Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit

    Dayspring of Eternity,
    Light from endless Light proceeding,
    Let Thy beams upon us shine
    As the shadows are receding;
    And dispel by Thy great might
    Our dark night.

    As the soft refreshing dew
    Falls upon the drooping flower,
    So our fainting hearts renew
    By Thy Spirit's quickening power;
    Ne'er Thy bounteous grace withhold
    From Thy fold.

    Let the glow of Thy pure love
    All our icy coldness banish;
    In the radiance from above
    May our doubts and fears all vanish,
    That ere dying we may be
    Found in Thee.

    O Thou glorious Sun of grace,
    May Thy light be ne'er denied us!
    Till we reach the heavenly place
    Shine upon our way to guide us,
    That at last among the blest
    We may rest.

                                     Christian Knorr v. Rosenroth, 1684.
                                                    Tr. J. F. Ohl, 1915.

Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade.

    Abide with grace unbounded,
    Lord Jesus, with us still,
    That Satan's craft confounded
    May no more work us ill.

    Abide with us, dear Savior,
    Both with and in Thy Word:
    To us both now and ever
    Thy saving health afford.

    Abide with all Thy brightness,
    Thou brightest Light of all;
    And lest we stray from rightness,
    Make Thou Thy truth our wall.

    Abide with us and bless us,
    Thou Lord whose riches 'bide;
    With growing grace possess us
    And all things best provide.

    Abide with Thy protection,
    Great Captain, clothed with might;
    O'ercome our world affection
    And vanquish Satan's spite.

    Abide with care untiring,
    Our God and Lord indeed;
    All steadfastness inspiring,
    Help, Lord, our every need.

                                                   Josua Stegmann, 1630.
                                                    Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.

Die helle Sonn leucht jetzt herfuer

    The morning sun shines in the skies,
    And we from peaceful slumbers rise.
    All praise to God who hath this night
    Protected us from Satan's might.

    Lord Jesus, shield us now by day
    From sin and error on our way.
    To us Thy holy angels send,
    And let them to our wants attend.

    Make Thou our hearts obedient,
    To use Thy word and sacrament,
    To do Thy will whate'er betide,
    Thus pleasing Thee, our trusty guide.

    Bless Thou the labor of our hands
    And help us keep Thy law's demands,
    That all our work, begun in Thee,
    May to Thy praise and glory be.

                                                 Nicolaus Hermann, 1560.
                                                 Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.

Die gueldne Sonne

    The sun, ascending,
    To us is lending
    Bliss, joy, and gladness,
    Cure for all sadness,
    Filling the world with its rich, golden light.
    I was reclining
    When no light was shining;
    But the sun's beauty
    Now calls me to duty,
    As I behold it so fair and so bright.

    Mine eye beholdeth
    What God unfoldeth:
    Heaven's bright glory
    Tells me the story
    Of His unlimited power and love,
    And how the sainted
    In beauty untainted,
    Free from things mortal,
    Beyond death's dark portal,
    Dwell in the heavenly mansions above.

    To God in heaven
    Be praises given;
    Come, let us offer
    And gladly proffer
    To the Creator the gifts that we prize.
    He well receiveth
    A heart that believeth,
    Hymns that adore Him
    Are precious before Him
    And to His throne like sweet incense arise.

    At the day's ending
    Sweet slumbers sending,
    And in the morning
    All things adorning,
    These are His works and His blessings so true.
    When night descendeth
    Protection He lendeth
    When morn appeareth
    Our spirits He cheereth,
    Causing His mercy to crown us anew.

    Father above me,
    Thou who dost love me,
    Bless my beginning,
    Keep me from sinning,
    Move ev'ry hindrance well out of my way.
    Strength ever lend me,
    From Satan defend me,
    Spare me temptation,
    So that in my station
    I may Thy holy commandments obey.

    Let me with pleasure
    See the full measure
    Which upon others,
    Who are my brothers,
    Thou of Thy blessings dost richly bestow.
    Bid envy vanish!
    All greediness banish!
    Make me Thy dwelling,
    Sin's darkness dispelling.
    Grant that in virtue I daily may grow.

    What is man's being?
    It is like seeing
    Autumn's bleak shadows
    Sweep o'er the meadows
    When the cold winds drive the clouds on their way.
    All that we cherish
    Must crumble and perish.
    Plants must stop growing,
    And stars must cease glowing;
    Heaven and earth are not destined to stay.

    All else decayeth,
    God only stayeth,
    He of creation
    Is the foundation.
    His will and word must forever abide.
    His grace endureth
    And for us secureth
    Comfort in sorrow
    And help for the morrow,
    Keeping us cheerful, whate'er may betide.

