And the will of God
[94]
To do on the world of the Three,
As angels and saints
Do in heaven;
Each shade and light,
Each day and night.
Each time in kindness.
Give Thou us Thy Spirit.
THE SUN DANCES
MAY 29
Give us, O Lord God, a deep sense of thy holiness; how thou
art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and canst not overlook
or pass by that which is evil.
Give us no less, O Lord, a deep sense of thy wonderful

love towards us; how thou wouldst not let us alone in our ruin,
but didst come after us, in the Person of thy Son Jesus Christ
to bring usback to our true home with thee.
Quicken in us, O Lord, the Spirit of gratitude, of loyalty
and of sacrifice, that we may seek in all things to please him
who humbled himself for us, even to the death of the Cross,
by dying unto sin and living unto righteousness; through the
same Jesus Christ our Lord.
DEAN VAUGHAN
MAY 30
Father most holy, merciful and tender;
Jesus our Saviour, with the Father reigning;
Spirit of mercy. Advocate, Defender,
Light never waning.
Trinity sacred. Unity unshaken;

Deity perfect, giving and forgiving,
Light of the Angels, Life of the forsaken,
Hope of all living.
[95]
Maker of all things, all thy creatures praise thee;
Lo, all things serve thee through thy whole creation:
Hear us, Almighty, hear us as we raise thee
Hearts adoration.
To the almighty triune God be glory:

Highest and greatest, help thou our endeavour;
We too would praise thee, giving honour worthy,
Now and for ever.
10th-century hymn (translated p.d.)
MAY 31
To God who first loved us and made us ac-

the Father,
cepted in the Beloved; to God the Son, who loved us, and
washed us from our sins in His own blood; to God the Holy
Ghost, who sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts, be all
love and all glory, for time and for eternity.
THOMAS ken, bishop OF BATH AND WELLS

(17th century)
Blessing and honour and thanksgiving and praise more

than we can utter, more than we can conceive, be unto thee, O
holy and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, by all
angels, all men, all creatures, for ever and ever.
BISHOP THOMAS KEN
[96]
June
FOR THE POOR AND HOMELESS, THE REF-

UGEES, THE LONELY, THE UNEMPLOYED
AND THOSE WHOSE WORK IS TOO HARD page 99
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION page 103
FOR PEACE page 107

Poem for the Month
JUNE
Helpy Good Shepherd

Turn not aside, Shepherd, to see
How bright the constellations are,
Hanging in heaven, or on the tree;
The skybom or terrestrial star
Brood not upon; the waters fleet,
Willows, or thy crown-destined thorn,

Full of her rubies, as is meet.
Or whitening in the eye of mom,
Pause not beside: Shepherds' delight,

The pipe and tabor in the vale.
And mirthful watchfires of a night,
And herdsman's rest in wattled pale,
Forsake, though deeply earned: and still
Sound with thy crook the darkling flood,

Still range the sides of shelvy hill
And call about in underwood:
For on the hill are many strayed.

Some held in thickets plunge and cry,
And the deep waters make us afraid.
Come then and help us, or we die.
RUTH FITTER
[98
For the Poor and Homeless, the Refugees, the Lonely,
the Unemployed and Those Whose Work Is Too Hard
JUNE 1
Thou who didst spread thy creating arms to the stars,

strengthen our arms with power to intercede when we lift up
our hands unto thee.
ARMENIAN LITURGY
Here is thy footstool and there rest thy feet where

live the poorest, the lowliest, and lost.
When I try to bow to thee, my obeisance cannot

reach down to the depth where thy feet rest among the
poorest, and lowliest and lost.
Pride can never approach to where thou walkest in the

clothes of the humble among the poorest and lowliest,
and lost.
My heart can never find its way to where thou keepest

company with the companionless among the poorest, the
lowliest, and the lost.
GITANJALI, NO. X
Collected Poems and Plays of Rabindranath Tagore
JUNE 2
O God, the Father of the forsaken, the Help of the weak,

the Supplier of the needy, who teachest us that love towards the
race of man is the bond of perfectness, and the imitation of
thy blessed self; open our eyes and touch our hearts, that we
may and do, both for this world and for that which is to
see
come, the things which belong unto our peace. Pour into us a
spirit of humility; let nothing be done but in devout obedience
to thy will, thankfulness for thine unspeakable mercies, and love
to thy beloved Son Christ Jesus.
anthony ashley cooper, earl of shaftesbury

(adapted)
[99]
JUNE 3
The Homeless
Jesus, Son of man, look in mercy upon all who suffer the
lack of livelihood and, like thee, have not where to lay their
head: let thy pity and compassion move us to house the home-
less and lighten the burdens of the needy and distressed: that
in thee all the families of the earth may be blessed.
O Lord Jesus Christ, bom in a stable: hear the cry of the
homeless and refugees; and so move our by thy Spirit that
wills
we cease not until all have found home and livelihood, for
thy name's sake.
CANON MACNUTT
JUNE 4
Lord Jesus, who as a child didst flee with thy family to a

strange country, look with pity we beseech
upon the thee
refugees scattered throughout the world, victims of war and
persecution, tyranny and oppression. Save them from despair,
heal their bitterness, give them hope. And as they have suffered
at the hands of their fellow men, so may we, their fellow men,
never forget their needs; and may the causes for their home-
lessness be rooted out of our world. In thy Name we ask it.
HENDERIKA J. RYNBERGEN (SLIGHTLY ADAPTED)
JUNE 5
Almighty God, King of Kings, who hast called us into a

Kingdom not of this world; send forth, we pray, thy spirit
unto the dark habitations of guilt and woe. Reach the heart of
every oppression, and make arrogancy dumb before thee. Still
the noise of our strife and the tumult of the people. Put to
shame the false idols of every heart. Carry faith to the doubt-
ing, hope to the fearful, strength to the weak, comfort to all
who mourn. Commit thy word, O Lord, to faithful witnesses,
[100]
that thy Kingdom may speedily come and thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
JOHN HEUSS
JUNE 6
For the Lonely
O God our Saviour, we thank you for your great love

that chose always to suffer alone that all our solitudes should
bring with them the companionship of your understanding. We
thank you and remember with reverence and love your loneli-
ness in temptation, the loneliness of the misunderstanding you

endured, your lonely agony in the garden, your loneliness when
you stood before your judges, denied and forsaken by your
friends, your loneliness upon the cross, believing yourself for-
saken even of God, your loneliness in death and in the tomb.
We thank you and love you and remember in our love all who
suffer the pains of loneliness, those who are lonely in crippling
infirmities of mind and body, and those who are
the old
bereaved, those who feel themselves friendless and forsaken,
those lonely in unemployment, poverty, captivity or exile. We
pray for them, O Lord, that as you carry them in your heart
of compassion so they may find you at the heart of their loneli-
ness, and in their finding know the joy of your Presence.
JUNE 7
O Lord, our heavenly Father, we commend to thy pro-

tecting care and compassion the men and women of this and
every land now suffering distress and anxiety through lack of
work: prosper, we pray thee, the councils of those who are
engaged in the ordering of industrial life, that all people may be
set free from want and fear, and may be enabled to work in
security and peace, for the happiness of the common life and
the well-being of their countries. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SOCIETY OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE HOLY CROSS,
MASSACHUSETTS (SLIGHTLY ADAPTED)
[101]
JUNE 8
O Christ, who earnest not to be ministered unto but to

minister, have mercy upon all who labour faithfully to serve
the common good. O Christ, who didst feed the hungry multitude
with loaves and fishes, have mercy upon all who labour to earn
their daily bread. O Christ, who all them
didst call unto Thyself
that labour and are heavy laden, have mercy upon all whose
work is beyond their strength. And to Thee, with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, be all the glory and the praise.
JOHN BAILLIE
JUNE 9
Thou, O
Lord, providest enough for all men with Thy
most and bountiful hand; but whereas Thy gifts are, in
liberal
respect of Thy goodness and free favour, made common to all
men, we (through our naughtiness, niggardship, and distrust)
do make them private and peculiar. Correct Thou the thing
which our iniquity hath put out of order; let Thy goodness
supply that which our niggardliness hath plucked away. Give
Thou meat to the hungry and drink to the thirsty; comfort
Thou the sorrowful; cheer up the dismayed; strengthen Thou
the weak; deliver Thou them that are prisoners; and give Thou
hope and courage to them that are out of heart.
ANON.
JUNE 10
Merciful Father, we come to thee confessing the sins of

our civilization, in which we have all shared. We have been
so bent upon our selfish ends that we would not stop to have
mercy. When we have seen those whom the injustices of the
world have bruised and beaten, we have passed by on the other
side. We have around ourselves the walls of privilege,
built
within which we might not hear the passion of exploited men,
[102]
the weeping of women, the bitter cry of children robbed of
happy youth. O God of judgment, make us fit to ask for thy
forgiveness, before it is too late.
ANON.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
JUNE 1 1
For the Congregation

Vouchsafe to look down on those who here pray with
thine humble servant, and on those who are absent. Remember,
O Lord, my littleness; not the faults and ignorance of the past,
but according to thy mercies, for if thou take count of our in-
iquities, who Thy mercy is upon us. Come to me,

shall abide it?
cleanse me and let Remember, O Lord, those
thy grace abound.
whom we remember and those whom we forget. Accept in
heaven their prayers and make them worthy of thy presence and
thy help. Strengthen them by thy might, instruct them by thy
changelessness; for thou, O God, art our protector.
WEST SYRIAN LITURGY
JUNE 12
Thee do I supplicate, God, in whom harmony, all

is all
illumination, all steadfastness, all abundance and all life! God,

who givest us the Bread of Life help me to love thee alone, thee
alone follow, thee alone seek, thee alone serve. Command, I
pray, and I hope that I shall do all things which thou com-
mandest.
ST. AUGUSTINE (ADAPTED)
JUNE 13
Stained though I be with the multitude of sins, reject me

not, our master, our Lord, and our God! For lo! not as though
[103
—
I were worthy have I drawn near to this, thy divine and heavenly
mystery; but looking up to thy goodness, I raise my cry to thee

God, be merciful to me a sinner!
LITURGY OF ST. JAMES
JUNE 14
From unclean lips,

From an evil heart.
From an impure tongue,
Out of a soul defiled.
Receive, O Christ, my prayer.
All my sins take from me, O God of all;
That with a clean heart.

With a trembling mind,
And a contrite spirit,
I may partake of thy pure
And all-holy Mysteries.

My Master and my God,
Whosoever partaketh of thy divine
And hallowing grace.
Assuredly, never is alone
But is with thee, O Christ,
The thrice-glorious Light
Which lighteth the world.
prayer of simeon the new theologian
(adapted)
JUNE 15
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and stand in fear and
trembling, and ponder nothing earthly-minded; for the King of
Kings, the Lord of Lords, Christ our God, cometh to be sacri-
ficed, to give him go the
himself as food to the faithful. Before
Choir of angels. Powers and Dominations, the many-eyed
[104]
Cherubim and six- winged Seraphim, covering their faces and
crying aloud, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
LITURGY OF ST. JAMES
JUNE 16
My Lord, my King,
my love goes out to thee,
drawn by the love
wherewith I am enabled to return thy love.
Lamb of God, slain from the first beginning of all time,
Lamb of God, slain until the consummation of the end.
Lamb of God, slain upon a day in history,
throned in death
upon the altar of thy Cross,
the one and only sacrifice for sin,
we magnify thy Name.
GILBERT SHAW
JUNE 17
The Consecration
This is my Lord,
beside and about me,
coming and entering and abiding within.
This my Lord, to whom I belong:
is
This, my Lord, calling me nearer and nearer.
This ismy Lord, who died for me:

This, my Lord, who taketh away my sin:
This, my Lord, clothing me in his righteousness:
This, my Lord, giving strength for to-day and to-morrow:
This, my Lord, with his own hands feeding me
with his own life,
with his Body and his Blood,
with his heart and his soul.
[105]
As he would dwell in me,
may I dwell in him
for ever and ever.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
JUNE 18
We thank thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge

which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Servant.
To thee be glory for ever. As this broken bread, once scattered
upon the mountains, has been gathered together and been made
one, so may thy Church be gathered together from the ends of
the earth into thy Kingdom; for thine is the glory and the power
through Jesus Christ for ever.
THE DIDACHE (2nD CENTURY)
JUNE 19
We yield thee hearty thanks, O Lord Jesus Christ, for

thine unutterable love in vouchsafing to redeem mankind by
thineown death; and we beseech thee, suffer not thy blood to
have been shed in vain for us; that we, growing up in thee by
continual increase of heavenly strength, may become fit mem-
bers of thy mystical body, which is and never
the Church,
swerve from that most holy Covenant which thou madest with
thy chosen disciples in the last supper, by distributing the bread
unto them, and by reaching them the cup; and through them
with all those who through baptism are grateful unto thy
company.
ERASMUS (slightly ADAPTED)
[106]
JUNE 20
For the Congregation
Strengthen, O our Lord, the hands that have been
stretched out and have received the holy thing for
the pardon of offences.
Account them worthy every day to yield fruits to Thy
Godhead.
The mouths which have praised Thee within the holy
place,
Do thou account worthy to sing praise.
The ears which have heard the voice of Thy praises,
Let thou not, O my Lord, hear the voice of alarm,
The eyes that have seen Thy great compassion,
Again, O my Lord, let them see Thy blessed hope.
The tongues, also, that have cried Holy,
Do Thou dispose to speak truth.
The feet that walk within the church.
Make them to walk within the land of light.
Our congregation which hath worshipped Thy Godhead,

Multiply towards it every help.
THE LITURGY OF MALABAR
For Peace
JUNE 21
Litany of Peace
In peace let us beseech the Lord

for the peace that is from above
and the salvation of our souls;

for the peace of the whole world
and the holy churches of God
and of all men;
for our homes, that they may be holy,
and for all our pastors, teachers and governors
[107]
for our city (township, village) and country
and all who dwell therein;
for all that travel by land, by air, by water;
for the sick and all who need thy pity and
protection.
On have mercy, and preserve all, O God,
all,
by thy grace:
for unto thee, O Lord, is due glory, honour,
and worship
world without end.
LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (ADAPTED)
JUNE 22
Lord give us peace in our days, for there is none
that fighteth for us but thou alone our God.
Lord, peace be made in thy strength
And plenty in thy towers.
God, of whom be holy desires, rightful counsels and just
deeds, give to thy servants that peace that the world may not
give, so that our heartsmay be given to keep thine hests and
dread of our enemies may be taken from us, so that our times
may be peaceable by thy protection, by our Lord Jesus Christ
thy Son, that liveth with thee and reigneth God, by all worlds
of worlds.
MS. DOUCE
JUNE 23
Jesus, Saviour of human activity to which You have given

meaning. Saviour of human suffering to which You have given
living value, be also the Saviour of human unity; compel us to
discard our pettinesses, and to venture forth, resting upon you,
into the undaunted ocean of charity.
PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN
[108]
JUNE 24
For Racial Peace

O God, who makest man to be of one mind in an house
and hast called us into the fellowship of thy dear Son: draw into
closer unity, we beseech thee, the people of all races in this
and every land; that in fellowship with thee they may under-
stand and help one another, and that, serving thee, they may
find their perfect freedom; through the same thy Son Jesus
Christ our Lord.
JOOST DE BLANK, ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN
God bless Africa

Guard her children
Guide her leaders
Grant her peace
In Jesus Christ's Name.
TREVOR HUDDLESTON,
BISHOP OF MASASI
JUNE 25
O Lord, forgive the cruelties of men in every age,
their insensibility to others' pain,
the deliberation which gives pain
\
to satisfy and to express
the evil that rebels from love's surrender to others' needs
to exalt itself.
O Lord, forgive the carelessness that passes by,

I the blunted consciences that will not see,
or fear to see,
the wrongs men do to other men.
Most merciful, most loving Judge, Redeemer of mankind,

thou dost restore the fallen,
thou dost seek out the scattered sheep.
GILBERT SHAW
[109]
JUNE 26
O God, by whose power alone men are enabled to live to-
Look upon the broken body of our humanity,
gether as brethren;
and grant that wherever men meet in council for the ordering
of the world, thy Holy Spirit may bring them into unity. Let
thy forgiveness make us ready to forgive and to be reconciled
to those from whom we are estranged; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
B.B.C.
JUNE 27
We pray for all mankind.

