PRAYERS
of the
MIDDLE AGES

Light from a Thousand Years

Edited by
J. MANNING POTTS

THE UPPER ROOM
The World’s Most Widely Used Devotional Guide
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville 5, Tennessee

Second Printing

© Copyright, 1954
by
The Upper Room
Nashville, Tennessee

UR-79-25-5-0962
Printed in the United States of America

Preface

This is a companion volume to the Prayers of the Early Church. That little volume has been started on its way and the editor has been encouraged to do this one on the Prayers of the Middle Ages.

The period covered by these prayers is that of a thousand years from A.D. 500 to A.D. 1500. Generally speaking, the period is from the fall of Rome to the Reformation. This period was formerly called the Dark Ages. Evidence of the lack of light has been found in the lack of material in some of the centuries. It has been hard to find any prayers in a few. However, taken collectively, it is seen that there was much light that came out of these ages. The Church was kept alive by those who kept the light burning. The latter half of this period is now called the Golden Age of Mysticism.

The arrangement of the prayers is century by century. There are some questions about dates of these as well as authorship. The authorities do not always agree.

We are indebted to many collections of prayers and to other sources. Some of the books which have been most valuable are Prayers of the Ages, compiled by Caroline S. Whitmarsh; Of the Imitation of Christ; Great Souls at Prayer, arranged by Mrs. Mary W. Tileston; The Cloud of Witness, by Hon. Mrs. Gell; Prayers, from the collection of the late Baron Bunsen; A Chain of Prayer Across the Ages, compiled by Selina Fitzherbert Fox; Prayers We Love to Pray, arranged by Edward Leigh Pell; Morning Readings, compiled by Frank M. Rich; Prayers of the Saints, by Cecil Headlam; Prayers Ancient and Modern, compiled by Mary Wilder Tileston; Ancient Collects, by Rev. William Bright; Prayers, Massachusetts Council of the Church Service League; Theologia Germanica; The Cloud of Unknowing; His Words of Admonition and Praises of God, by St. Francis of Assisi; Common Prayers for Family Use, by Westcott.

The main purpose of this little volume is for individual and family devotions. However, it is found that prayers like these are read in worship services, in prayer cells, and prayer meetings. Young people’s and women’s groups constantly make use of them. This little book is recommended for all types of worship services and for use in church bulletins. Many other ways will be found to use them.

The editor wishes to acknowledge his deep debt of gratitude to the late lamented Dr. J. Minton Batten, professor of church history in Vanderbilt University, and to Miss Clarice Winstead, secretary to the editor, for their invaluable service in compiling this book of prayers.

Contents

PAGE

SIXTH CENTURY 7

Gregory the Great, Gregorian Sacramentary, Ancient Collects, Columba

SEVENTH CENTURY 15

Mozarabic Breviary, Mozarabic Liturgy, Mozarabic Sacramentary

EIGHTH CENTURY 31

Venerable Bede, Alcuin, Gallican Collect, A Gallican Sacramentary, Theodore Studita

NINTH CENTURY 37

Dionysius of the Syrian Jacobite Church, John Scotus Erigena, Alfred the Great, Old Rheims Manuscript

TENTH CENTURY 41

Anonymous, Ethelwold of York, Dunstan of Canterbury

ELEVENTH CENTURY 45

Anselm, Sarum Breviary, Roman Breviary

TWELFTH CENTURY 61

Bernard of Clairvaux, Dan Jeremy

THIRTEENTH CENTURY 65

Francis of Assisi, Richard of Chichester, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventura, Richard Rolle

FOURTEENTH CENTURY 73

Johannes Tauler, Thomas Bradwardine, Ludolphus of Saxony, Raymond Jordanus, Theologia Germanica

FIFTEENTH CENTURY 77

Thomas à Kempis, Michelangelo

SIXTH CENTURY PRAYERS

For Forgiveness

O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions; and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of Thy great mercy loose us; for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator, and Advocate. Amen.

—Gregory the Great

For Easter Sunday Giving

O God, who for our redemption didst give Thine only begotten Son to the death of the Cross, and by His glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of the enemy, grant us to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with Him, in the joy of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

—Gregory the Great

For Mercy

O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy; that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.

—Gregorian Sacramentary

Collect

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires