Prayers Prayers from
Prayers from
the early Church
Prayers of the first Christians, from about AD 96 on,
in their own words and in plain English.
Picture: Jean-Léon Gérôme, The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer, 1863–83
1 more prayer, spoken to a saint, also matches.
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For any time
5-
The Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: a cry for mercy. To the Holy Trinity A few seconds -
Glory to God for all things St John Chrysostom’s thanks to God, his last words as he died. A few seconds St John Chrysostom -
Great Doxology The morning hymn of praise that opens with the angels’ song. To the Holy Trinity About two minutes read; longer sung -
O God, come to my assistance The psalm verse St John Cassian taught for every temptation. A few seconds St John Cassian -
The Nicene Creed The faith of the councils of AD 325 and 381, said at every Liturgy. About a minute The Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople
Worry, fear and sadness
10-
For anxiety and fear O God, You see my affliction Two lines from the elders of Gaza for when thoughts weigh on you. A few seconds St John the Prophet of Gaza -
For burnout O God, You know that I have no strength Tells God you have no strength left, as St Macarius did on the road. A few seconds St Macarius the Great -
For fear of death Prayer of St Macrina Her dying prayer: “You have freed us from the fear of death.” To Christ About three minutes -
For intrusive thoughts Lord, Son of God, help me A few words an old desert monk gave against unwanted thoughts. To Christ A few seconds - For intrusive thoughts Prayer of St Anthony the Great A few words St Anthony prayed when dark thoughts would not leave him. A few seconds
- For intrusive thoughts St Augustine for a mind that will not stop Asks God for freedom from the many words that run on inside you. About a minute
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For peace of mind St Augustine’s prayer for a restless heart When your heart will not settle: God made us to rest in Him. Under a minute - For peace of mind Evening collect for peace Asks God for the peace the world cannot give, and for calm days. About 20 seconds
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For sadness and depression Comfort of the sad Asks that all who cry out in trouble find God’s mercy with them. About 20 seconds -
For worry about the future Lord, as You will and as You know For when you cannot see ahead: leave the outcome to God. A few seconds St Macarius the Great
Through the day
12-
At meals Bless, O Lord, Your gifts The old Latin grace behind “Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts”. A few seconds - At meals Ancient grace after meals A grace from the 300s that St John Chrysostom urged every home to say. About a minute
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Before reading Scripture St Isaac the Syrian’s prayer before reading Scripture Asks to perceive the power in the words of Scripture before you read. A few seconds - Before reading Scripture St Augustine’s prayer before reading Scripture Asks to delight in Scripture and never be misled or mislead by it. About two minutes
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For focus St John of Gaza against distraction For the moment you notice your mind has been carried off. About 15 seconds -
For nightmares St Ephrem’s prayer before sleep Asks Christ for a night of sleep free of bad dreams and evil. To Christ About two minutes - For nightmares Blessing for a bedroom Asks the God Who never sleeps to guard everyone asleep in a room. About 20 seconds
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For when you can’t sleep St Ambrose’s evening hymn The hymn of sleep St Augustine remembered after his mother died. About a minute - Through the day Filled with the gifts of Your plenty Thanks after a meal, asking that the food not weigh down the mind. A few seconds
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Through the day Morning prayer of St Jerome A morning prayer for keeping watch over yourself all day long. About two minutes -
Through the day O gladsome Light An ancient hymn to Christ, the Light, sung as the sun goes down. To Christ About 30 seconds -
Through the day St Isaac the Syrian before prayer Asks God to still the turmoil of your thoughts before you pray. About a minute
When someone dies
4-
Anniversary of a death Prayer for the anniversary of a death An ancient prayer for someone on the anniversary of their death. A few seconds -
For widows and widowers St Ephrem’s hymn on the death of a woman Asks God to comfort those who mourn a woman, and to raise her up. About a minute - In grief Prayer when a loved one has died Asks God to receive gently a loved one who has just died. About a minute
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When a child dies St Ephrem’s hymn on the death of children Asks God to comfort a mother and father whose child has died. About a minute