Though divided and races,
into nations
Yet are all men thy children.
Drawing from thee their life and being,
Commanded by thee to obey thy laws,
Each in accordance with the power to know and
understand them.
Cause hatred and strife to vanish,

That abiding peace may fill the earth.
And humanity may everywhere be blessed with the
fruits of peace.
So shall the spirit of brotherhood among men
Show forth their faith that
Thou art the Father of all.
JEWISH PRAYER
JUNE 28
O God, who wouldst fold both heaven and earth in a single
peace; Let the design of thy great love lighten upon the waste
of our wraths and sorrows and give peace to thy Church, peace
among nations, peace in our dwellings,and peace in our hearts;
through thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
MEMORIALS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
[ 110]
We beseech thee, O Lord our God, to set the peace of
heaven within the hearts of men, that it may bind the nations
also in a covenant which cannot be broken.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
JUNE 29
O Christ, the peace of the things that are on high, and
the great rest of those that are below, establish O Lord in thy
peace and rest the four regions of the world. Destroy wars and
battles from the ends of the earth, and disperse all those that
delight in war; and by thy divine mercy pacify the Church and
the Kingdom, that we may have a safe habitation in all soberness
and piety. And through thy mercy and love forgive the debts
and sins of them that are departed this life.
LITURGY OF MALABAR
JUNE 30
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, and no strength known but the
strength of love: We pray thee so mightily to shed and spread
abroad thy Spirit, that all peoples and ranks may be gathered
under one banner, of the Prince of Peace; as children of one
God and Father of All; to whom be dominion and glory now and
for ever.
MEMORIALS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
[111 ]
FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SELF page 114
FOR QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH.

SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES. TEACHERS,
SCIENTISTS, WRITERS, ARTISTS, CRAFTS-
MEN AND FARMERS page 120
MORNING PRAYERS page 124

.
Poem for the Month
JULY
God strengthen me to bear myself;

That heaviest weight of all to bear,
Inalienable weight of care. .
If I could once lay down myself,

And start self-purged upon the race
That all must run! Death runs apace.
If I could set aside myself,

And start with lightened heart upon
The road by all men overgone!
God harden me against myself,

This coward with pathetic voice
Who craves for ease, and rest and joys:
Myself, arch-traitor to myself,

My hollowest friend, my deadliest foe
My clog whatever road I go.
Yet One there is can curb myself.

Can roll the strangling load from me,
Break off the yoke and set me free.
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
For Deliverance From Self
JULY 1
O Lord God, be thou to me a God, and beside thee none

else, none else, naught else, with thee.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
[ 114]
Jesus, grant me the grace to fix my mind on Thee, espe-
cially in time of prayer, when I directly converse with Thee. Stop
the motions of my wandering head, and the desires of my
unstable heart, and my many vain imaginings. O beloved of
my up all
soul, take my thoughts here, that mine eyes, abstain-
ing from all vain and hurtful sights, may become worthy to
behold Thee face to face in Thy glory for ever.
THE JESUS PSALTER
JULY 2
My Lord, and Master of my life,
grant me thy grace and living Presence

in my soul
that thou may'st draw me into thyself,
my mmd renewed, transformed,
grace by grace,
into the new and perfect temple of thyself,
through suffering cleansed, through suffering made
one life with thee
to glorify thy Name.
Lead thou me forth from out the city of myself,

upon the way to be for ever one with thee.
Give me the measure of thy grace
which is sufficient unto me
at every stage upon the road,
that I may know thee as thou art
my Love, my all.
GILBERT SHAW
JULY 3
Lord, bestow on me two gifts,
to forget myself,
never to forget thee.
t 115]
Keep me from self-love, self-pity, self-will,
and disguise,
in every guise
nor ever let me measure myself by myself.
Save me from self,
my tempter, seducer, jailor;
corrupting desire at the spring,
closing the avenues of grace,
leading me down the streets of death.
Rather, let my soul devote to thee

its aspirations, affections, resolutions;
let my mind look unto thee
in all its searchings, strivings, certitudes;
let my body work for thee
with its full health and abiUties.
Let thy love pass

into the depth of my heart,
into the heart of my prayer,
into the prayer of my whole being;
so that I desert myself
and dwell and move in thee,
in peace, now and evermore.
ERIC MILNER-WmTE
JULY 4
I adore thee, Lord Jesus, dwelling in my heart. I beseech

thee abide in me, in all the tranquility of thy power, in all the
perfection of thy ways, in all the brightness of thy presence and
in all the holiness of thy Spirit; that I may know the breadth
and length and depth and height of thy love: and do thou trample
down in me all power of evil in the might of thy Spirit to the
glory of God the Father.
PERE OLIER (adapted)
God, of thy goodness, give me thyself: for thou art enough

to me, and I may nothing ask that is less that may be full
[116]
worship to Thee; and if I ask anything that is less, ever me
wanteth, —but only in thee I have all.
JULIAN OF NORWICH
JULY 5
Lord give us grace

to hold to thee
when is weariness and fear
all
and abounds within, without,

sin
when that which I would do I cannot do
and that I do I would not do,
when love itself is tested by the doubt
that love is false, or dead within the soul,
when every act brings new confusion, new distress,
new opportunities, new misunderstandings,
and every thought new accusation.
Lord give us grace

that we may know that in the darkness pressing round
it is the mist of sin that hides thy face
that thou art there
and thou dost know we love thee still . . .
GILBERT SHAW
JULY 6
O life of Jesus Christ!

Mirror of Verity!
Mine own deformity
I see in that clear Light.
Lord, thou hast shown me now,
In thy fair holiness,
Mine utter nothingness;
Yea, less than nothing I!
JACOPONE DA TODI
[117]
O God, who hast called us to open our hand, and thou
wouldest fill it, and we would not: open thou not only our hand,
but our heart also; that we may know nothing but thee, count
all things lost in comparison of thee, and endeavour to be made
like unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
JEREMY TAYLOR
JULY 7
O Lord on the cross that you may draw all

Christ, lifted
men unto you, have mercy upon us. It is our self-love that
crucified you then, and crucifies you now in every thought that
turns in upon self, passing you by, in every word and deed that
pierces and thrusts for self, wounding you in your children.
Longing for you we yet stand far off upon the hill of Calvary,
mourning for what we are, afraid of the darkness we have
brought about us by what we do, clinging still to the secret
sweetness of self-love, and unable to bring it to the love that
burns for us upon the cross that it may die there in the flame.
Lord, strengthen our weak longing for you with the great
strength of your longing for us, and bring us through the dark-
ness to where you are. Give us courage for the dying, courage
for the grave, courage for the new-born love created after the
pattern of your own. In our dying, Lord, in our resurrection,
you will be close to us. We shall no longer be far off.
JULY 8
O Saviour, pour upon me thy Spirit of meekness and love,

annihilate the Selfhood in me, be thou all my life. Guide thou
my hand which trembles exceedingly upon the rock of ages.
WILLIAM BLAKE
Give us grace, O we strive to keep

Eternal Father, that
the way of the Cross,and carry in our hearts the image of
Jesus crucified. Make us glad to conform ourselves to thy divine
will, that, being fashioned after his life-giving death, we may
[118]
and live according to the Spirit of
die according to the flesh,
Righteousness, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord and
only Saviour.
GREEK CHURCH
JULY 9
Keep me, O Lord, for I am Thine by creation; guide me,

for I am Thine by purchase; Thou hast redeemed me by the
blood of Thy Son, and loved me with the love of a father, for 1
am Thy child. . . . Let no hope or fear, no pleasure or pain, no

accident without, no weakness within, hinder or discompose my
duty, or turn me from the ways of Thy commandments. O let
Thy Spirit dwell with me for ever, and make my soul just and
charitable, full of honesty, full of religion, resolute and constant
in holy purposes, but inflexible to evil. Make me humble and
obedient, peaceable and pious; let me never envy any man's
good, nor deserve to be despised myself: and if I be, teach me
to bear it with meekness and charity.
JEREMY TAYLOR
JULY 10
O most merciful Father, save us from ourselves, and show

us the pattern of a world made new, wherein thy will is done
and all men are accepted as brothers; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
ANON.
O timeless and eternal Spirit, liberate us from the prison

house of selfish desire, of worldly standards and of petty am-
bition into the spacious heaven of thy love. May the peace of the
eternal Father brood over us; may love of the eternal Son sur-
round us; may the strength of the eternal Spirit dwell within us.
ANON.
[119]
For Queen and Commonwealth. Schools and Univer-
sities. Teachers, Scientists Writers, Artists, Craftsmen
y
and Farmers
JULY 11
Prayer for Queen Elizabeth II
We render unto thee, O merciful and heavenly Father, most

humble and hearty thanks for Thy manifold mercies so abun-
dantly bestowed upon our Queen, unto this present hour. Con-
tinue, we beseech thee, this thy favourable goodness towards
her; keep her in thy faith, fear and love, that she may never
fall away from thee, but continue in thy service all the days of
her life.
ADAPTED FROM A PRAYER COMPOSED BY

QUEEN ELIZABETH I
JULY 12
For the Queen and Her Counsellors

May the supreme King of kings in his mercy preserve the
Queen in life, guard her and deliver her from all trouble and
sorrow. May he put a spirit of wisdom and understanding into

her heart and into the hearts of all her counsellors, that they
may uphold the peace of the realm, advance the welfare of the
nation, and deal kindly and truly with all Israel. In her days and
in ours, may our Heavenly Father spread the protection of peace
over all the dwellers on earth; and may the Redeemer come
unto Zion; and let us say, Amen.
JEWISH PRAYER
[ 120]
JULY 13
The Commonwealth
Lord, bless this Kingdom and Commonwealth, that religion
and virtue may season all sorts of men; may be peace
that there
within its gates and prosperity in all its borders. In peace so
preserve it that it corrupt not; in trouble so defend it that it
suffer not;and so order it, whether in plenty or in want, that it

may patiently and peaceably seek thee, the only full supply and
sure foundation both of men and states, that so it may continue
a place and people to do thee service to the end of time; through
Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer.
ARCHBISHOP WILLIAM LAUD
JULY 14
O God, the God of all righteousness, mercy, and love:

Give us all grace and strength to conceive and execute whatever
be for thine honour and the welfare of the nation; that we may
become at last, through the merits and intercession of our
Common Redeemer, a great and a happy, because a wise and
understanding people; to thy honour and glory.
LORD SALISBURY
JULY 15
For Schools and Universities
O God, who dost begin and sustain all progress up to thee

in thykingdom: Bless our Universities and Schools, that they
may convey to thy children thy best gifts of truth and godliness;
and prepare them for the perfect citizenship aUke of earth and
heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
[121 ]
O Lord Jesus Christ, we pray thee to pour thy Spirit upon
the students of all nations; that they may consecrate themselves
to thy service, and may come to love and understand one
another through their common obedience to thee.
ANON.
JULY 16
For Teachers
Lord Jesus who didst shew on this earth thy love
Christ,
for children: guide, we pray thee, with thy Spirit, those who are
called to the ministry of teaching in this land; that nothing may
hinder our children from growing in faith and love towards thee,
and that thy name may be honoured both in our schools and in
our homes.
B.B.C.
Private Prayer for Teachers
Lord Jesus, merciful and patient, grant us grace, I be-

seech thee, ever to teach in a teachable spirit; learning along with
those we and learning from them whenever thou so
teach,
pleasest. Word of God, speak to us, speak by us, what thou
wilt. us, instruct by us, if and whom
Wisdom of God, instruct
thou wilt. Eternal Truth, reveal thyself to us, in whatever
measure thou wilt; that we and they may all be taught of God.
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
JULY 17
For Scientists
O God, who knowledge and the source

art the goal of all
of all truth, who mankind towards thyself along the
dost lead
paths of discovery and leammg; Direct with thy Holy Spirit
[122]
thework of scientists throughout the world. Enlighten with thy
wisdom and endue with humility those engaged in the investi-
gation of the secrets of thy universe. Grant that they may be
led through their labour to a greater knowledge of thee, and
that we may use their discoveries according to thy will and to
the benefit of our fellow men; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
THOMAS KERR
JULY 18
For Writers, Artists and Craftsmen

Almighty God, who hast proclaimed thine eternal truth
by the voice of prophets and evangelists: Direct and bless, we
beseech thee, those who in this generation speak where many
listen and write what many read; that they may do their part
in making the heart of the people wise, its mind sound, and
its will righteous; to the honour of Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE boys' prayer BOOK (ADAPTED)
O God, who by thy Spirit in our hearts dost lead men to

desire thy perfection, to seek for truths and to rejoice in beauty:
illuminate and inspire, we beseech thee, all thinkers, writers,
artists and craftsmen; that, in whatsoever is true and pure and
lovely, thy name may be hallowed and thy kingdom come on
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ANON.
JULY 19
For Farmers
Almighty God, who hast blessed the earth that it should
be fruitful and bring forth abundantly whatever is needful for the
life of man: prosper, we pray thee, the work of the farmer, and
grant such seasonable weather that we may gather in the
[123]
.
fruits of the earth, and ever rejoice in thy goodness; through

DR. OSCAR HARDMAN
JULY 20
Office Hymn for Prime

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high,
That he, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm to-day:
Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife;
From anger's din would hide our life:

From all ill sights would turn our eyes,
Would close our ears from vanities. . .
So we when this new day is gone.