    God of creation,
    Be my salvation!
    Calm all my terrors,
    Blot out my errors,
    Grant that Thy pardon I fully may share;
    Withal attend me,
    Rule, guide, and defend me
    In mercy tender,
    Because I surrender
    Soul, will, and all to Thy fatherly care.

    Whilst Thou art giving
    What for a living
    Seems very needful,
    Oh, make Thou me heedful
    Of this great truth and commendable thought:
    God, like a tower,
    Transcends all in power;
    Good beyond telling,
    In beauty excelling,
    He doth suffice me, all else counts for naught.

    If grief and sadness
    Temper my gladness
    If for the morrow
    Thou send me sorrow
    Do as Thou wilt, for my trust is in Thee.
    Thou surely knowest
    That what Thou bestowest,
    E'en though distressing,
    Must bring me a blessing;
    Thou wilt not deal too severely with me.

    Ills that still grieve me
    Soon are to leave me;
    Though waves may tower
    And winds gain power,
    After the storm the fair sun shows its face.
    Joys e'er increasing,
    And peace never ceasing,
    These I shall treasure
    And share in full measure
    When in His mansions God grants me a place.

                                                    Paul Gerhardt, 1666.
                                                 Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.

Wach auf, mein Herz, die Nacht ist hin

    Awake, my soul; the rising sun
    Dispels the night of mourning;
    Awake, with songs of praises run
    To greet the Lord returning.
    He burst the gates of death today
    And left the gloomy grave for aye
    While all the world rejoices.

    Arise, my soul, from sin and death,
    To thee new life is given;
    Arise and run the race of faith;
    Fix thy desires on heaven
    Where Jesus, thy Redeemer reigns,
    And seek the things that it contains,
    If thou with Him be risen.

    Art thou distressed by weight of care?
    Thy Savior will remove it.
    Believing, thou with joy canst bear
    Thy cross and learn to love it.
    Cast all thy burden on the Lord;
    Fear not; for He will help afford,
    For now He hath arisen.

    Now Judah's Lion, true and tried,
    The victory obtaineth;
    The Lamb of God, the Crucified,
    For us salvation gaineth,
    And giveth righteousness and life;
    For after all the dreadful strife,
    O'er every foe He triumphs.

    Then up, my soul, begin the fight,
    For Christ, the Victor, leadeth.
    He arms thee with a victor's might;
    With Him thy cause succeedeth.
    Now thou can'st rise and live anew
    And righteousness and peace pursue
    And be a faithful servant.

    Fear not the angry jaws of hell,
    Nor world, nor death, nor devil.
    Thy Savior lives and all is well,
    Though sore has been His travail.
    A Victor crowned, He as a Friend
    The mean and feeble doth attend,
    And therefore thou shalt conquer.

    Ah, Lord, whom death could not defile,
    Who from the dead hast risen,
    Free us from Satan's might and guile
    And save us from his prison.
    O grant, that, as one body, we
    May enter that new life in Thee
    Which Thou for us hast gotten.

                                              Laurentius Laurenti, 1700.
                                                          Tr. A. Ramsey.

Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe

    Awake, my heart, rejoicing,
    Thy Maker's praises voicing,--
    The Giver, good gifts sending;
    Their Shield, His folk defending.

    All night while darkness 'bound me
    In deepest gloom around me,
    By Satan craved while sleeping
    God had me in His keeping.

    Thou spak'st me words endearing;
    Sleep now, my child, unfearing;
    Sleep well, night's terrors spurning;
    Thou'lt see the sun returning.

    Thy word performed, now waking,
    I see the bright dawn breaking,
    Safe kept from ills unnumbered
    While 'neath Thy care I slumbered.

    An off'ring Thou desirest.
    Behold what Thou requirest.
    Nor lamb nor incense bringing,
    I come with prayer and singing.

    Nor wilt Thou now despise them,
    But in Thy heart wilt prize them,
    Well knowing, yea, and surely
    My best I offer purely.

    Approve my works when shown Thee.
    Help Thou good councils only;
    Beginning, middle, closing,
    Lord, for the best disposing.

    With blessings guard me waking,
    My heart Thy dwelling making,
    And with Thy Word, Lord, feed me
    Whilst heavenward Thou dost lead me.

                                                    Paul Gerhardt, 1648.
                                                    Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.

Gott des Himmels und der Erden

    God, Who madest earth and heaven,--
    Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
    Who the day and night hast given,
    Sun and moon, and starry host,
    Thou Whose mighty hand sustains
    Earth and all that it contains;

    Praise to Thee my soul shall render,
    Who this night has guarded me,
    My omnipotent Defender,
    Who from ill doth set me free;
    Free from danger, anguish, woe,
    Free from the infernal foe.

