07 April 2008

And speaking of prayer...

...in doing a shutin visit today, a couple who are very, very dear to my heart, reminded me that when you've prayed the morning and evening prayers of Luther, you've prayed for it all. I don't know how many of our non-Lutheran guests here know these gems, but I thought I'd put them up for those who are not familiar with them:

How the head of the family should teach his household to pray morning and evening.

Morning Prayer

In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say:
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.

Evening Prayer

In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross and say:
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have prayed these prayers with our children for years now. They especially appreciate the reminder that God's holy angels are watching over us day and night. On several occasions they have mentioned to me how comforting it was, as they were afraid of the dark, to know that they could go to sleep in peace, knowing they were protected.

These are surely rich prayers that help keep our focus!

Denise Heimbigner

Cheryl said...

Both of these prayers have now been set to music (along with the entire small catechism) and are included in the CPH Sunday School packets (and it is my understanding will soon be available on a compilation CD). So hopefully many more children are coming to know and love them! And it is my personal opinion that the settings of morning and evening prayer are some of the loveliest music in the catechism song set. (Full disclosure: my husband is the composer.) :-)

Schütz said...

Well, here's one "non-Lutheran" who knows them (of course!). And so do all the members of my family. They are thoroughly Catholic prayers and can be commended to one and all. In our house it is customary to say this Luther's evening prayer after praying the Our Father and Hail Mary. And we might sing the Regina Caeli afterwards too...