And night in turn is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained
Shall praise his name for victory gained.
All laud to God the Father be;

All praise, eternal Son, to thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To God the holy Paraclete.
Morning Prayers
JULY 21
O Lord Christ, help us to maintain ourselves in simplicity

and in joy, the joy of the merciful, the joy of brotherly love.
Grant that, renouncing henceforth all thought of looking back,
and joyful with infinite gratitude, we may never fear to precede
the dawn
[ 124]
to praise
and bless
and sing
to Christ our Lord.
THE RULE OF TAIZE
From the unreal lead me to the real;

from darkness lead me to light;
from death lead me to deathlessness.
ANCIENT INDIAN PRAYER
JULY 22
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the God of our fathers,
who turaest the shadow of death into the morning; who hast
lightened mine eyes, that I sleep not in death. O Lord, blot out
as a night-mist mine iniquities. Scatter my
morning
sins as a
cloud. Grant that I may become and of the
a child of the light,
day. Vouchsafe to keep me this day without sin. Uphold me

when I am falling, and lift me up when I am down. Preserve
this day from any evil of mine, and me from the evils of the
day. Let this day add some knowledge, or good deed, to yester-
day. Oh, let me hear thy lovmg-kindness in the morning, for
in thee is my trust. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee,
for thou art my God. Let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into
the land of righteousness.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
I
JULY 23
O Lord, when I awake, and day begins,
waken me to thy Presence;
waken me to thine indwelling;
waken me to inward sight of thee,
and speech with thee,
and strength from thee;
[125]
that all my earthly walk may waken into song
and my spirit leap up to thee all day,
all ways.
O my God
all times are thy times,
and every day thy day,
made lovely only with thy light.
Bring us, OLord, to that blessed eternal day
which thy Son our Saviour hath won for us,
and to the perfect light.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
JULY 24
Let our prayer, O Lord, come before Thee in the morning.
Thou didst take upon Thee our feeble and suffering nature;
grant us to pass this day in gladness and peace, without stum-
bling and without stain; that reaching the eventide free from
evil, we may praise Thee, the eternal King: through Thy mercy,
O our God, Who art blessed, and dost live, and govern all
things, world without end.

ST. ANSELM (llTH CENTURY)
JULY 25
Thanks to Thee, O God, that I have risen today.
To the rising of this life itself;
May it be to Thine own glory, O God of every gift,
And to the glory of my soul likewise.
O God, aid Thou my soul

great
With the aiding of Thine own mercy;
Even as I clothe my body with wool.
Cover Thou my soul with the shadow of Thy wing.
[126]
—
Help me to avoid every sin,

And the source of every sin to forsake;
And as the mist scatters on the crest of the hills,
May each ill haze clear from my soul, O God.
THE SUN DANCES
JULY 26
Lord, give us to go blithely on our business all this day,
bring us to our resting beds weary and content and undis-
honoured, and grant us in the end the gift of sleep.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
O God, who hast folded back the mantle of the night, to

clothe us in the golden glory of the day, chasefrom our hearts
all gloomy thoughts, and make us glad with the brightness of
hope, that we may effectively aspire to unwon virtues; through
ANCIENT COLLECT (A.D. 590)
JULY 27
Awake, my Soul, and with the sun.
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
Glory to thee, who safe hast kept.

And hast refresh'd me whilst I slept:
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless light partake.
Lord, my vows to thee renew.

I
my sins as morning dew,

Scatter
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
[127]
)
Direct, control, suggest, this day.

All I deign, or do, or say;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,

Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
BISHOP THOMAS KEN
JULY 28
O make thy way plain before my face. Support me this day

under all the difficulties I shall meet with. I offer myself to
thee, O God, this day to do in me, and with me, as to thee
seems most meet.
THOMAS WILSON (17tH CENTURY
We command unto thee, O Lord,

our souls and our bodies,
our minds and our thoughts,
our prayers and our hopes,
our health and our work,
our life and our death;
our parents and brothers and sisters,
our benefactors and friends,

our neighbours, our countrymen,
and all Christian folk
this day and always.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
[128]
JULY 29
Thou, who art the true Sun of the world, evermore rising,
and never going down; who, by thy most wholesome appearing
and sight dost nourish, and make joyful all things, as well that
are in heaven, as also that are on earth; we beseech thee merci-
fully and favourably to shine into our hearts, that the night and
darkness of sin, and the mists of error on every side, being driven
away, thou brightly shining within our hearts, we may all our
life long go without any stumbling or offence, and may walk
as in the daytime, being pure and clean from the works of dark-
ness,and abounding in all good works which thou hast prepared
for us to walk in.
ERASMUS
JULY 30
O blessed Jesus, who didst use thine own most precious

life for the redemption of thy human brethren, giving no thought
to ease or pleasure or worldly enrichment, but filling up all thine
hours and days with deeds of self-denying love, give me grace
to-day to follow the road thou didst first tread; and to thy name
be all the glory and the praise, even unto the end.
JOHN BAILLIE
JULY 31
O eternal Son of God, who camest from the Father, the

Fountain of light, to enlighten the darkness of the world: Shine
thou upon us this day, that in whatsoever we shall do or suffer
we may be acceptable to thy Divine Majesty; for thy Name's
sake.
JEREMY TAYLOR
[129]
:
O God, great and wonderful,

who hast given us a pledge of thy promised kingdom
through the good things already bestowed upon us
Help us to shun all evil throughout this day,
that, at its end, we may stand without reproach

before thy holy glory,
and praise thee,
the God of our life, the lover of men;
GREEK VESPERS (ADAPTED)
[ 130]
August
PRAYERS OF KINGS AND QUEENS page 133
PRAYERS IN OLD AGE page 137
FOR SPECIAL GRACES page 142

Poem for the Month
AUGUST
O thou almighty Will

Faint are thy children, till
Thou come with power:

Strength of our good intents,
In our frail home, Defence,
Calm of Faith's confidence,
Come, in this hour!
O thou most tender Love!

Deep in our spirits move:
Tarry, dear Guest!
Quench thou our passion's fire.
Raise thou each low desire.

Deeds of brave love inspire,
Quickener and Rest!
O Light serene and still!
Come and our spirit fill,
Bring in the day:

Guide of our feeble sight,
Star of our darkest night,

Shine on the path of right.
Show us the way!
KING ROBERT OF FRANCE

(C. 1000 A.D.)
[ 132]
Prayers of Kings and Queens
AUGUST 1
King Solomon
O God of our Fathers,
Lord who keepest thy mercy,
who madest all things by thy word;
and by thy wisdom formedst man,
that he should have dominion over all things that were
made by thee,
and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and execute judgement in uprightness of soul:
Give me wisdom,
her that sitteth by thee on thy throne;
Send her forth out of the holy heavens,
and from the throne of thy glory bid her come;
that being present with me she may toil with me,
that I may learn what is well-pleasing before thee,
that in my doings she may guide me in ways of soberness
and guard me in her glory;
henceforth and always.
BOOK OF WISDOM IX
AUGUST 2
King Alfred
O Lord God Almighty, I charge Thee of Thy great mercy
and by the token of thy holy rood that thou guide me to thy
will and to my soul's need better than I can myself, that above
all things I may inwardly love thee with a clear mind and clean
body; for thou art my Maker, my help and my hope.
If thou hast a woe tell it not to the weakling. Tell it to

thy saddle-bow and ride singing forth.
PROVERBS BY KING ALFRED
[133]
AUGUST 3
Attributed to King Edward VI

O gracious God and most merciful Father, who hast
vouchsafed us the rich and precious jewel of thy holy word:
Assist us with thy Spirit that it may be written in our hearts to
our everiasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us according
to thine own image, to build us up and edify us into the perfect
building of thy Christ, sanctifying and increasing in us all
heavenly virtues. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the same

Jesus Christ's sake.
PREFACE TO GENEVA BIBLE
AUGUST 4
Household of King Henry VHI

O Almighty God, who hast prepared everlasting life to all
those that be thy faithful servants: Grant unto us sure hope of
the life everlasting, that we, being in this world, may have
some foretaste thereof in our hearts: not by our deserving, but
by the merits of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
AUGUST 5
Two Prayers Which King Henry VI Made

O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst create me, redeem me,
and foreordain me unto that which I do now am: Thou knowest
what Thou wilt do with me: deal with me according to thy will
and thy mercy.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who alone art wisdom: Thou knowest

what things are profitable for me poor smner: be it done unto
me according to thy mercy, as it pleases Thee and seems good
to the eyes of thy Majesty.
[134]
AUGUST 6
Eve of the Transfiguration
O God, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses

thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment
white and glistering: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered
from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold
the King in his beauty; who with thee, O Father, and thee, O
Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.
REV. WILLIAM REED-HUNTINGDON
Transfiguration
Our Lord and King, what awe fell upon your disciples when
they beheld you in your glory upon the Mount. Their Master
had lived with them humbly as friend and brother, but when
their eyes were opened and the King of Kings shone upon them
in the light of heaven they were sore afraid. We too, Lord,
know you and comforter and shepherd of the sheep;
as friend
let us not forget the glory and power of our God and King.
Teach us the same holy fear as overwhelmed your disciples.

And teach us too, O Lord, the honour due to our fellow men,
made in the image of our God. Let us never forget that if we
could see them as they truly are, transfigured by your love for
them, we should be smitten to the heart. Help us to see your
image in each other, O Lord, and to worship and adore.
AUGUST 7
Lady Jane Grey, Queen for a Few Days

Written in Prison
Merciful God, be thou now unto us a strong tower of

defence. Give us grace to await thy leisure, and patiently to bear
what thou doest unto us, nothing doubting thy goodness towards
us.Therefore do with us in all things as thou wilt: Only arm us,
we beseech thee, with thy armour, that we may stand fast;
above all things taking to us the shield of faith, praying always
[135]
that we may refer ourselves wholly to thy will, bemg assuredly
persuaded that all thou doest cannot but be well. And unto thee
be all honour and glory.
AUGUST 8
The Dying Prayer of St. Margaret, Queen of Scots
Lord Jesus Christ

who according to the will of the Father,
through the co-operation of the Holy Ghost,
hast by thy death given life to the world:
Deliver me.
Mary Queen of Scots, in Prison
O Lord my God, I hope in thee;

My dear Lord Jesus, set me free;
In chains, in pains,
I long for thee.
On bended knee
I adore thee, implore thee
To set me free.
AUGUST 9
King Charles I
All-seeing Light and Eternal Life of upon all things, look

my misery with thine eye or mercy, and power let thine infinite
vouchsafe to limit out some portion of deliverance unto me, as
unto thee shall seem most convenient. But yet, O my God, I
yield unto Thy will, and joyfully embrace what sorrow Thou
wilt have me suffer. Only this much let me crave of thee (let
my craving, O Lord, be accepted of thee, since even that
proceeds from thee) —^let me crave even by the noblest title,
which in my greatest affliction I may give myself, that I am thy

creature, and by thy goodness (which is thyself), that thou wilt
[136]
suffer some beam of thy Majesty so to shine mto my mind, that
it may still depend confidently on thee.
WRITTEN BY SIR PHILIP SIDNEY BUT USED BY CHARLES I
O Lord, make thy way plain before me. Let thy glory be
my end, thy Word my rule, and then, thy will be done.
KING CHARLES I
AUGUST 10
Prayer of Madame Elizabeth of France

Written in Prison, Awaiting the Guillotine
I do not know, O
God, what may happen to me to-day, I
only know happen to me but what has been
that nothing will
foreseen by you from all eternity, and that is sufficient, O my
God, to keep me in peace. I adore your eternal designs. I
submit to them with all my heart. I desire them all and accept
them all. I make a sacrifice of everything. I write this sacrifice
to that of your dear Son, my Saviour, begging you by His
infinite merits, for the patience in troubles, and the perfect sub-
mission which is due to you in all that you will and design
for me.
Prayers in Old Age
AUGUST 1 1
OLord our God let us hope in the protecting shadow of

Thy wings.Guard us and bear us up. Bear us up Thou wilt, as
tiny infants and on to our grey hairs: for when Thou art our
strength, it is strength indeed, but when our strength is our
own it is only weakness. With Thee our good ever lives, and
when we are averted from Thee we are perverted. Let us now
return to Thee, O Lord, that we may not be overturned, for
with Thee lives without any defect our good which is Thyself.
We have no fear that there should be no place of return, merely
[137]
because by our own act we fell from it: our absence does not
cause our house to fall which is Thy Eternity.
AUGUST 12
Keep me, O Lord, while I tarry on this earth, in a daily

serious seeking after thee, and in a believing affectionate walk-
ing with thee; that, when thou comest, I may be found not
hiding my talent, nor serving my flesh, nor yet asleep with my
lamp unfurnished; but waiting and longing for my Lord, my
glorious God, for ever and ever.
RICHARD BAXTER (17tH CENTLRY)
O thou Who hast prepared a place for my soul,

Prepare my soul for that place:
Prepare it with holiness,
Prepare it with desire;
And even while sojoumeth upon earth
it
Let it dwell in heaven with thee

Beholding the beauty of thy countenance.
And the glory of thy Saints,
Now and forever.
BISHOP HALL OF NORWICH (C. 1600)
AUGUST 13
Give ear unto our words, O Lord,

Consider our meditation.
Let the words of our mouth
And the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable before thee,
O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.
Cast us not away from thy presence,
And take not thy holy spirit from us.
O cast us not off in the time of old age.
Forsake us not when our strength faileth.
[138]
Forsake us not, O Lord our God,
Be not far from us. . . .
For in thee, O Lord, do we hope.

Thou wilt answer, O Lord our God.
JEWISH PRAYER
AUGUST 14
The day is gone, and I give thee thanks, O Lord. Evening

is at hand, furnish it with brightness. As day has its evening so
also has life; the even of life is age, age has overtaken me, furnish
it with brightness. Cast me not away in the time of age; forsake
me not when my strength faileth me. Even to my old age be
thou He, and even to hoar hairs carry me; do thou make, do
thou bear, do thou carry and deliver me. Abide with me, Lord,
for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent of this fretful
life. Let thy strength be made perfect in my weakness.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
AUGUST 15
Living or dying. Lord, I would be thine; keep me thine

own for ever, and draw me day by day nearer to thyself, until
I be wholly filled with thy love, and filled to behold thee, face
to face.
EDWARD BOUVERIE PUSEY
Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love

things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things
that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide;
[139]
AUGUST 16
O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many

and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature
we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and
protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through
all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
book of common prayer

(prayer of an invalid pope)
AUGUST 17
A Mother Superior's Prayer
Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am grow-

ing older, and will some day be old.
Keep me from gettmg talkative, and particularly from the fatal
habit of thinking that I must say something on every
subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Keep my mind from the recital of endless details — give me

wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains.
Help me to endure them with patience.
But seal my lips on my own aches and pains —they are in-
creasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming
sweeter as the years go by.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that
may be mistaken.
I
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint —some
of them are so hard to live with —but a sour old woman is
one of the crowning works of the devil.