    Let the night of my transgression
    With night's darkness pass away;
    Jesus, into Thy possession
    I resign myself to-day.
    In Thy wounds I find relief
    From my greatest sin and grief.

    Let my life and conversation
    Be directed by Thy Word;
    Lord, Thy constant preservation
    To Thy erring child afford.
    Nowhere but alone in Thee
    From all harm can I be free.

    Wholly to Thy blest protection
    I commit my heart and mind;
    Mighty God! to Thy direction
    Wholly may I be resigned.
    Lord, my Shield, my Light divine,
    O accept, and own me Thine.

                                                  Heinrich Albert, 1643.
                                        Tr. John Christian Jacobi, 1720.
                                             Arthur Tozer Russell, 1848.
                                              Catherine Winkworth, 1855.

Sunday Morning Prayer

Eternal, almighty God and Father! I most heartily praise and thank Thee,
that Thou hast graciously, by Thy holy angels, preserved me from all harm
and danger both of body and soul, during the past night and all previous
time; and I most heartily pray Thee, forgive me all my sins wherewith I
have offended Thee, and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I
may daily grow and increase in Thy knowledge. Grant me grace also, that I
may, during this day, avoid all sin and shame, and be found in Thy divine
will, in order that I may so walk as to be preserved from all evil, may
always and constantly keep Thee in my heart and thoughts, and when the
time of my departure approaches, grant that I may fall asleep in the true
knowledge of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, unto a blessed and eternal life.
Amen.

Saturday Morning Prayer

O thou faithful Father in heaven! Could I but sufficiently praise and
thank Thee for all the benefits Thou hast bestowed upon me during all the
days of my life! But this is beyond my power and ability. For I am flesh
and blood, which can do nothing but what is evil. But Thou doest daily
grant me blessings without number, and especially in the past night, if
Thou hadst not been my Shield and Defence, the devil would have injured
me greatly with his power, so that I could not have arisen in health. But
by Thy gracious protection I have been kept safe. I humbly pray Thee,
extend to me Thy grace this day, and mercifully keep me, who am Thine
through the blood of Christ, henceforth unto eternal life. Amen, Lord
Jesus, take my soul into Thy hands and let me be commended unto Thee.
Amen.

Friday Morning Prayer

I, a poor sinner, have now arisen in Thy name, Thou crucified Lord Jesus
Christ, who, as the truly patient Lamb for the slaughter, didst suffer
for me the most ignominious death on the cross, and with Thy precious
blood redeemed me from all my sins, from death, the devil and hell:
govern my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, refresh it with the heavenly dew of
Thy grace, preserve me with Thy divine love, and hide me this day, both
body and soul, in Thy holy wounds; wash me clean from all my sins, keep
me in all good works, and lead me from this world of sorrow to eternal
joy and glory, Thou most faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ, my only Comfort,
Hope and Life. Amen.

Thursday Morning Prayer

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Thou ever blessed
Trinity! to Thee I resign myself with body and soul both now and forever,
and heartily thank Thee that Thou didst not permit the wicked one to harm
me during the past night, but didst, by the protection of Thy holy
angels, keep me safe to this day. What shall I render unto Thee,
wherewith shall I worthily praise Thee? I will give Thee a contrite and
broken heart, full of sins like scarlet, but sorrowing and penitent;
graciously accept of it, and wash it white as snow in the precious blood
of Thy dear Son, my Redeemer, bury it in His holy innocent wounds, and
thus do Thou graciously impart to me the forgiveness of all my sins. And
help me to hold myself in Christian readiness every day, inasmuch as I do
not know, when Thou wilt come, how and where Thou wilt call me hence, so
that I may by Thy blessing be conducted to eternal joy. Grant me this,
gracious Father, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wednesday Morning Prayer

O almighty, merciful God, gracious Father in heaven, since Thou hast
again kept me safe this night by Thy ministering spirits, the holy
angels, and permitted me to see this new day refreshed and in the
enjoyment of health, I most heartily give Thee praise, honor and eternal
thanks therefore, and pray Thee again, dear heavenly Father, to whose
will I subject all that I do and leave undone, my beginning and end, that
Thou wouldst henceforth graciously have mercy upon me, and govern all my
thoughts and aspirations, my heart, sense, mind and thoughts, all my
words and deeds by Thy Holy Spirit, so that I may understand what is good
or evil, and that I may this day so walk and live in this evil and
perverse world, that I above all things, free from my sins, may have a
heartfelt desire for that eternal home which Christ, my Saviour,
purchased and secured for me, and may not lose it by reason of my wicked,
sinful life. To this end wilt Thou graciously help me with Thy divine
love and the power of Thy Holy Spirit, for the sake of Thy dear Son,
Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tuesday Morning Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou only Saviour of the world! to Thee I lift my
heart and mind, and thank Thee again, that Thou hast by Thy boundless
mercy and love kept me safe and secure this night from the wiles and
power of the wicked one. Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the portion of my
inheritance, my salvation is in Thy hands, and besides Thee I know of no
Helper in heaven or on earth. Therefore I pray Thee for the sake of Thy
unutterable suffering and anguish, of Thy most painful and bitter death,
which in great love Thou didst suffer for me, that Thou wouldst be
gracious and merciful unto me, and this day and through my whole life
bless, spare, preserve and keep me from all sin and evil in this world of
sorrow, until Thou shalt take me to eternal joy and blessedness, for Thy
most holy name's sake. Amen.