For someone you love
4-
For a husband or wife Gelasian prayers for a married couple Asks God to keep a husband and wife in long-lasting peace. About a minute -
For your children St Ephrem’s prayer for children A plea to Christ to see His own childhood in your children. To Christ A few seconds -
For your parents St Augustine’s prayer for his mother A son asks God to forgive his mother and give her rest. About two minutes -
For someone far from God St Augustine’s prayer for those far from God For anyone who has run from God: He has not left them. Under a minute
When it is hard
4-
For enemies St Ephrem’s prayer for enemies Asks God to spare your enemies and grant that they do His will. About 20 seconds -
For protection St Patrick’s Breastplate An Old Irish prayer that asks for Christ on every side. To the Holy Trinity About three minutes - In hard times O God, our refuge in hardship Turns to God as refuge, strength, help and comfort in hard times. About 15 seconds
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Against gossip and slander Prayer against slander Not to fear what people say, nor be taken in by flattery. Under a minute
Struggles and temptations
8-
After sinning I have sinned as a man A desert monk’s one-line plea for mercy after a grave sin. A few seconds Abba Apollo -
For anger St Dorotheos’s prayer against anger Calm the storm in two angry hearts, as Christ once calmed the sea. About a minute -
For self-control St Augustine’s prayer for self-control Augustine asks God to give the self-control He commands. Under a minute -
For shame and regret Kneeling prayer of St Serapion Asks God to lift us up and not let us be ashamed of ourselves. Under a minute - For shame and regret Late have I loved You For regret over lost years: God was with me, but I was not with Him. Under a minute St Augustine of Hippo
- For shame and regret Forgive what our conscience fears Asks God to forgive what our conscience is afraid of. About 20 seconds
- For shame and regret Prayer of St Thais The one line St Thais prayed for three years as she repented. A few seconds
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To forgive someone Prayers to repay good for evil Asks God for the love to repay good for evil and to forgive. Under a minute
Life’s big moments
6-
For a new home Prayer for an angel to guard the home Asks God to send His angel to guard a home and bless every age in it. About a minute -
For new beginnings Prayer of St Arsenius Three lines asking God for the grace to begin again. A few seconds - For new beginnings Prayer for the New Year Asks God for a faithful, healthy new year, from early Christian Spain. About half a minute
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For old age Rerum Deus tenax vigor An old hymn asking God for light at the evening of life. About 30 seconds -
When hoping for a child Gelasian prayers for a child Three early Roman prayers for a woman who longs to conceive. About a minute - When hoping for a child Have mercy on our barrenness St Ephrem’s words for childless wives holding the infant Christ. To Christ A few seconds St Ephrem the Syrian
To grow closer to God
4-
For humility and patience Lord, give me patience Patience in a struggle that keeps coming back, from a desert monk. A few seconds St John the Dwarf -
For strength and courage St Augustine’s prayer for strength When your own strength runs out: God carries us, even to grey hair. Under a minute -
For wisdom and guidance St Augustine’s prayer for guidance A seeker’s prayer: teach me the way to You, and give me faith. About two minutes -
When God feels far Where were You? (St Anthony) St Anthony asks God where He was, and hears, “Anthony, I was here.” Under a minute
Communion, feasts and fasts
1
For the wider world
8-
For our country Prayer of St Clement of Rome From Rome, about AD 96: a prayer for the needy, the lost and the sick. About four minutes - For peace St Ephrem’s prayer for peace A city waiting for war asks God to still its cries with His peace. About 20 seconds
- For peace The collect for peace Asks the God of peace to keep us from fear of any enemy. About 15 seconds
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For rain and harvest Prayer over the first fruits Thanks God for the first fruits of the harvest and offers them back. About 30 seconds -
For the Church and priests St Serapion’s prayer for bishops and priests Asks wisdom for the bishop and pure hearts for the deacons. About a minute - For the Church and priests Didache prayer for the Church From about AD 100: gather Your Church from the ends of the earth. About a minute
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For the persecuted Prayer of St Polycarp A martyr’s thanks to God, prayed at the stake about AD 155. About a minute -
For the poor and hungry Helper of the helpless For all in need: God knows each one, their home and their need. About a minute St Basil the Great