Make me thoughtful —but not moody: helpful, but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom
seems a pity not to use
it
it all, but thou knowest Lord, that I want a few friends at

the end.
anon.
[ 140]
AUGUST 18
O God, take us not hence in the midst of our days,

Let us complete in peace the number of our years.
Verily we know that our life is frail,
That our days are as an hand-breadth.
Therefore help us,
O God of our salvation,

To live before thee in truth and uprightness
During the years of our pilgrimage.
And when it will please thee to take us from the earth,

Be thou with us;
And may our souls be bound up in the bond of life
With the souls of our parents and of the righteous
Who stand before thee in heaven.
JEWISH PRAYER
AUGUST 19
O Day-spring, Brightness of Light Everlasting, and Sun

of Righteousness: Come and enhghten him that sitteth in dark-
ness and the shadow of death.
ADVENT ANTIPHON
Lord, support usall the day long of this troublous life,
until theshadows 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 give us safe lodging and a holy rest
and peace at the last. Amen. Lord Jesus. Amen.
ANON, (favourite PRAYER OF CARDINAL NEWMAN)
[ 141 ]
AUGUST 20
O
Lord Jesus Christ, who didst hearken unto the prayer
of thy disciplesand abide with them, when it was towards
evening and the day was far spent: abide we pray thee with
thine aged servants in the evening of life. Make thyself known
unto them; and whensoever they shall pass through the valley
of the shadow of death, be with them unto the end.
B.B.C.
Pardon the folly of this short prayer; even for Jesus Christ's
sake. And give us a good night, if it be thy pleasure.
OLIVER CROMWELL ON fflS DEATHBED
For Special Graces
AUGUST 21
Faith
O Lord, increase my faith; strengthen and confirm me in

the true faith; endure me with wisdom, charity and patience in
all my adversity. Sweet Jesus, say Amen.
ANON. (16th century)
Hope
O God our Maker, give songs in the night
through the long watches of hope,
Till the shadows flee away.
Though the watch be long,
our hope will not sleep or be sad:
O Lord, let there be light!
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
[142]
Love
O God, who by love alone art great and glorious, that art
present and livest with us by love alone: Grant us likewise by

love to attain another self, by love to live in others, and by love
to come to our glory, to see and accompany thy love throughout
all eternity.
THOMAS TRAHERNE
AUGUST 22
Love
O Thou, who hast so loved my soul, make me a lover of
souls. Fill me with an unwearied, unclaimative love, of keen
perception and strong fibre, that shall help others to do and be
their best. Help me to be an advocate of the absent, and cast
out from me the dumb spirit of nervousness or self- absorption,
which hinders me from showing the love I feel. Heal my heart
of all uncontrolled affection, that being inwardly cured and
thoroughly cleansed, I may be made fit to love, steady to
persevere. Let no sickness or cross accident, no employment or
make me ungracious to
weariness, those about me, but in all
thmgs make me like unto thy Holy Jesus.

ANON.
Lord, perfect for me what is lacking of thy gifts; of faith,

help thou mine unbelief; of hope, establish my trembling hope;
of love, kindle its smoking flax.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
AUGUST 23
Truth
O God, whose revelation never faileth and who showest

a new aspect of thy eternal truth to each generation; Grant unto
us to see the truth as thou dost set it before us in this our day
[143]
and to strive for its realization among our fellows; through
SOCIETY OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE HOLY CROSS,

MASSACHUSETTS
AUGUST 24
Truthfulness
O God in whose holy kingdom there is nothing that worketh

evil lie. Help us, we pray thee, to guard our words,
or maketh a
to keep our promises and to speak the truth; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
ANON.
O God, the Father of mankind, we beseech thee to

all
and equity, that in all our deal-

inspire us with such love, truth
ings one with another we may show forth our brotherhood in
thee; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER (1928)
AUGUST 25
Grace
O most merciful Lord, grant to me thy grace, that it may
be with me, and labour with me, and persevere with me even to
the end. Grant that I may always desire and will that which is
to thee most acceptable, and most dear. Let thy will be mine,
and my will ever follow thine, and agree perfectly with it. Grant
to me above all things that can be desired, to rest in thee, and
in thee to have my heart at peace.
THOMAS A KEMPIS
r 144]
AUGUST 26
Humility
O Lord Jesus Christ, in all the fullness of thy power most

gentle, in thine exceeding grace most humble: bestow thy mind
and spirit upon who have nothing whereof to boast; that,
us,
we may be exalted to true greatness.
clothed in true humility,
Grant this, O Lord, who livest and reignest with the Father
and the Spirit, one God for evermore.
CANON G. W. BRIGGS
Peace
O God, who art peace everlasting, whose chosen reward

is the gift of peace, and who hast taught us that the peace-
makers are thy children; Pour thy peace into our souls, that
everything discordant may utterly vanish, and all that makes
for peace be sweet to us forever.
MOZARABIC LITURGY
AUGUST 27
Quietness
Grant unto Almighty God, that quiet mind and patient

us,
waiting to which Thy comforting Spirit comes, that we may do
Thy will and have our hearts prepared for that peace of Thine
which passeth understanding; which, if we have, the storms of
life will hurt us but little, and the cares of life vex us not at all,
in face of which death will lose its sting and the grave its
victory, and we in calm joy walk all the days of our appointed
time until our great change shall come.
ANON.
Lord, by thy divine silence, by thy wondrous patience, by

thine adorable humility, keep me quiet and still, and possess me
with thy peace.
FATHER ANDREW
[ 145]
AUGUST 28
]oy
Grant me, OLord, the royalty of inward happiness and

the serenity which comes from living close to Thee. Daily renew
in me the sense of Joy, and let the Eternal Spirit of the Father
dwell in my soul and body, filling every comer of my heart with

light and grace, so that bearing about with me the infection of
a good courage, I may be a diffuser of life, and may meet all

ills and cross accidents with gallant and high-hearted happiness,
giving Thee thanks always for all things.
ANON.
AUGUST 29
Courage
O Thou, the Captain of my salvation, strengthen me in-
wardly and outwardly that I may be vigorous with spiritual

purpose and disposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking.
Grant that I may do valiantly in despite of slothfulness or ti-
midity, and that neither my fear of ridicule nor my love of popu-

larity may make me seem to like what is not right. Be Thou
pleased also to fortify my spirit so that I may meet life hopefully

and be able to endure everything which Thou mayest be pleased
to send me.
ANON.
AUGUST 30
Ferseverance
O God, who hast willed that the gate of mercy should stand
ever open to the faithful: Mercifully bestow on us the grace of
perseverance that we may never turn aside fromhim who is
the Way, the Truth, and the Life, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ.
GELASIAN SACRAMENTARY (ADAPTED)
[146]
Patience and Long-Suffering
O God whose glorious power is ever present to strengthen

our weakness, help us to lean in faith upon the might of that
power whenever the sorrow and toils of life threaten to over-
whelm us. Grant us patience in the small trials of everyday,
and endurance in the storms of pain and grief. And grant to us,
O Lord our God, that both the patience and the long-suffering
may be irradiated by the joy of Christ our Lord, who is the
treasure of our desiring. And so make us worthy at last, in the
fellowship of his sufferings, to come to the kingdom of his
saints m light.
AUGUST 31
Purity
O Spirit, Purifier from all sin, purify the inward eyes of our
nature, that we may and by this light
see the light of truth,
may Supreme Father, whom none but the pure in heart
see the
can behold. Come, O blessed Spirit of Truth, for Jesus' sake.
ANON.
The Grace to Begin Again
O forgiving Father, who never wearieth of our repentance:

Grant that we may constantly lay hold of thy everlasting mercy
and so obtain the grace to begin once more.
GERALD HEARD (ADAPTED)
[147]
September ^
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING page 151
FOR TRAVELLERS. FOR DOCTORS, NURSES

AND MISSIONARIES. FOR THOSE WHO DO
NOT KNOW THE MERCY OF GOD page 1 54
ANGELS page 159

Poem for the Month
SEPTEMBER
From the Earliest Christian Hymn

Shepherd and Sower, thou,
Now helm, and bridle now,
Wing for the heavenward flight
Of flocks all pure and bright,
Fisher of men, the blest,
Out of the world's unrest,
Out of Sin's troubled sea
Taking us. Lord, to thee . . .
O way that leads to God,

O Word abiding aye,
O endless Light on high,
Mercy's fresh-springing flood,
Worker of all things good,
O glorious Life of all,
That on their Maker call.
Christ Jesus, hear . . .
Hymns meet for thee, our King,

For thee, the Christ;
Our holy tribute, this.
For wisdom, life and bliss.
Singing in chorus meet.

Singing in concert sweet
The Almighty Son.
We, heirs of peace unpriced.
We, who are bom in Christ,
A people pure from stain.
Praise we our God again.

Lord of our Peace!
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
(1st CENTURY A.D.)
[150]
Praise and Thanksgiving
SEPTEMBER 1
Caedmon's Hymn
Now we must praise the Ruler of Heaven,
The might of the Lord and His purpose of mind,
The work of the Glorious Father; for He
God Eternal, established each wonder.
He, Holy Creator, first fashioned the heavens
As a roof for the children of earth.
And then our Guardian, the Everlasting Lord,
Adorned this middle-earth for men.
Praise the Almighty King of Heaven.
CAEDMON (between 657 AND 680 A.D.)
SEPTEMBER 2
Worthy of praise from every mouth,

of confession from every tongue,
of worship from every creature,
is thy glorious Name, O Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
who didst create the world in thy grace
and by thy compassion didst save the world.
To thy majesty, O God, ten thousand times ten
thousand bow down and adore.
Singing and praising without ceasing, and saying
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts;
Heaven and earth are full of thy praises;
Hosanna in the highest.
NESTORIAN LITURGY
SEPTEMBER 3
Though our mouths were full of song as the sea,

Our tongues of exultation as the fulness of its waves.
And our lips of praise as the plains of the firmament:
[151 ]
Though our eyes gave light as the sun and moon:
Though our hands were outspread as the eagles of heaven,
And our feet were swift as hinds,
Yet should we be unable to thank thee,

O Lord our God and God of our fathers.
And to bless thy Name for even one of the countless thousands
And tens of thousands
Of kindnesses which thou hast done by our fathers and by us.
JEWISH PRAYER
SEPTEMBER 4
Lord God Almighty, Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ,

we give thanks to thee for all things and in all things, because
thou hast sheltered us, thou hast succoured us, thou hast kept
us, thou hast spared us, thou hast redeemed us unto thyself,
thou hast helped us, thou hast brought us to this hour. Re-
member, O Lover of men, the sowings and the increase of the
land: may they grow and multiply. Remember, O Lord, in bless-
ing, the airs of heaven and the fruits of the earth. Remember,
O Lord, the waters of the rivers bring them up after their right
:
measure. Remember, O Lord, the fowls of heaven and the fishes

of the sea; remember the safety of men and beasts. Remember,
O Lord, the safety of thy holy Church. Remember, O Lord
Christ, the captivities of thy people. And remember, our Master,
all them that have bidden us to remember them in our prayers
and supplications which we offer before thee. Heal them that

are sick, give rest unto them that have fallen asleep. For thou
art the life of us all, and the salvation of us all, and the hope of
us all, and the healing of us all, and the resurrection of us all,
and to thee with thy Father and the Holy Ghost the Life Giver
we send up thanksgiving unto highest heaven, world without end.
LITURGY OF THE COPTIC JACOBITES
[152]
SEPTEMBER 5
Accept, O Lord God, our Father, the sacrifices of our

thanksgiving; this, of praise, for thy great mercies already
afforded to us; and this, of prayer, for the continuance and en-
largement of them; this, of penitence, for such only recompense
as our sinful nature can endeavour; and this, of the love of our
hearts, as the only gift thou dost ask or desire; and all these,
through the all-holy and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ thy
Son our Saviour.
JOHN DONNE (ADAPTED)
SEPTEMBER 6
O God, who art life, wisdom, truth, bounty and blessedness,

the eternal, the only true good, our God and our Lord, who art
our hope and our heart's joy: we acknowledge with thanks-

giving that thou hast made us in thine Image, and that we may
direct our thoughts to thee. Lord, make us to know thee aright,
that we may love, enjoy, and possess thee more and more.
ST. ANSELM
SEPTEMBER 7
Glory be to thee, O
Heavenly Father, for our being and
preservation, health and strength, understanding and memory,
friends and benefactors, and for all our abilities of mind and
body. Glory be to thee for our competent livelihood, for the
advantages of our education, for all known and unobserved
deliverancies, and for the guard which thy holy Angels keep
over us. Glory be to thee, O Lord, O Blessed Saviour, for those
ordinary giftsby which sincere Christians have in all ages been
enabled to work for their salvation, for all the spiritual strength
and support, comfort and illumination which we receive from
thee, and for all thy preserving, restraining, and sanctifying grace.
BISHOP THOMAS KEN
[153]
SEPTEMBER 8
O God of peace and charity! we beseech thee holy Lord,

Almighty Father, eternal God, that we may worship thee with
a pure heart. Let us dance before thee with a clean conscience,
let us serve thee with all our strength. We bless thee, Holy
Trinity, we give thanks to thee, we praise thee every day, we
pray unto thee "Abba, Father." May our praise be sweet to
thee and our prayer accepted.
SEPTEMBER 9
Above all thy gifts of grace, O mighty and merciful God,

we thank thee for thyself, for thy holiness, thy justice, thy mercy,
thy power and might, thy glory, thy love and thy presence with
us. Thou art thyself our most urgent need, more necessary to
us than the bread we ask of thee. We thank thee, O Lord,- for
thyself.
ANON.
For Travellers, For Doctors, Nurses, and Missionaries,

For Those Who Do Not Know the Mercy of God
SEPTEMBER 10
I will magnify thee, O

God, my King, and I
will praise thy name
and ever. for ever
Every day will I give thanks unto thee, and
praise thy name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised:
there isno end of his greatness. . . .
The Lord is gracious, and merciful, long-suffering and

of great goodness.
The Lord is lovmg unto every man, and his
mercy is over all his works. . . .
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him:
yea, aU such as call upon him faithfully.
[154]
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also
will hear their cry and will help them. . . .
Let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for
ever and ever.
PSALM 145
SEPTEMBER 11
For Travellers
To our brethren that have departed from us, or are about
to depart, in whatever place, give a fair journey, whether by
land or rivers, or lakes, or highways, or in whatever way they
may be travelling; restore them all everywhere to a tranquil
harbour, to a safe harbour; vouchsafe to be their fellow-voyager
and fellow-traveller. Give them back to their friends, rejoicing
to the rejoicmg, healthful to the healthful. And preserve, O
Lord, to the end, our sojourning also in this life, without harm
and without storm.
ANON.
SEPTEMBER 12
O God, the end of all our journeying, grant to all Travel-

lers an abiding sense of tranquiHty and rest. Protect them in all
dangers, that attended by thy holy angels they may arrive safely
at the place whither they are going, and when this life is over
attain their heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ANON.
For a Special Traveller

Favourably receive, O Lord, our supplications for thy
servant .who is absent on a far journey, and for whom we
. .
pour forth our prayer; entreating thy Majesty, that thou wilt
send to him the angel of thy goodness, who may deliver him
safe and sound to his home.
[ 155]
SEPTEMBER 13
Travellers on the Roads

Almighty God, giver of and health: guide, we pray thee,
life
with thy wisdom all who from injury and

are striving to save
death the travellers on our roads. Grant to those who drive
along the highways consideration for others, and to those who
walk on them or play beside them thoughtful caution and care;
so that without fear or disaster we all may come safely to our
journey's end.
BISHOP DOUGLAS CRICK
SEPTEMBER 14
Travellers by Air
O Almighty God, who makest the clouds thy chariots, and

walkest upon the wings of the wind: We beseech thee for all who
travel by air to their several duties and destinations; that' thy
presence may ever be with them, to pilot, to speed, and to

protect; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
SEPTEMBER 15
O most loving God, who in the Person of thy Son Jesus