Monday Morning Prayer

Holy and faithful God, heavenly Father! I most heartily praise, honor and adore Thee, that during the past night Thou hast permitted me to rest and sleep in safety, and by Thy fatherly love hast awakened me again refreshed and in the enjoyment of health. I most heartily pray Thee that Thou wouldst this day also and always graciously preserve me together with (my dear parents, brothers and sisters, and) all true Christians from all danger and harm both of body and soul, in order that I may always be found in Thy will. For I commend myself, my body and soul, heart, sense, mind and thoughts, all my strivings and aspirations, all I do and all I leave undone, my going in and coming out, my life and death, and everything that I am and can do, to Thy divine protection. May Thy holy angel be and remain with me, that no misfortune may befall me either in body or soul. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son. Amen.

Morning Prayer

On awaking, sign yourself with the sign of the cross, saying:

IN THE name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I rise in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed me by His
precious blood. Bless, guide, and protect me from all evil, O Lord!
Strengthen me to all good and lead me to eternal life. Amen.

After dressing, kneel and say:

My Lord and my God! I prostrate myself before the throne of Thy divine
Majesty, and give Thee infinite thanks, O Lord, that I have passed this
night safely and have not died in my sins, but was preserved by Thy
bounty for Thy further service.

I offer up to Thee all that I shall do and suffer to-day, and unite it
with the prayers, labors, and sufferings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and of
His blessed Mother Mary.

OFFERING

TAKE, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding,
and my whole will. Thou hast given me all that I am and all that I
possess; I surrender it all to Thee that Thou mayest dispose of it
according to Thy will. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I
will be rich enough, and will have no more to desire.

Indulgence. 300 days, once a day. (Leo XIII, May 26, 1883.)

Prayer To Begin The Day

As Morning breaks, I think of you, O Lord,
and my desire is to serve You joyfully.
With gladness, I consecrate this day to Your Sacred Heart,
and offer whatever joys and sacrifices may come my way.
Thank You for the graces You will send,
all the love, all the beauty,
and the ways You will answer my prayers.
Today, may I love my enemies,
and treat others as I would ask to be treated;
may I forgive seventy times seven and show mercy;
may I welcome the prodigal,
have compasion for the Samaritan;
be a peace maker
and love my neighbor unconditionally.
Take all my heart, and mind and strength, O Lord,
that this day may be truly lived
for Your greater honor and glory
and for the salvation of souls.

Amen.

Fatima Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad; for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.

A Morning Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity. Now and forever. Amen.

O almighty and eternal God, in union with all Your elect in heaven and on earth I adore You. I praise and thank You for the gifts of nature and grace which I have received from your infinite goodness. I thank You principally for having created me to Your image and likeness and preserved me to this day; for having given Your only begotten son to suffer for me on the cross and to wash away my sins in his most precious blood. I thank You for having called me to the faith of the holy, catholic and apostolic church; for having so often pardoned my sins; for having watched over me this past night and preserved me from sudden death; and from all other evils which might have befallen me, had I not been protected by You merciful and watchful providence.

O Lord, in return for all your mercies I wish I could give you a sufficient offering of gratitude and love. But You know that of myself I am nothing, have nothing and can do nothing worthy of you. Yet, remembering that I come to Your majesty through Christ my Savior. I humbly offer you in union with Him and through His sacred heart whatever I possess: my body, my senses and all the powers of my soul. I promise, by Your divine grace, not to think, say or do anything unworthy of one called to be a member of Your family.

Help me, O Lord, to curb my evil inclinations and so guide and sustain me in all things that every thought, word and action of mine may be used for Your greater glory, the sanctification of my soul and for the good those around me. Amen.

The Morning Offering

Lord God Almighty, Who have brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us during this day by Your power, that we may not fall into sin but that all our words, thoughts and deeds may always proceed and be directed toward that which is just in Your sight. Amen.

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, and suffering of this day:

for all the intentions of your Sacred heart, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for all my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular, for the intention of our Holy Father.

Amen.