Occasional Prayers
Prayer for the Acceptance of God’s Will by Saint Philaret of Moscow
O Lord, I know not what to ask of thee. Thou alone knowest what my true needs are. Thou lovest me more than I myself know how to love. Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me. I dare not ask for either a cross or a consolation. I can only wait on thee. My heart is open to thee. Visit and help me for thy great mercy’s sake. Strike me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up. I worship in silence thy holy will and thine inscrutable ways. I offer myself as a sacrifice to thee. I put all my trust in thee. I have no other desire than to fulfill thy will. Teach me how to pray. Pray thou thyself within me. Amen.
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At the Commencement of Any Task
Almighty God, our Help and Refuge, Fountain of wisdom and Tower of strength, who knowest that I can do nothing without thy guidance and help; assist me, I pray thee, and grant me divine wisdom and power, that I may accomplish this task, and whatever I may undertake to do, faithfully and diligently, according to thy will, so that it may be profitable to myself and others and may be to the glory of thy holy name. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Prayer Before a Journey
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, the true and living way, be thou, O Master, my companion, guide and guardian during my journey; deliver and protect me from all danger, misfortune and temptation, that, being so defended by thy divine power, I may have a peaceful and successful journey and arrive safely at my destination. For in thee I put my trust and hope, and to thee, together with thine eternal Father and thine all-holy Spirit, I ascribe all praise, honor and glory, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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A Prayer of Husband and Wife
O merciful God, we beseech thee ever to remind us that the married state is holy and that we must keep it so. Grant us thy grace, that we may continue in faithfulness and love. Increase in us the spirit of mutual understanding, forgiveness, patience and trust, that no quarrel or strife may come between us. Grant us thy blessings, that we may serve thee in holiness and gladness of heart all the days of our lives. And finally, by thy mercy, account us worthy of everlasting life. For thine it is to save us, O our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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A Prayer of Parents for Children (Also for relatives and friends)
O God, our heavenly Father, who lovest mankind, and art most merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon thy servants, NN. [children, relatives], for whom I humbly pray, and whom I commend to thy gracious care and protection. Be thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of thy truth, and draw them near to thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in thy love and fear, ever doing thy will in all things. Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all the temptations and corruption of this life, and direct them in the way of salvation, through the grace and love toward mankind of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and by the intercessions of the most holy Theotokos, and all thy saints. Amen.
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A Prayer of Single Persons
O Lord, who hast set forth for us an example of perfect purity, strengthen me, I beseech thee, when temptation doth beset me, and when strong passions seek to overwhelm me, that I may remain constant in virtue and innocent in thought, word, and deed, doing only such things as are well-pleasing to thee. Grant me growth in wisdom and understanding, that I may serve thee in holiness all the days of my life, through the intercessions of thine all-immaculate Mother and of all thy saints, especially my patron saint N. Amen.
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A Prayer of Repentance
O Lord our God, good and merciful, I acknowledge all the sins which I have committed every day of my life, in thought, word and deed, in body and soul alike. I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended thee and I sincerely repent. With tears I humbly pray thee, O Lord: Of thy mercy forgive me all my past transgressions and absolve me from them. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to amend my way of life and to sin no more, that I may walk in the way of the righteous and offer praise and glory to thy name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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A Prayer for the Departed
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend the souls of thy servants, NN., and beseech thee to grant them rest with thy saints, where the light of thy countenance shineth forever. I beseech thee also to grant that our present lives may be godly, sober and blameless, that we also may be made worthy to enter into thy heavenly kingdom with those we love who have gone to their rest before us. For thou art the Resurrection and the Life and the Repose of thy departed servants, O Christ our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.