Christ didst manifest thy love to man by relieving all manner of
suffering and healing all manner of disease, grant thy blessing,

I pray, to all who in any comer of the world are serving m
Christ's name:
All ministers of the gospel of Christ:
All social workers:
All missionary workers abroad:
who faithfully tend the sick. Ac-
All doctors and nurses
complish through them thy great purpose of goodwill to men,
and grant them in their own hearts the joy of Christ's most real
presence.
JOHN BAILLIE
[156]
SEPTEMBER 16
Almighty God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ went about

doing good, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner
of disease among the people: Continue, we beseech thee, that

his gracious work among us; cheer, heal, and sanctify, the sick;
to doctors and nurses great skill, sympathy, and patience; and
send down thy blessing on all who labour to prevent suffering,
and to forward thy purposes of love; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
SEPTEMBER 17
O Lord Christ, we pray for all whom you have called to

carry the knowledge of your love into all the world. We pray
that your redeeming power may be with them and that into
whatever darkness of fear and suffering their way of sacrifice
may lead them they may bring light, and the newness of life
that comes with the rising upon us of the sun of the world. We
pray especially for those who are in danger, that they may have
courage and peace of mind, and for those in perplexity, that
your will may be made plain to them. And we pray for those
who are overworked, or lonely, ill or disheartened, that they
may know the comfort and strength of your presence with them,
even unto the end of the world. Grant, O Lord, that we who
live far from their hardships and dangers may keep them in our
hearts and prayers at all and obedient to your Holy

times,
Spirit may do for themall that our love can devise. Lord, bless
all their work for you, and bless them and all for whom they
labour, and we who pray for them, and bring us all at last, by
the power of your Cross, to the full knowledge of your Love.
O Lord Jesus Christ, the desire of all nations: grant that

thy disciples, in this and every land, may so lift thee up before
men, that they may see thy glory and be drawn unto thee.
B.B.C.
[ 157]
Merciful God, who hast made all men for love and wiliest
that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of thy truth:
have mercy upon those who know thee not; and so fetch them
home, that they may be numbered among thy faithful servants,
and be made one flock under one Shepherd, our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.
B.B.C,
SEPTEMBER 18
O God, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for
to dwell on the face of the and didst send thy blessed
earth,
Son Jesus Christ to preach peace to them that are afar off, and
to them that are nigh: Grant that all the peoples of the world
may feel after thee and find thee; and hasten, O God, the ful-
filment of thy promise, to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh;
^
BISHOP COTTON OF CALCUTTA
SEPTEMBER 19
O Saviour of the world, teach us how to pray for those

who are lost in desolations of darkness without the knowledge of
the mercy that is yourself. We remember the innocent victims
of war and all the agony they suffer, those who are sunk in the
wretchedness of sin and can find no deliverance, those in despair,
those beset by temptation, those who are greatly afraid, those
who have been overwhelmed by torment of mind or body. Save
us from the cowardice that would turn away from the thought
of these things, from the indifference that would pass them by.
Give us penitence for the evil in ourselves which has added to
the darkness of the world, and if there be any small thing we
can do to lighten any misery, show us what it is and help us to
do it. Teach us how to pray with the compassion which is not
afraid to suffer with those who need be, to enter
suffer and, if
into darkness with them. O who once in

Everlasting Mercy,
time came from the height of heaven down to the depth of our
[158]
need, come again in power to forgive us and renew us and set
us on fire, that through the labours and prayers of broken-
hearted sinners your mercy may banish the darkness and bring
new life upon the earth.
SEPTEMBER 20
Look in compassion, O Heavenly Father, upon this troubled
and divided world. Though we cannot trace thy footsteps or
understand thy working, give us grace to trust thee now with an
understanding and when thine own time is come, reveal,
faith,
O Lord, thy new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth

righteousness, and where the Prince of Peace ruleth, thy Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
DEAN VAUGHAN
Angels
SEPTEMBER 21
It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should

at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.
Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the
company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name;
evermore praising thee, and saying,
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth
are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most High.
SEPTEMBER 22
By the prayer and supplication of the angels of peace and
love, we ask.
From thee, O Lord,
Night and day and all the days of our life, eternal peace
for thy Church and a life without sin.
From thee, O Lord,
[ 159]
Remission of sins, and that which may be profitable to our
life, and well-pleasing to thy Divinity we ask,
From thee, O Lord.
The mercy of the Lord and his loving-kindness, ever and
at all times we ask,
From thee, O Lord.
Let us commend ourselves and our souls to the Father the
Son and the Holy Spirit:
From thee, O Lord God.

LITURGY OF MALABAR
SEPTEMBER 23
Lord, who hast died for us, beside whose awful mercy we
confess that he who is not burned with love needeth to be
purged with tears: Grant us such penitence as may be no re-
proach to us before thine angels, and such love as shall carry
us into their choirs; which praise thee with the Father and the
Holy Ghost, God most glorious, for ever.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
SEPTEMBER 24
O God, who by Thy Angels didst bring the joyful tidings of the
birth of Christ,
Have mercy upon us.
Thou who by Thy Angel didst strengthen Jesus in His agony.
Have mercy upon us.
Thou who didst bid Thy Angels to watch at the tomb of Jesus,
Have mercy upon us.
Thou who didst send Thy Angels to proclaim the Ascension of
Jesus,
Have mercy upon us.
That it may please Thee to fill us with love for those glorious
spirits,
We beseech Thee to hear us.
[ 160]
That it may please Thee by the ministry of thy Angels to keep
us in all our ways,
That it may please Thee that after our death the Angels may
carry our souls into Thy rest,
Praise the Lord, ye Angels of His, ye servants of His that do His

pleasure.
A BOOK OF LITANIES, METRICAL AND PROSE
SEPTEMBER 25
O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the

services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully
grant, that as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven,
so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth;
SEPTEMBER 26
Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, cleanse our defilement,
sanctify our lips, and let the voices of our fooUshness mingle with
the praises of seraphim and archangels glorifying thy love: for
herein thou hast associated mortal man with spirits. With these
heavenly hosts then, we, thy poor weak and useless servants,
praise thee, my Lord, because of thy great mercy towards us,
for which we cannot render thee due thanks.
LITURGY OF MALABAR
[ 161 ]
SEPTEMBER 27
Prayer to the Good Angel

O my Lord Jesus Christ, as it hath pleased thee to assign
an angel to wait on me daily and nightly, with great attendance
and diligence, so I beseech thee, through his going betwixt us,
that thou cleanse me from vices, clothe me with virtues, grant
me love and grace to come, see, and have without end thy bliss,
before thy fair face, that liveth and reigneth after thy glorious
passion with the Father of heaven, and with the Holy Ghost, one
God and Persons thee, without end in bUss.
PROCESSIONAL OF THE NUNS OF CHESTER
SEPTEMBER 28
The Guardian Angel

Thou angel of God who hast charge of me
From the dear Father of mercifulness.
The shepherding kind of the fold of the saints
To make round about me this night;
Drive from me every temptation and danger,

Surround me on the sea of unrighteousness.
And in the narrows, crooks, and straits.
Keep thou my coracle, keep it always.
Be thou a bright flame before me,

Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me.
And be a kindly shepherd behind me.
Today, tonight, and for ever.
I am tired and I a stranger.

Lead thou me to the land of angels;
For me it is time to go home
To the court of Christ, to the peace of heaven.
THE SUN DANCES
[162]
— .
SEPTEMBER 29
Prayer of the Guardian Angel
O how wonderful in depth and light,

Lord,
But most in man, how wonderful thou art!
With what a love, with what persuasive might
Victorious o'er the stubborn fleshly heart,
Thy tale complete of saints Thou dost provide.
To fill the thrones which angels lost through pride! . .
O man, strange composite of heaven and earth!

Majesty dwarfed to baseness! fragrant flower
Running to poisonous seed! and seeming worth
Choking corruption! weakness mastering power!
Who never art so near to crime and shame.
As when thou hast achieved some deed of name;
How should ethereal natures comprehend

A thing made up of spiritand of clay,
Were we not tasked to nurse it and to tend.
Linked one to one throughout its mortal day?
More than the Seraph in his height of place.
The Angel-guardian knows and loves the ransomed race.
CARDINAL NEWMAN
SEPTEMBER 30
Prayer of the Angel of the Agony
Jesu by which fell on thee;

that shuddering dread
Jesu by dismay which sickened thee;
that cold
Jesu by that pang of heart which thrilled in thee;
Jesu by that mount of sins which crippled thee;
Jesu by that sense of guilt which stifled thee;
Jesu by that innocence which girded thee;
Jesu by that sanctity which reigned in thee;
Jesu by that Godhead which was one with thee;
Jesu spare these souls which are so dear to thee,
[163]
Who in prison, calm and patient, wait for thee;
Hasten, Lord, their hour, and bid them come to thee.
To the glorious Home, where they shall ever gaze on thee.
The Choir of Angelicals
Praise to the Holiest in the height

And in the depth be praise:
In all his words most wonderful;
Most sure in all his ways!
CARDINAL NEWMAN
[164]
October
FOR ANIMALS page 166
FOR OURSELVES WHEN WE ARE SICK OR

SORRY page 172
EVENING PRAYERS page 177

. .
Poem for the Month
OCTOBER
Charity's Child
As proud of a penny as of a pound of gold,

And as glad of a garment of russet grey
As of a silken tunic of scarlet tint.
He rejoices with the joyful, and is generous to the wicked,

Loving and believing in all that our Lord made . .
All manner of mischiefs he mildly suffers,

Coveting no earthly good, but the joy of heaven.
Fiat voluntas tua will always find him.
He tends, at other times, to take a pilgrimage
To seek pardon of the poor, and of those in prison.
Though he brings them no bread, he bears them sweeter life.
Loving them as our Lord has bidden, looking how they are,. . .
For charity God's champion, a cheerful child,

is
The merriest of mouth when he sits at meat,

The love that lies in his heart has made him light of speech,
Comforting and companionable, as Christ himself bade.

I have seen him in silk, and in coarsest cloth.
Grey or gaudy, or in gilt harness,
And as gladly he gave it to good fellows needing it . .
And in a friar's frock he was found once,

But it was far away, in Saint Francis' time . . .
WILLIAM LANGLAND
For Animals
|i
OCTOBER 1
Have pity, O Lord God, lest they who go by the way

trample on the unfledged bird, and send thine Angel to replace
it in the nest, that it may live till it can fly.
ST. AUGUSTINE
[1661
For those, O Lord, the humble beasts, that bear with us
the burden and heat of the day, and offer their guileless lives
for the well-being of their countries; and for the wild creatures,
whom thou hast made wise, strong and beautiful; we supplicate
for them thy great tenderness of heart, for thou hast promised
to save both man and beast, and great is thy lovmg kindness, O
Master, Saviour of the world.
EASTERN CHURCH
OCTOBER 2
We beseech thee, O God, to hear our supplications on

behalf of the dumb creation, who after then: kind, bless, praise
and magnify thee forever. Grant that all cruelty may cease out
of our land; and deepen our thankfulness to thee for the faithful
companionship of those whom we delight to call our friends;
according to the loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF THE R.S.P.C.A.
OCTOBER 3
Animals Used in Vivisection
O God our Creator, who hast given to the world so many

creatures of infinite beauty and variety, for the enrichment of
life and the increase of joy, grant to us all a deep and humble
reverence for the creatures that you have made. Give us penitence
for all the ways in which we misuse them, and when their use
seems unavoidable grant that we may treat them with love and
compassion. Especially we pray for love in the practice of
vivisection. Help us to use it as little as possible, with reverent
care, and gratitude to the animals who give their lives to save
ours. We remember especially the dogs who suffered that insulin
might bring relief to who have
thousands, and those animals
been used to deliver a multitude of children from polio, and
those who are being used now in the fight against cancer. We
thank you for them, and if this thing must be for a time, we
beseech you to shorten the time and show us a better way.
[167]
OCTOBER 4
Day of St. Francis of Assist
O God, who, by the merits of the blessed Francis, hast

enriched thy Church with a new offspring; grant that, in imita-
tion of him, we may despise the things of this world, and ever
find pleasure in the participation of thy heavenly gifts.
ANON.
All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord. Let us praise

and exalt him above all forever.
Give praise to God all ye his servants and you that fear
him, little and great. Let us praise and exalt him above forever.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the Glorious,
and every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, in the seas and all that are in them. Let us praise and
exalt him above all forever.
ST. FRANCI§
OCTOBER 5
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the ani-
mals, thy creatures. We pray especially for all that are suffering
in any way; for the overworked and underfed, the hunted, lost
or hungry; for all in captivity or ill-treated, and for those who

must be put to death.
We entreat for them Thy mercy and pity; and for those who
deal with them we ask a heart of compassion, gentle hands and
kindly words.
Make us all to be true friends to animals and so more
worthy followers of our merciful Saviour, Jesus Christ.
ANON.
[168]
OCTOBER 6
Litany for the Animals
Almighty and loving Creator, for the whole animal creation

which thou hast given for our enjoyment and use
We worship thee and thank thee.
Purge from all cruelty the heart of mankind and give love and
caring for all thy creatures.
O Everlasting Mercy, hear us.
For all animals driven to slaughter in every country in the

world. Put thy mercy in the men who do this work; protect
the animals from violence and thirst.
O Lord, hear our prayer.
Good Lord, succour and protect all animals travelling by land,

sea and air, by rail and road, and be in the men who should
care for them.
Hear our prayer, we beseech thee.
For all beasts of burden, labour and toil in all the ways they go;
touch their worn bodies; heal their wounds, ease their burdens
and strengthen their limbs. We pray for every man, woman and
child who goes with them — that thou wilt keep them from
cruelty.
O Lord, we beseech thee to hear us.
Almighty, merciful and loving God, receive the prayer we bring

and by the mystery of thy ways, transmute it into power to
redeem thy creatures from suffering and bring them to a life of
happiness and peace, that thou mayest be glorified through all
time and eternity.
LITANY FOR THE ANIMALS (SHORTENED FORM)
[169]
—
OCTOBER 7
Student Taper
When
— ^At the mid of moon,
At end of day
My lamp is lit,
Grant me a boon,
I pray,
And do
So order it
—That the small creatures,

Terrified and blind;
The gold and silvern moths
Of lovely kind,
Do not whirl to my taper.
Nor, therein,
Die, painfully.
And bring my light
To sin.
My light
is innocent!
Grant
—That it may be
Harmless,
And helpful.
And remarked
Of thee.
JAMES STEPHENS
[170]
— —
OCTOBER 8
Prayer of the Lark
Iam here! O my God.

Iam here, I am here!
You drew me away from earth,
and I climb to You
in a passion of shrilling,
To the dot in heaven

Where, for an You crucify me.
instant.
When will You keep me forever?
Must You always let me fall
back to the furrow's dip,
a poor bird of clay?
Oh, at least
let my exultant nothingness
soar to the glory of Your mercy,
in the same hope,
until death.
I OCTOBER 9
The Prayer of the Tortoise
A little patience,
God,
1 am coming.
One must take nature as she is!
It was not I who made her!

I do not mean to criticize
this house on my back

it has its points
but you must admit, Lord,
it is heavy to carry!
Still,
let us hope that this double enclosure,

my shell and my heart,
will never be quite shut to You.
[ 171 ]
OCTOBER 10
Prayer of the Old Horse
See, Lord,
my coat hangs in tatters,
like homespun, old, threadbare.
All that I had of zest,
all my strength,
I have given in hard work
and kept nothing back for myself.
Now
my poor head swings
to offer up all the loneliness of my heart
Dear God,
stiff on my thickened legs
I stand here before You:

Your unprofitable servant.
Oh! of Your goodness,
give me a gentle death.
For Ourselves When We Are Sick or Sorry
OCTOBER 11
Help me, O Lord, so to strive and so to act, that those

things which cloud my own way may not darken the path
which others have to tread. Give me unselfish courage so that
I am ready always to share my bread and wine, and able to hide
my hunger and thirst.

LESLIE WEATHERHEAD
OCTOBER 12
Write thy blessed name, O Lord, upon my heart, there to

remain so indelibly engraved, that no prosperity, no adversity
shall ever move me from thy love. Be thou to me a strong Tower
[172]
of defence, a Comforter in tribulation, a Deliverer in distress, a
very present Help in trouble, and a Guide through the many
temptations and dangers of this life.
THOMAS A KEMPIS
Lord, teach me the art of patience whilst I am well, and

give me the use of it when I am sick. In that day either lighten
my burden or strengthen my back. Make me, who so often in
my health have discovered my weakness presuming on my own
strength, to be strong in my sickness when I rely solely on thy
assistance.
THOMAS FULLER
OCTOBER 13
In confidence of thy goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I
draw near unto thee, as a sick person to the Healer, as one

hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of life, a creature to the
Creator, a desolate soul to my own tender Comforter. Behold,
in thee is all whatsoever can or ought to desire; thou art my
I
Salvation and my Redemption, my Help and my Strength. Re-

joice therefore this day the soul of thy servant; for unto thee,
O Lord, have I liftedup my soul.
THOMAS A KEMPIS
OCTOBER 14
O God, who hast exalted the Crucified, the Son, by a tri-

umphant resurrection and ascension into heaven: May his tri-
umphs and glories so shine in the eyes of our hearts and minds,
that we may more clearly comprehend his sufferings, and more
courageously pass through our own; for his sake who with thee
and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and
ever.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
[173]
:
OCTOBER 15
With floods and storms thus we be tossed,

Awake, good Lord, to thee we cry.
Our ship is almost sunk and lost.
Thy mercy help our misery.
Man's strength is weak: man's wit is dull:
Man's reason blmd. These things t' amend,
Thy hand, O Lord, of might is full;
Awake betime, and help us send.

In thee we trust, and in no wight:
Save us as chickens under the hen.
Our crookedness Thou canstmake right,
Glory to thee for aye. Amen.
ANON.
OCTOBER 16
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our
infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth
thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
O make us conscious now of thy healing

living Christ,
nearness. Touch our eyes that we may see thee; open our ears
that we may hear thy voice; enter our hearts that we may know
thy love. Overshadow our souls and bodies with thy presence,
that we may partake of thy strength, thy love and thy healing Ufe.
HOWARD CHANDLER ROBBINS
OCTOBER 17
Lord, since Thou hast taken from all that I had of Thee,
yet of Thy grace leave me the gift which every dog has by nature
that of being true to Thee in my distress, when I am deprived
of all consolation. This I desire more fervently than Thy heavenly
Kingdom!
MECHTHILD OF MAGDEBURG
[ 174]
O Lord, Jesus Christ, who art as the Shadow of a Great
Rock in a weary land, who beholdest thy weak creatures weary
of labour, weary of pleasure, weary of hope deferred, weary of
self; in thine abundant compassion, and fellow feeling with us,
and unutterable tenderness, bring us, we pray thee, unto thy rest.
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
OCTOBER 18
May I taste that communion, Lord,

Thy people have with thee?
Thy Spirit daily talks with them,
O let it talk with me!
Like Enoch, let me walk with God,

And thus walk out my day.
Attended with the heavenly Guards,
Upon the King's highway.
When wilt thou come unto me, Lord?

O come, my Lord most dear!
Come come nearer, nearer still:
near,
I'm well when thou art near.
When wilt thou come unto me. Lord?

For, till thou dost appear,
I count each moment for a day.
Each minute for a year.
THOMAS SHEPHERD (17tH CENTURY)
OCTOBER 19
Ah God! behold my grief and care. Fain would I serve

thee with a glad and cheerful countenance, but I cannot do it.
However much I fight and struggle against my sadness, I am

[175]
.
too weak for this sore conflict. Help me in my weakness, O thou

mighty God.
S. SCHERETZ (16tH CENTURY)
I am thine; save me. Behold, O Lord, I am thy servant and

the son of thine handmaid; an unprofitable servant, yet a servant;
a lost son, yet a son. We are all thy people. Carest thou not that
we perish? Yea, thou carest.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
OCTOBER 20
The Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom then shall
I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall
I be afraid? . . .
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle;

yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and
set me up upon a rock of stone. . .
I should utterly have fainted but that I believe verily to

see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
O tarry thou the Lord's leisure; be strong, and he shall
comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord.
PSALM 27
OCTOBER 21
Thanksgiving for Recovery From Illness
O God, great, mighty, and revered.

In the abundance of thy lovingkindness,
I come before thee
To render thanks
For all the benefits thou hast bestowed upon me.
Inmy distress I called upon thee

And thou didst answer me;
From my bed of pain I cried unto thee
And thou didst hear the voice of my supplication.
[176]
Thou hast chastened me sore, O Lord,
But thou didst not give me over unto death.
In thy love and pity
Thou broughtest up my soul from the grave.
For thine anger is but for a moment;
Thy favour is for a lifetime;
Weeping may tarry for the night,
But joy cometh in the morning.
The living,
The living,
He shall praise thee,

As I do this day,
And my soul that thou didst redeem,

Shall tell thy wonders unto the children of men.
Blessed art thou.
The faithful physician unto all flesh.
JEWISH PRAYER
Evening Prayers
OCTOBER 22
Watch thou, dear Lord, with those who wake and watch
or weep tonight, and give thine angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend thy sick ones, O Lord Christ; rest thy weary ones;
I bless thy dying ones; soothe thy suffering ones; shield thy joyous
ones; and all for thy Love's sake.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the

silent hours of this night, so that we who are fatigued by the
changes and chances of this fleeting world, may repose upon
thy eternal changelessness.
[177]
OCTOBER 23
Shepherd who dost not sleep, keep watch and ward over
thy flock of souls.
Amen.
And that it be not disturbed by terror of the night, sanctify
it by the unseen touch of thy hand.
Amen.
Make the up the contrite, make the weak
frail stalwart, lift
strong. Raise up by piety, build up by charity, purify by chastity,

illuminate by wisdom, save by pity.
Amen.
Let watchful faith win the reward of constancy in thy love,
temperance of habit, providence in mercy, discipline of conduct.

Amen.
In thy merciful compassion shut not out from the splendour
of thy promise, but lead to pardon, him whom thou hast made
thine own by grace.
Amen.
GOTHIC MISSAL
OCTOBER 24
Office Hymn for Compline
Before the ending of the day.
Creator of the world, we pray
That with thy wonted favour thou
Wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes.

From mighty fears and fantasies;
Tread under foot our ghostly foe,
1 hat no pollution we may know.
O Father, that we ask be done,

Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
ANON. (BF.FORE 8th CENTURY)
[ 178 ]
OCTOBER 25
Into Thy hands, most blessed Jesos, I commend my soul

and body. So and sanctify my sleep unto me, that it may
bless
be temperate, and safe, a refreshment to my wearied body,
hcrfy,
to eoaUe it to xrvc my soul, that both may serve Thee with

a never-foiling duty, and that whether I sleep or awake, I may
be Thy servant and Thy dnkL
ANON.
OCTOBER 26
Blessed art thou. O Lord our God, King of the universe.
Who makest the bands of sleep to fall upon mine eyes.
And shmiber upon mine eyelids.
May it be thy wilL, O Lord my God and God of my fathers.

To saSer me to He down in |>eace
And to let me rise up again in peace.
Let not my thoughts trouble me.

Nor evil dreams, nor evil fancies.
But kt my rest be perfect before thee.
O lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

FcM^ it is thou who givest light to the apple of the eye.
Oefised art diom O Lord.
Who givest light to the whole world in thy glory.
JEWISH PRAYER
OCTOBER 27
Gkny to thee, my God, this night
For an the blessings of the hght;
Kc^ me, O keep me. King of kings,
Boieatfa thine own almighty wings.
[179]
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and thee,

I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may dread

The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the awful day.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,

Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
BISHOP THOMAS KEN
OCTOBER 28
O Lord God, who art light eternal, in the brightness of

whose countenance is day that knows no light, and in thy pro-
tecting arms all quietness and tranquility: Whilst the darkness
covers the face of the earth, receive our body and soul unto
thy care and keeping; that whether we sleep or wake, we may
rest in thee, in thy light beholding light; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
JEREMY TAYLOR
OCTOBER 29
O God, hearken to my prayer,

Let my earnest petition come to Thee
For I know that Thou art hearing me
As surely as though I saw Thee with mine eyes.
Let no fancy come to my mind.

Let no ruflBle come to my spirit.
That is hurtful to my poor body this night.
Nor ill for my soul at the hour of my death;
[ 180]
But mayest Thou Thyself, O God of life,
Be at my breast, be at my back.
Thou to me as a star. Thou to me as a guide,
From my life's beginning to my life's closing.
THE SUN DANCES
OCTOBER 30
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Watchman and Keeper, take us
to thy care: grant that, our bodies sleeping, our minds may
watch in thee, and be made merry by some sight of that celestial
and heavenly Ufe, wherein thou art the King and Prince, together
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, where thy angels and holy
souls be most happy citizens. Oh purify our souls, keep clean
our bodies, that in both we may please thee, sleeping and wak-
ing, for ever.
CHRISTIAN PRAYERS
OCTOBER 31
Now that night is creeping

O'er our travail'd senses.
To thy care unsleeping
We commit our sleep.
Nature for a season
Conquers our defences.
But th' eternal Reason
Watch and ward will keep.
All the soul we render

Back to Thee completely.
Trusting Thou wilt tend her
Through the deathlike hours,
And all night remake her
To thy likeness sweetly.
Then with dawn awake her
And give back her powers.
[181 ]
Slumber's less uncertain
Brother soon will bind us
—Darker falls the curtain,
'tis drawn:
Stifling-close
But amidst the prison
Still thy voice can find us,
And, as Thou hast risen,
Raise us in thy dawn.
C. S. LEWIS
[182]
November
ALL SAINTS page 185

I
ALL SOULS. THOSE WHO MOURN.

THE HOPE OF HEAVEN page 186
PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS page 194

—
Poem for the Month
NOVEMBER
A Saint
Before St. Anno

Six were sainted
Of our holy bishops.
Like the seven stars
They shall shine from heaven.
Purer and brighter
Is the light of Anno
Than a hyacinth set in a gold ring!
This darling man

We will have for a pattern;
And those that would grow
In virtue and trustiness
Shall dress by him as at a mirror.
As the sun in the air

Between earth and heaven
Glitters to both—
So went Bishop Anno
Between God and man.
Such was his virtue in the palace

That the emperor obeyed him;
He behaved with honour to both sides
And was counted among the first barons.
In his gestures at worship

He was awful as an angel.
Many a man knew his goodness.
Hear what were his manners
His words were frank and open;
He spoke truth fearing no man;
[ 184]
t
Like a lamb he sat among princes,
Like a lamb he walked among the people:
To the unruly he was sharp;
To the gentle he was mild:
Widows and orphans praised him always
Preaching and praying

No one could do better.
Happy was Cologne
To be worthy of such a bishop!
ANON.
(10th century, OLD HIGH GERMAN)
All Saints
NOVEMBER 1
Come who have proph-

in peace, ye Prophets of the Spirit,
esied concerning our Redeemer. Come in peace, ye chosen
Apostles, who have preached the good news of the Only-begotten.
Come in peace, ye Martyrs, friends of the heavenly Bridegroom.
Come in peace, all ye Saints, friends of the Son. Offer to him
your prayers for us, that he for whose sake ye travailed may be
merciful to us at your intercession, O ye holy ones.
MARONITE LITURGY
NOVEMBER 2
O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one

communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son
Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that un-
feignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[185]
NOVEMBER 3
Glory be to the Eternal Mercy which sent thee unto us,

O Christ, the light of theworid and the life of all; forever thy
servants take refuge in faith, hiding themselves under the wings
of the Cross. Keep by thy compassion the company of thy
worshippers, and account us worthy, O Lord, with thy Saints
to sing to thee; may we confess thee and praise thee without
ceasing in thy crowned Church which is full of helps and bless-
ings. O Holy, Glorious, Mighty, and Immortal, who dwellest in
the saints: turn, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, as thou art
wont at all times; for thou art Lord and Creator of all. Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, forever.
LITURGY OF THE NESTORIANS
NOVEMBER 4
We thank thee, O Lord, for all who have chosen poverty

or solitude for thy sake, for men of prayer, for saints in common
life who have borne suffering for noble ends, and for those who
have endured pain with patience and purity of life, in the
strength of him who for the joy that was set before him
endured the Cross, ever Jesus Christ our Lord.
ANON.
All Souls. Those Who Mourn. The Hope of Heaven
NOVEMBER 5
O God, who hast brought us near to an innumerable com-

pany of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect:
Grant us during our earthly pilgrimage to abide in their fellow-
ship, and in our heavenly country to become partakers of their
joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
WILLIAM BRIGHT
[186]
O Father of all, we pray to Thee for those whom we love,
but see no longer. Grant them thy peace; let light perpetual
shineupon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power

work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through
NOVEMBER 6
Have mercy, O Lord, on those who have

and rested slept
in the faith of Christ. Feed them by the waters
in green pastures,
of comfort, in the Paradise of joy; the place whence all sorrow
and sighing and weeping have fled away in the light of thy
saints. Grant them the good things which eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have they entered into the heart of man,
which thou, God, hast prepared for them that love thy holy
Name. Remit their sins, for there is no one clean and without
blemish; give them rest and make them worthy of the Kingdom
of Heaven.
LITURGY OF ST. MARK
NOVEMBER 7
O Lord Jesus, who knowest them that are thine;

