Strength
11 prayers
PRAYER OF LANCELOT ANDREWES, 1555-1600
Be all to all. We bring before You, O God, the cries of the weary, the pains of the distressed, the tears of the tragedies of life, the anxious hours of the insecure, the restlessness of the refugees, the hunger of the oppressed. Dear God, be near to each. Helper of the helpless, Hope of the homeless, The Strength of those tossed with tempests, The Haven of those who sail, Be all to all. Be within us, to strengthen us; without us, to keep us; above us, to inspire us; beneath us, to uphold us; before us, to direct us; behind us, to propel us; around us, to sustain us. Be all to all in present need. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA, 1491-1556
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within thy sacred wounds hide me. From the wicked enemy defend me. In the hour of my death call me and bid me come to thee, that with thy saints I may praise thee forever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, 1090-1153
Jesus, the very thought of you with sweetness fills the breast; But sweeter far your face to see, And in your presence rest. Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, Nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than your blessed Name, O Savior of mankind! O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, To those who fall, how kind you are! How good to those who seek! o Jesus, light of all below, fount of living fire, surpassing all the joys we know, and all we can desire. Abide with us, and let your light shine, Lord, on every heart; Dispel the darkness of our night; And joy to all impart. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. ALCUIN, 735-804
Eternal Light, shine into our hearts; Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil; Eternal Power, be our support; Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance: That we may seek Your face with all our heart and mind and soul and strength. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. AIDAN, ?-651
Leave me alone with God as much as may be. As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore, make me an island, set apart, alone with you, God, holy to you. Then with the turning of the tide prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond, the world that rushes in on me till the waters come again and fold me back to you. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. COLUMBA, 521-597
Alone with none but you, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when you are near, 0 king of night and day? More safe am I within your hand than if a host did round me stand. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK, 387-493
May the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the Word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, 354-430
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM, 347-407
Almighty God, who has given us at this time with one accord to make our common prayer to you; and does promise that when two or three are gathered together in your Name you will grant their request, fulfill now, 0 Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth; and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. IRENAEUS, 130-202
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, look upon us and have mercy upon us; you who are yourself both victim and priest, yourself both reward and redeemer, keep safe from all evil those whom thou hast redeemed, O Savior of the world. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. POLYCARP, 69-155
May God the Father, and the Eternal High Priest Jesus Christ, build us up in faith and truth and love, and grant to us our portion among the saints with all those who believe on our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for all saints, for kings and rulers, for the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and for ourselves we pray that our fruit may abound and we may be made perfect in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.