Posted on 11/24/2005 8:12:26 AM PST by sionnsar
[The author/blogger is in the UK, I believe, else the focus would be a little different. --sionnsar]
God calls all of to prayer and awaits our response. God has made promises to us in Christ Jesus and through prayer we see those promises being lived out. Prayer is often a struggle. It is hard work at times and it takes time out of our very busy schedules for us to pray. Therefore, prayer is a test in a sense. It is a test of faith and our faithfulness to God. God makes promises to us and by faith and we go to Him in prayer to "memorialise" those promises. We may be in prayer due to what seems to be a call to make great sacrifices for our faithfulness and this is part of the mystery of prayer. In that call to sacrifice, prayer helps to restore the image of God in man whereby we are then enabled to go and live out the power of God's love that we experience in prayer. Finally, God renews us in His promises in prayer. Prayer is difficult because prayer is a battle of our faith and as we respond to God's call to come to Him, in prayer, we triumph in perseverence.
Andrewes: A Prayer of Penitence
O Lord, as days unto days, so withal do we add sins to sins. The just man stumbleth seven times a day, but I, a singular great sinner, seventy times seven. Nay but I return unto Thee, O Lord. O Lord Thou lover of man, that hast a golden censer, add me thine incense unto this prayer for a sweet-smelling savour before the throne, and let the lifting up of hands be set forth for an evening sacrifice. Lord the Almighty, all our works Thou hast wrought in us: if we have gotten any good success, receive it favourably, O Lord abundant in goodness and very pitiful: but so many things as we have done amiss, pardon graciously, for our destruction cometh of ourselves. Amen
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, the stability of the holy churches of God and the union of all men: for this holy house and them that with faith and piety enter therein: for our fathers in holy things, the honourable presbyterate, the diaconate in Christ, and all clergy and people: for this holy mansion and every city and country and them that dwell therein in faith: for good temperature of the air, plenteous bearing of fruits of the earth and peaceful seasons: for them that travel by land and by water, the sick, toilworn and captives, and their safety. Help, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by thy grace. Commemorating the allholy, immaculate, more than blessed mother of God and evervirgin Mary, with all saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ God: unto Thee, O Lord, for unto Thee is due glory, honour and worship. Amen.Preces Privatae
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. The first prayer must be +Lancelot. Its quite wonderful, quite Orthodox.
The second is almost exactly a litany from the Divine Liturgy of +John Chrysostomos:
Deacon:
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For the peace of God and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For our Archbishop (Name), our Bishop (Name), the honorable presbyters, the deacons in the service of Christ, and all the clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For our country, the president, and all those in public service, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For this parish and city, for every city and country, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For travelers by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Priest:
Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
People:
Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:
Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
People:
To You, O Lord.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.