When thou rewardest thy servants the prophets,
remember we beseech thee, for good those who have
taught us, counselled us, guided us,
and in that day show them mercy:
When thou rewardest the saints, remember, we
beseech thee, for good those who have surrounded
us with holy influences, borne with us, forgiven
us, sacrificed themselves for us, loved us,
and in that day show them mercy;
Nor forget any, nor forget us,
but in that day show us mercy,
O Lord, thou lover of souls.
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
[ 187]
.
NOVEMBER 8
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy Saints: where

sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life ever-
lasting.
Thou only art immortal, the Creator and Maker of man:

and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we
return: for so thou didst ordain, when thou createdst me, saying,
Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. All we go down
to the dust; and weeping o'er the grave, we make our song:
alleluya, alleluya, alleluya.
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servant with thy Saints, where
sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life ever-
lasting.
RUSSIAN CONTAKION OF THE DEPARTED
NOVEMBER 9
A Memorial Prayer
OLord our God, through whose love we have our being

and whose presence is eternal life, in this solemn hour we
in
remember before thee, all those whose lives in this world claim
our love and affection, admiration, respect and gratitude, and
whom thou hast now taken to eternity.
We mankind who in signal measure have
recall the great of
pointed the way men and nations. We think of the
as leaders of
heroes and martyrs, especially of the House of Israel but also
of all the families of the earth, the witnesses to thy holy spirit
in the world. . . . May their names shine as the stars in heaven
forever and forever.
Oh our merciful Father, we recall before thee, each one
of us, those who are nearest and dearest to us. ... In the holy
quiet of the Sanctuary, the names and the qualities of them all
are counted over with tender longing. Each capacity, each

merit and each grace shines before us now as a crown to a
treasured name and an incentive to rich and noble living.
as . .
May the voice of reason speak to our troubled spirits of the

essential place of death in the scheme of life. We could . . .
[188]
)
know no life of meaning and worth except through the pilgrimage

of struggle which is the earthly lot of us all. . . . May the light
shadows that enfold us, and still the storm of
of faith pierce the
our rebellion. May we be a little more content when our ques-
tions are not answered. May we be wise enough to sense the
over-mastering mystery which no human mind can penetrate.
In God's holy presence we would subdue arrogance, and resign
ourselves to a higher will. In the dwelling place of everlasting
love, may we seek our rest —
and our comfort in the faith that
all souls, theirs and ours, are bound up in the bundle of life.
JEWISH PRAYER
NOVEMBER 10
O Almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh: Multi-

ply, we beseech thee, to those who rest in Jesus, the manifold
good work which thou didst begin
blessing of thy love, that the
in them may be perfected unto the day of Jesus Christ. And
of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, vouchsafe that we who now
serve thee here on earth, may, at the last, together with them,
be found meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints
in light; for the sake of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord
and Saviour.
SCOTTISH BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
NOVEMBER 11
For thy happy servants, our fathers and brethren, who

have departed this life with the seal of faith, we praise and
magnify thy holy name; most humbly desiring that we may stiU
continue in their holy conmiunion, and enjoy the comfort thereof,
following, with a glad will and mind, their holy examples of
godly living, and steadfastness in thy faith.
PRIVATE DEVOTIONS (16tH CENTURY
[189]
NOVEMBER 12
O thou Good Omnipotent, who so carest for every one of

us, as if thou caredst for him alone; and so for all, as if all
were but one! Blessed is the man who loveth thee, and his
friend in thee, and his enemy for thee. For he only loses none
dear to him, to whom all are dear in him who cannot be lost.
To thee will I intrust whatsoever I have received from thee, so
shall I lose nothing. Thou madest me for thyself, and my heart
is restless until it repose in thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
NOVEMBER 13
O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh in whose care

all souls live, in whatsoever world or condition they may be-; I
beseech thee for him whose name, and dwelling place, and
every need thou knowest. Lord, grant to him light and rest,
peace and refreshment, joy and consolation in the nearness of

the Saviour, in the companionship of saints, in the ample folds
of thy great love. Grant that he may go from strength to strength
until at last he can enjoy the unveiled vision of thy glory.
If it may be, tell him, gracious Lord, how much I love
him and miss him and long to see him again, and if there be
ways in which he may come, grant him to me as a guide and
guard, and give me a sense of his nearness in such degree as
thy laws permit.
If in can minister to his peace, be pleased of thy
aught I
and mercifully keep me from every act which

love to let this be;
may mar the fulness of our joy when the end of the days hath
come.
Pardon, O gracious Lord and Father, whatever is amiss in
this my prayer, for my will is blind and erring, but thou canst
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think: through

ANON.
[190]
NOVEMBER 14
O God, to me who am left to mourn his departure, grant

that I may not sorrow as one without hope for my beloved
who sleeps in Thee; but that, always remembering his courage,
and the love that united us on earth, I may begin again with
new courage to serve thee more fervently who art the only
source of true love and true fortitude: that, when I have passed
a few more days in this valley of tears shadow of
and in this
death, supported by thy rod and staff, I may see him again face
to face, in those pastures and beside those waters of comfort
where I believe he already walks with thee. Oh Shepherd of the
sheep, have pity upon this darkened soul of mine.
ARCHBISHOP BENSON
NOVEMBER 15
Unto thy tender and searching compassion, O Lord, do

we commit all who have died with little faith and few
those
good deeds; those who were blinded to thy glory by our un-
faithfulness; and all who have never known thy gospel. Grant
that these, when they awaken to thy presence and see thee as
thou art, may know the greatness of thy mercy; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
B.B.C.
O Christ, a light transcendent

Shines in thy countenance,
And none can tell the sweetness,
The beauty of thy glance.
In this may thy poor servants

Their joy eternal find;
Thou calledst them, O rest them,
Thou Lover of mankind.
ST. JOHN DAMASCENE
[ 191 ]
.
NOVEMBER 16
O Lord,
Who healest the broken-hearted
And bindestup their wounds,
Grant thy consolation unto the mourners . .
O strengthen and support them

In the day of their grief and sorrow;
And remember them (and their children)
For a long and good life.
Put into their hearts the fear and love of thee.

That they may serve thee with a perfect heart;
And let their latter end be peace.
JEWISH PRAYER
NOVEMBER 17
Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all comfort;

Deal graciously, we pray thee, with all those who mourn, that,
casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of
thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Have compassion, O most merciful Lord, on all who are

mourning for those dear to them, and 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 bringing
them to the fuUer knowledge of thy love, do thou wipe away all
their tears; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
ANON.
[192]
.
NOVEMBER 18
The gates of heaven mayest thou find opened,

And the tower of peace mayest thou see,
And the dwelHngs of confidence,
And angels of peace to meet thee with joy;
And may the High Priest stand to receive thee;
And thou,
Go thou to the end.
For thou shalt rest,
And rise up again . .
The gates of the sanctuary may Michael open,

And bring the soul as an offering before God;
And may the redeeming angel accompany thee
Unto the gates of the Heavens, where Israel dwell;
May it be vouchsafed to thee
To stand in this beautiful place;
And thou,
Go thou to the end,
For thou shalt rest,
And rise up again.
JEWISH PRAYER
NOVEMBER 19
Bring us, O Lord God, awakening into the

at the last
house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in
that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but
one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no
fear nor hopes, but an equal possession; no ends nor beginnings,
but one equal eternity; in the habitations of thy majesty and thy
glory, world without end.
JOHN DONNE
[193
Prayers of the Saints
NOVEMBER 20
St. Paul
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and
earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches
of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the
inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to compre-
hend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout
all ages, world without end. Amen
NOVEMBER 21
St. Augustine
O Lord, my God, Light of the blind and Strength of the

weak; yea also. Light of those that see, and Strength of the
strong; hearken unto my soul, and hear it crying from the
depths.
O Lord, help us to turn and seek thee; for thou hast not
forsaken thy creatures as we have forsaken thee, our Creator.
Let us turn and seek thee, for we know thou art here in our
hearts, when we confess to thee, when we cast ourselves upon
thee, and weep in thy bosom,our rugged ways; and
after all
thou dost gently wipe away our and we weep the more
tears,
for joy; because thou, Lord, who madest us, dost remake and
comfort us.
Hear, Lord, my prayer, and grant that I may most entirely

love thee, and do thou rescue me, O Lord, from every tempta-
tion, even unto the end.
[194]
NOVEMBER 22
St. Thomas Aquinas

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy
affection may me an unconquered heart,
drag downwards; give
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.
St. Jerome
O
good Shepherd, seek me out, and bring me home to thy
fold again.Deal favourably with me according to thy good
pleasure, till I may dwell in thy house all the days of my life,
and praise thee for ever and ever with them that are there.
NOVEMBER 23
St. Francis of Assisi
Lord,make me an instrument of Thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
When there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
When there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
When there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that

1 may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
Not so much to be understood as
To understand; not so much to be
Loved as to love:
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned;
It is in dying, that we awaken to eternal life.
[195]
NOVEMBER 24
St. Catherine of Siena
Thou, Eternal Trinity, art a sea so deep that the more

I enter therein, the more I find; and the more I find, the more I
seek of Thee; for when the soul is satisfied in Thine abyss, it
is not satisfied, but it ever continues to thirst for Thee, Eternal
Trinity, desiring to behold Thee with the light of Thy light. As
the hart panteth after the water brooks, so does my soul desire
from the prison of the darksome body, and to behold
to issue
Thee O how long shall Thy face be hidden from my
in truth.
eyes? O Abyss, O Eternal Godhead, O Deep Sea! Robe me
with Thyself, Eternal Trinity, so that I may run this mortal life
with true obedience, and with the light of Thy most holy faith.
NOVEMBER 25
St. Patrick's Breastplate
I bind unto myself to-day

The power of God to hold and lead.
His eye to watch, His might to stay.
His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach.
His hand to guide. His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
[ 196]
NOVEMBER 26
St. Basil
O Lord our God, teach us, we beseech thee, to ask thee

aright for the right blessings. Steer thou the vessel of our life
toward thyself, thou tranquil haven of all storm-tossed souls.
Show us the course wherein we should go. Renew a willing spirit
within us. Let thy spirit curb our wayward senses, and guide
and enable us unto that which is our true good, to keep thy
laws, and in all our works evermore to rejoice in thy glories and
gladdening Presence. For thine is the glory and praise from all
thy saints for ever and ever.
NOVEMBER 27
St, John of Damascus

From my lips in their defilement,
From my heart in its beguilement.
From my tongue which speaks not fair,
From my soul stained, everywhere,

O, my Jesus, take my prayer!
Spurn me not for all it says,

Not for words, and not for ways.
Not for shamelessness endured!
Make me brave to speak my mood,
O my Jesus, as I would!
Or teach me, which I rather seek,
What to do and what to speak.
NOVEMBER 28
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Fill us, we pray Thee, with Thy light and life, that we may
show forth Thy wondrous glory. Grant that Thy love may so
fill our lives that we may count nothing too small to do for Thee,
[197]
nothing too much and nothing too hard to bear. So
to give,
teach us, Lord, to serve Thee as Thou do servest, 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.
NOVEMBER 29
St. Thomas More

Almighty God, have mercy on N. and N. and on all that
bear me evil will, and would me harm, and their faults and
mine together, by such easy, tender, merciful means as thine
infinite wisdom can divine, vouchsafe to amend and redress,
and make us saved souls in heaven together where we may
ever live and love together with thee and thy blessed saints, O
glorious Trinity, for the bitter passion of our sweet Saviour Christ.
St, Anselm
O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire thee with our
whole heart; that, so desiring, we may
seek, and seeking find
thee; and so finding thee may love thee; and loving thee, may
hate those sins from which thou hast redeemed.
NOVEMBER 30
St. Philippo de Neri
O Lord, put no trust in me; for I shall surely fail if thou

uphold me not.
St. Catherine of Genoa
O Love, no more sins! no more sins!
[198]
St. Francis of Sales
O all-good God, thou dost not forsake unless forsaken,

thou never takest away thy gifts until we take away our hearts.
St, Clement
O God, make us children of quietness, and heirs of peace.
St, Simeon the New Theologian
Thankful in mind.
Thankful in heart,
Thankful in soul and body,
I worship thee, O my God,
I magnify and glorify thee,

Who art blessed both now
And for evermore.
[199]
December
DEATH AND JUDGEMENT page 203
FOR CHILDREN page 209
CHRISTMAS page 212

Poem for the Month
DECEMBER
All after pleasure as I rid one day,

My horse and I, both tired, body and mind,
With full cry of affections, quite astray,
I took up in the next inn I could find.
There when I came, whom found I but my dear,

My dearest Lord, expecting till the grief
Of pleasures brought me to him, ready there
To be all passengers' most sweet relief.
O thou,whose glorious yet contracted light,

Wrapt in Night's mantle, stole into a manger.
Since my dark soul and brutish, is thy right,
To man, of all beasts, be not thou a stranger:
Furnish and deck my soul, that thou mayest have

A better lodging than a rack or grave.
The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?

My God, no hymn for thee?
My soul's a shepherd too; a flock it feeds
Of thoughts and words and deeds:
The pasture is thy word; the streams thy grace,
Enriching all the place.
Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers

Out-sing the daylight hours;
Then we will chide the Sun for letting Night
Take up his place and right:
We sing one common Lord; wherefore he should
Himself the candle hold.
[202]
I will go searching till I find a sun
Shall stay till we have done;
A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly
As frost-nipped suns look sadly:
Then we will sing, and shine all our own day,
And one another pay:
His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine,

Till ev'n his beams sing, and my music shine.
GEORGE HERBERT
Death and Judgement
DECEMBER 1
O Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, set Thine holy
Passion, Cross and Death between Thy judgement and our souls,
both now and in the hour of death. And vouchsafe, we beseech
Thee, to grant unto the living mercy and grace, to the dead
pardon and rest, to Thine holy Church peace and concord,
and to us miserable sinners life and joy everlasting; who livest
and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God,
world without end.
THE PRIMER
DECEMBER 2
Almighty love! Where art thou now? Mad man

Sits down, and freezeth on.
He raves, and swears to stir nor fire, nor fan,

But bids the thread be spun.
I see, thy curtains are close-drawn; thy bow
Looks dim too in the cloud.
Sin triumphs and man is sunk below
still,
The centre, and his shroud;

All's in deep sleep, and night; thick darkness lies
And hatcheth o'er thy people;
[203 ]
But hark! What trumpet's that? What angel cries
Arise! Thrust in thy sickle.
HENRY VAUGHAN
DECEMBER 3
Make us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, in watch-

fulness and eagerness to look for the coming of Christ thy Son
our Lord: that when he shall come and knock, he may not
find us sleeping in our sins, but watching and exulting in his
praises.
Let me love thee, O Christ,

in thy first coming,
when thou wast made man, for love of men,
and for love of me.
Let me love thee, O Christ,

in thy second coming,
when with an inconceivable love
thou standest and knockest at the door,
and wouldest enter into the souls of men,
and into mine.
Plant in my soul, O Christ, thy likeness of love;

that when by death thou callest,
it may be ready,
and burning
to come unto thee.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
[204]
.
DECEMBER 4
. O' that Fire! before whose face

. .
Heav'n and earth shall find no place:

O, those Eyes! whose angry light
Must be the day of that dread Night. . .
But thou giv'st leave, dread Lord, that we

Take shelter from thyself in thee;
And with the wings of thine own dove
Fly to the sceptre of soft love.
Dear, remember in that day

Who was the cause thou cam'st this way:
Thy sheep was stray'd, and thou wouldst be
Even lost thyself in seeking me!
RICHARD CRASHAW
DECEMBER 5
O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come

among us,and with great might succour us; that whereas,
through our sins, and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered
in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and
mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfac-
tion of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy
Ghost be honour and glory, world without end.
DECEMBER 6
O Lord Jesu, our only health and our everlasting life, I
give myself wholly unto Thy will: being sure that the thing
cannot perish which is committed unto Thy mercy.
Thou, merciful Lord, wast bom for my sake: Thou didst

suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake: Thou didst preach
and teach, didst pray and fast, for my sake: and finally Thou
[205]
gavest Thy most precious body to die and Thy blood to be
shed on the cross, for my Most merciful Saviour, let all
sake.
these things profit me which Thou freely hast given me. O Lord,
into Thy hands I commit my soul.
THE PRIMER
DECEMBER 7
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not

thy merciful ears to our prayers; but spare us.Lord most holy,
O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most
worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any
pains of death, to fall from thee.
ANON.
A Christian close, without sin, without shame, and, should

it please thee, without pain, and a good answer at the dreadful
and fearful judgement seat of Jesus Christ our Lord, vouch-
safe, O Lord.
LANCELOT ANDREWES
DECEMBER 8
Death
Christ leads me through no darker rooms

Than he went through before;
He that unto God's kingdom comes,
Must enter by this door. . . .
My knowledge of that life is small.

