• “The secret to being a good mom is not being perfect, it’s becoming dependent upon the only One who is…The secret to being a fearless, faith-filled wife and mother does not come through striving, but surrender.” – Leslie Ludy

Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston

Little, Brown, 1921
Preface
This collection of prayers for daily use has been gathered from many sources, ancient and modern. It has historical interest, and the literary quality has been carefully considered, but the primary object is to nourish the spiritual life. As the design is to provide a brief selection for every day, in many cases a portion only of a long prayer is given, or it is condensed by omission, but alterations have been made as sparingly as possible.
Fourteen centuries of prayer, aspiration, and praise unite here in one harmony of devotion. A large number of these prayers date from the fifth and sixth centuries, taken from the Leonine, Gelasian, and Gregorian Sacramentaries, from which the collects in the Book of Common Prayer are in great measure derived. The earnest and impassioned prayers of St. Augustine belong to the same period. Many of the prayers attributed to him, however, are of later origin and doubtful authorship, some of them, probably, being by St. Anselm and St. Bernard. There are some striking and fervent collects from the Mozarabic Sacramentary, which was in use in Spain before A. D. 700. In the Middle Ages, St. Anselm, Thomas a Kempis, and others contribute devout prayers, and the age of the Reformation in England and Germany is very rich in devotional treasures. In the succeeding centuries, Bishop Andrewes, Jeremy Taylor, Bishop Wilson, Dr. Johnson, and many others, continue the golden chain down to the present century. The names of Christina G. Rossetti, George Dawson, Rowland Williams, and E. B. Pusey are enough to show that the spirit of prayer still burns with a steady flame. I acknowledge, with gratitude, my indebtedness to “Ancient Collects,” by Rev. William Bright; Bunsen’s “Collection of Prayers”; “Annus Domini,” and “The Face of the Deep,” by Miss Rossetti; “Prayers,” by George Dawson; “Private Prayers,” by Rev. E. B. Pusey; “Psalms and Litanies,” by Rev. Rowland Williams; “Home Prayers,” by Rev. James Martineau; “Moments on the Mount,” and “Voices of the Spirit,” by Rev. George Matheson; “Prayers,” by Rev. Rufus Ellis, and others too numerous to mention. I am indebted to Rev. J. R. Miller for a prayer contributed by him to this book. I must also express my thanks to the publishers who have kindly given me permission to use copyrighted material; to Messrs. Armstrong & Son, for prayers from the works of Dr. Matheson, above mentioned; and to Mr. Charles Baxter for the prayers by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Mary Wilder Tileston

The Lord’s Prayer Our father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever—Amen.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS
Adversity or Danger—78, 84, 109, 118, 151, 230, 278, 284, 288, 341, 351, 358. Affliction and Suffering—30, 31, 79, 96, 98, 145, 146, 158, 167, 170, 223, 245, 250, 258, 263, 264, 269, 273, 308, 315, 316, 327, 331, 338, 345, 350, 352, 364.
Aspiration—4, 8, 40, 64, 65, 100, 103, ,108, 110, 116, 122, 125, 127, 134, 144, 147, 148, 154, 162, 168, 179, 181, 189, 197, 199, 220, 240, 261, 265, 266, 270, 281, 290, 296, 302, 308, 320, 328, 329, 346, 360.
Conformity to the Will of God—3, 15, 21, 23, 29, 34, 49, 66, 74, 84, 92, 101, 131, 135, 172, 184, 190, 200, 257, 288, 301, 305, 322, 329, 339, 342.
Courage, Cheerfulness, Strength—1, 10, 18, 33, 88, 95, 102, 133, 142, 145, 151, 176, 177, 179, 191, 205, 230, 237, 246, 247, 275, 280, 285, 311, 319, 323, 324, 349, 354.
Confession and Penitence—13, 23, 32, 57, 61, 63, 67, 69, 75, 77, 81, 83, 87, 106, 112, 113, 115, 117, 130, 133, 137, 140, 157, 160, 175, 188, 208, 224, 254, 268, 300, 304, 330.
Consecration and Holiness—19, 33, 40, 42, 60, 82, 86, 109, 122, 165, 201, 206, 226, 238, 242, 244, 266, 272, 275, 300, 310, 322, 330, 336, 337, 340, 347, 353, 361.
Communion of Saints—3, 25, 59, 100, 139, 150, 168, 186, 192, 306, 307, 359. Duty—1, 7, 22, 24, 31, 34, 39, 45, 46, 58, 86, 91, 93, 95, 99, 139, 142, 146, 173, 177, 185, 194, 213, 214, 249, 253, 274, 282, 283, 287, 289, 300, 303, 309, 314, 322, 328, 339.
Faith and Fervor—8, 16, 25, 35, 51, 62, 70, 105, 178.
Forgiveness and Kindness—26, 38, 55, 87, 119, 121, 125, 130, 136, 159, 162, 171, 193, 195, 204, 207, 212, 225, 227, 232, 251, 286, 362.
Guidance and Light—6, 15, 22, 28, 40, 44, 62, 80, 81, 129, 138, 149, 180, 183, 190, 194, 196, 213, 215, 237, 246, 248, 253, 312, 313, 344.
Love of Family, Friends, Mankind—5, 24, 48, 54, 58, 66, 67, 76, 97, 104, 107, 115, 119, 120, 121, 127, 169, 183, 193, 203, 216, 226, 232, 239, 249, 263, 269, 285, 286, 296, 297, 309, 315, 321, 335, 356, 337, 357.
Love of God—16, 17, 37, 52, 54, 66, 67, 73, 90, 95, 97, 104, 105, 108, 120, 141, 153, 176, 178, 182, 192, 195, 218, 222, 232, 234, 235, 267, 287, 297, 298, 305, 313, 315, 317, 332, 337, 363.
Obedience to God—5, 7, 16, 20, 26, 55, 60, 91, 97, 109, 123, 135, 140, 143, 178, 182, 202, 221, 233, 243, 248, 325, 329. Peace and Rest in God—8, 10, 14, 18, 21, 25, 43, 52, 54, 59, 72, 96, 104, 126, 136, 143, 171, 195, 203, 223, 240, 255, 260, 284, 314, 318, 362.
Purity and Truth—26, 47, 85, 99, 103, 111, 123, 147, 155, 164, 207, 234, 243, 262, 289, 330.
Submission and Resignation—36, 41, 58, 71, 89, 96, 102, 132, 164, 170, 210, 219, 236, 241, 252, 276, 292, 304, 334, 338, 363. Temptation and Trial—90, 133, 137, 166, 235, 265, 268.
Thanksgiving and Praise—9, 11, 12, 27, 48, 50, 56, 68, 94, 124, 141, 150, 152, 156, 163, 174, 211, 228, 231, 238, 256, 280, 281, 294, 295, 301, 323, 326, 366.
Trust in God—2, 28, 41, 46, 53, 92, 94, 114, 128, 161, 186, 187, 198, 202, 209, 218, 219, 228, 229, 236, 247, 252, 259, 270, 271, 277, 293, 299, 321, 333, 341, 343, 348, 355, 356, 358, 365.

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  • “I was poor in the midst of riches, and ready to perish with hunger near a table plentifully spread and a continual feast. Oh, Beauty, ancient and new! Why have I known thee so late? Alas, I sought thee where thou wast not, and did not seek thee where thou wast…” – Madame Guyon

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Verse of the Day

[Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy] Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. — Psalm 136:1,26 (NKJV)

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