Prayers of the Middle Ages: Light from a Thousand Years

PRAYERS OF THE MIDDLE AGES: LIGHT FROM A THOUSAND YEARS

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Various Authors

PYRRHUS PRESS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prayers of the Middle Ages: Light from a Thousand Years

FOREWORD

Preface

SIXTH CENTURY PRAYERS

SEVENTH CENTURY PRAYERS

EIGHTH CENTURY PRAYERS

NINTH CENTURY PRAYERS

TENTH CENTURY PRAYERS

ELEVENTH CENTURY PRAYERS

TWELFTH CENTURY PRAYERS

THIRTEENTH CENTURY PRAYERS

FOURTEENTH CENTURY PRAYERS

FIFTEENTH CENTURY PRAYERS

PRAYERS OF THE MIDDLE AGES: LIGHT FROM A THOUSAND YEARS

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By

Various Authors

FOREWORD

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THIS IS A COLLECTION OF Christian prayers that date all the way back to the 7th century AD.

PREFACE

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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.

J. Manning Potts

Editor, The Upper Room

Nashville, Tennessee

SIXTH CENTURY PRAYERS

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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