The eye of faith is dim;
But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with him.
RICHARD BAXTER
[206 ]
DECEMBER 9
O Lord, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the
End, who wast with us in our birth, be with us through our life;
thou who art with us through our life, be with us at our death;
and because thy mercy will not leave us then, grant that we
die not, but rise to the life everlasting with thee and in thee;
who livest and reignest in the glory of the eternal Trinity, one
God, world without end.
ERIC MILNER-WHITE
DECEMBER 10
Preservemy soul, O Lord, because it belongs to thee, and

preserve my body because it belongs to my soul. Thou alone
dost steer my boat through all its voyage, but hast a more
especial care of it, when it comes to a narrow current, or to a
dangerous fall of waters. Thou hast a care of the preservation
of my body in all the ways of my life; but, in the straits of death,
open thine eyes wider, and enlarge thy Providence towards me
so far that no illness or agony may shake and benumb the soul.
Do thou so make my bed in all my sickness that, being used
to thy hand, I may be content with any bed of thy making.
JOHN DONNE
DECEMBER 1 1
My Lord, give me to know

thee, to believe on thee, to love
thee, to serve thee, to live to and for thee. Give me to die just
at that time and in that way which is most for thy glory.
CARDINAL NEWMAN
O blessed Jesu, most mighty lion. King immortal and most

victorious, have mind of the sorrow that thou sufferedst when all
the powers of thine heart and body for feebleness failed thee
utterly. And then thou saidst, inclining thine head thus: "It is
[207 ]
all done." For mind of thine anguish and sorrow, blessed Jesus,
have mercy on me in my last end.
SARUM PRIMER (1538)
DECEMBER 12
Lord, I am coming as fast as I can. I know I must pass

through the shadow of death, before I can come to thee. But
it is but umbra mortis, a mere shadow of death, a little darkness
upon nature: but thou, by thy merits and passion, hast broken
through the jaws of death. So, Lord, receive my soul, and have
mercy upon me; and bless this kingdom with peace and plenty,
and with brotherly love and charity, that there may not be this
effusion of Christian blood amongst them, for Jesus Christ his
sake, if it be thy will.
ARCHBISHOP LAUD
DECEMBER 13
Before the beginning Thou hast foreknown the end,

Before the birthday the death-bed was seen of thee:
Cleanse what I cannot cleanse, mend what I cannot mend,
O Lord All-Merciful, be merciful to me.
While the end is drawing near I know not mine end;

Birth I recall not, my death I cannot foresee:
O God, wise to defend, wise to befriend,
O Lord All-Merciful, be inerciful to me.
CHRISTINA ROSSETTI
208
For Children
DECEMBER 14
A Baptism Blessing
Thou Being who inhabitest the heights

Imprint Thy blessing betimes,
Remember Thou the child of my body,
In Name of the Father of peace;
When the priest of the King
On him puts the water of meaning,
Grant him the blessing of the Three
Who j&ll the heights
The blessing of the Three
Who fill the heights.
Sprinkle down upon him Thy grace,

Give Thou to him virtue and growth,
Give Thou to him strength and guidance,
Give Thou to him flocks and possessions,
Sense and reason void of guile,
Angel wisdom in his day.
That he may stand without reproach
In Thy presence
He may stand without reproach
In Thy presence.
THE SUN DANCES
DECEMBER 15
A Baptism Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, who by the Baptism of thy
well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify
water to the mystical washing away of Sin; Mercifully look upon
this child; wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Spirit, that
he may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being

steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity,
[ 209 ]
may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally
he may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with
thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
DECEMBER 16
A Mother's Prayer
Bestow thy blessing upon thy handmaid;

Strengthen and uphold me together with my husband,
That we may rear the child that has been bom unto us
To fear thee and to serve thee in truth,
And to walk in the path of righteousness.
Keep the tender babe in all his ways.
Favour him with knowledge, and understanding and discernment,
And let his portion be in thy Law,
So that he may sanctify thy great name.
And become a comfort to us in our old age.
JEWISH PRAYER
DECEMBER 17
For Children and Parents
O Lord Jesus Christ, be near to all young children, that

in the peril and confusion of this time their growing spirits may
take no hurt at our hands; and grant to parents such sure
knowledge of thy love that they may guide their children with
courage and with faith.
B.B.C.
Lord Jesus, who didst love little children and who taught
us that of such is the kingdom of heaven, show us new ways of
protecting them and a new determination to care for the chil-
dren of all nations, that, growing up to know and love thee,
they may make the world more like thy plan for it. So may thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
LESLIE WEATHERHEAD
[210]
DECEMBER 18
O Lord Jesus Christ, whose anger was once terribly kindled

against those who hurt the children, we beseech you to bring
to repentance all those who through cruelty, lust or carelessness
bring the innocent to harm. We are among them, O Lord, and
confess with sorrow and shame that every failure of our love
in thought, word or deed immeasurably increases the sin of the
world and the unhappiness of the children. Lord, have mercy
on us, increase our love and consecrate it, making it active in
deed and prayer for all children in danger of body, mind or
spirit, all who are hungry or homeless through war or disaster,
children of broken homes, frightened or lonely children, children
who look for love and do not find it. What can we say, O Lord,
what can we ask? They are the innocent sufferers for our sins,
as you were in your life on earth, united to you more closely
than we can understand. Lord, have mercy upon them in their
suffering, and have mercy upon us in our sin.
DECEMBER 19
Lord, as once the mothers of Israel brought their children

to you that you might bless them, so now we come to you
bringing with us in our hearts those children who are especially
dear to each one of us. Kneeling in the shadow of your great
love for them, your most glorious and perfect prayer to the
Father for them, we say their names over in your presence. . . .
You alone know what awaits them in life, and the special needs
of each one of them, and we humbly trust them to your never-
failing mercy and almighty love. We ask only that throughout
their lives theymay do and bear what is your will for them as
perfectly as they are able, and that you will keep them close
to you now and forever.
[211]
.
DECEMBER 20
A Child's Prayer
Lamb of God, I look to thee;

Thou shalt my Example be;
Thou art gentle, meek and mild,
Thou wast once a little child.
Fain I would be as thou art;

Give me thy obedient heart.
Thou and kind;
art pitiful
Let me have thy loving mind . .
Thou didst live to God alone.

Thou didst never seek thine own;
Thou thyself didst never please.
God was all thy happiness.
Loving Jesu, gentle Lamb,

In thy gracious hands I am.
Make me. Saviour, what thou art,
Live thyself within my heart.
CHARLES WESLEY
Christmas
DECEMBER 21
Lord, I will go to Mary and make covenant with her, to

keep her child, not for her need but for mine. And take to me
the sweet child and swathe him in his cradle with love bands.
Lord, help me to put from me the cradle of self love and draw
to me the cradle of true love, for that liketh this child to rest
him in, and so in my soul sing lovelike and say:
Lovely little child, fairest of hue.

Have mercy on me, sweet Jesu.
[212]
.
And while I thus sing I will be sorry and think how oft I
have received my God him in a foul common stable

and laid
to all the seven deadly sins and seldom fully cleansed to

. . .
God's liking; therefore oft sigh and sorrow and shrive me to

God as I rock the cradle, and sing and say: Lovely little Child.
BOOK TO A MOTHER
(BODLEIAN MS.; SLIGHTLY ADAPTED)
DECEMBER 22
Blessed be He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord, and
hath dawned upon us; Whose coming hath redeemed us. Whose
nativity hath enlightened us; and Who by His coming hath
sought out the lost, and illuminated those who sat in darkness.
Grant, therefore, O Father Almighty, that we, celebrating with
pious devotion the day of his nativity, may find the day of
judgement a day of mercy: that as we have known His benignity
as our Redeemer, we may feel his gentle tenderness as our Judge.
MOZARABIC LITURGY
DECEMBER 23
Come to me, Beloved,
Babe of Bethlehem;
Lay aside thy sceptre
And thy diadem.
Come to me, Beloved;

Light and healing bring;
Hide my sin and sorrow
Underneath thy wing.
Bid all fear and doubting

From my soul depart,
As I feel the beating
Of thy human heart. . .
[213]
. . —
Hide me from the pity. . .
Of the seraphin
They, so pure and spotless,
I, so stained with sin.
Hide me from St. Michael

With his flaming sword:
Thou can'st understand me,
O my human Lord! . .
Only thee, Beloved,

Only thee, I seek.
Thou, the man Christ Jesus,
Strength in flesh made weak.
D. M. DOLBEN
DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
God, who has made this most holy night to shine with the
brightness of the True Light, grant we beseech thee that as on
earth we have known the mystery of that Light, so also in
heaven we may partake of its joys.
Come forth out of thy royal chambers, O Prince of all the

kings of the earth; put on the visible robes of thy imperial
majesty, take up that unlimited sceptre which thy Almighty
Father hath bequeathed thee, for now the voice of thy bride
calls thee, and all creatures sigh to be renewed.
JOHN MILTON
[214]
DECEMBER 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
Moonless darkness stands between.

Past, O Past, no more be seen!
But the Bethlehem star may lead me
To the sight of Him who freed me
From the self that I have been.
Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;
Make me meek. Lord: Thou wert lowly;
Now beginning, and alway:
Now begin, on Christmas day.
GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS
DECEMBER 26
Welcome, all wonders in one sight!
Eternity shut in a span.

Summer in winter. Day in night.
Heaven in earth, and God in man.
Great little one! whose all-embracing birth
Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heav'n to earth.
To meek majesty! soft king

thee,
Of simple graces and sweet loves,
Each of us his lamb will bring
Each his pair of silver doves;
Till burnt at last in fire of thy fair eyes,
Our selves become our own best sacrifice.
RICHARD CRASHAW
[215]
.
DECEMBER 27
We beseech thee, O gracious Lord, let our hearts be en-
lightenedby the holy radiance of thy Son's Incarnation; that
so we may escape the darkness of this world, and by his guidance
attain to the country of everlasting clearness.
SARUM MISSAL
God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance

of the birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that as we
joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, so we may with sure
confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our Judge,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and
forever.
PRAYER BOOK (1549)
DECEMBER 28
Lord when the wise men came from far
Led to thy cradle by a star.
Then did the shepherds too rejoice,
Instructed by thy angel's voice,
Blest were the wise men in their skill.
And shepherds in their harmless will. .
There is no merit in the wise

But love, (the shepherds' sacrifice).
Wisemen, all ways of knowledge past
To th' shepherds' wonder come at last:
To know, can only wonder breed,
And not to know, is wonder's seed.
SYDNEY GODOLPHIN
[216]
DECEMBER 29
O Lord Christ Jesus, God that art ever saving men, and
Man that alone hast power in God, we call upon thee, we praise
thee, we beseech thee be with us to spare, to pity, to forgive.
Put in our hearts prayers that thou mayest fulfil, put in our
mouths words to which thou mayest hearken, make us to do
works that thou mayest bless. Let faith that doubts not conceive
thee. Let mind set free from corruption give birth to thee.
Depart not from us, but come forth within us. Be thou in truth
our Emmanuel, God with us.
MOZARABIC MISSAL (ADAPTED)
DECEMBER 30
Lord God, who art the same yesterday, today, and for ever,
whose throne is established in righteousness, whose compassions
fail not, and whose love endureth unto all generations: Lift
the light of thy countenance upon us, pilgrims as all our fathers
were, that thanking thee for all the way by which thou hast
led us, we may as thy children set our faces towards eternity and
our affections on things above, ere we pass hence and are no
more seen; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
B. J. SNELL
DECEMBER 31
Now thank we all our God,

With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mother's arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love.
And still is ours to-day.
[217]
O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed.
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God

The Father now be given.
The Son, and him who reigns
With them in highest heaven.
The One eternal God
Whom heaven and earth adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore. Amen.
M. RINKART (17tH CENTURY)
[218 1
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I

Printed in the United States of America

Decoration by Fritz Kredel

These prayers, a mixture of old and new, were not col-

Poem for the Month, p, 14 / Our Dedication of Ourselves to God

World, p, 68 / For Our Friends, p. 74

POEM FOR THE MONTH page 14

OUR DEDICATION OF OURSELVES TO GOD

FOR THE CHURCH page 18

IN DARKNESS AND TRIBULATION page 22

He whom I bow to only knows to whom I bow

Take not. Oh Lord, our literal sense. Lord, in Thy great,

Our Dedication of Ourselves to God

NEW year's day

and finally, by the grace, attain the glory of everlasting life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ORDER OF DrVINE SERVICE FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP

O Lord our God, great, eternal, wonderful in glory, who

O LordGod, Holy Father ... I am no longer my own, but

O Lord, our God! bless for us this year;

As also every kind of its produce for our benefit:

And every form of calamity and destruction:

Almighty God, who art beyond the reach of our highest

We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to correct our wander-

Be thou, O Lord, our Protector, who art our redemption;

What gift shall we bring to Thee, O Christ, since Thou as

FIRST VESPERS OF CHRISTMAS IN THE GREEK CHURCH

Almighty God, who hast planted the Day-star in the

O God, the protector of all the trust in thee, without whom

r us thy mercy; that, thou being our Ruler and Guide,

O Saviour Christ, who dost lead them to immortal blessed-

For the Church

O mystery, deep, unsearchable, eternal, which hast decked,

when it is divided and rent asunder, heal the breaches of it. O

O Sovereign and Almighty Lord, bless all thy people and

LITURGY OF ST. MARK

O God the Father, Fount of Godhead, good beyond all that

JACOBITE LITURGY OF ST. DIONYSIUS

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who on the eve of thy Passion didst

ABBE PAUL COUTURIER AND PERE MICHALON

O Lord, who wiliest that all thy children should be one in

of thy grace amongst all those who call upon thee.

LITURGY OF THE REFORMED CHURCH OF FRANCE

For Priests and Ministers

one God, world without end.

O God our King and Saviour, look at this time in your

O God of all the nations of the earth, remember the multi-

Prayer of the Dove

The Ark waits.

and the sign of Your peace.

a sprig of hope and joy,

In Darkness and Tribulation

For there is mercy with thee, therefore shalt thou be feared.

My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch, I

mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

But our overthrow came of a sudden.

Repent thee concerning dust and ashes,

See, we have none to intercede for us.

O answer now the whisper of my prayer;