living knowledge, which praises Thee by its fruits and we come to know in very deed that this is life eternal, that Thou, Father, art the only true God and whom Thou hast sent is Jesus Christ, life everlasting. Amen.

2

Prayer for the Advent Season

O THOU LORD Of glory and God over all, blessed forever, to Thee I render heartfelt thanks, both for all Thy great and unspeakable blessings, and also for this that out of love beyond measure Thou didst descend to us poor mortals in this vale of tears from the throne of Thy divine majesty, in order to preserve us lost and condemned sinners from the pit that hath no water. I praise Thee, O Jesus, Thou king of glory, with all my strength and energies, that Thou didst come upon this earth only to this end to deliver us from our enemies, from sin, death, hell and the devil, and with Thy holy blood to effect an eternal reconciliation between Thy heavenly Father and us, and by Thy precious merits to regain for us our lost righteousHosanna, O Lord, save now, O Lord, send now prosperity!

ness.

Amen.

3

A Christmas Prayer

O MERCIFUL, Eternal God, heavenly Father. we, Thy children thank Thee from the inmost of our hearts, that Thou hast so faithfully kept Thy promise and didst turn to us Thy heart of fatherly love, in sending to us the highest Good, Thine only begotten Son, for our Savior, and making us acceptable in Thy Beloved.

O Christ Jesus, Thou eternal Son of God, we honor, praise and magnify Thee, that Thou on this festal day didst become our brother and Emmanuel, that is, God with us; that out of unspeakable love, Thou hast befriended us and clothed Thyself with the garb of our flesh and blood. In no wise didst Thou assume the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, our human nature, that is but earth and ashes and dust, Thou didst so honor as to unite Thyself with it personally, inseparably and eternally. Thou wast conceived without sin and born into this world by a pure and chaste virgin; thus Thou didst sanctify and consecrate our sinful and impure conception and birth, that it may not be harmful to us, we being by nature the children of wrath, conceived in sin, and flesh born of flesh. Thou wast born in a stable and didst lie in the

manger on straw in abject poverty and Thou didst not take offense, so that, having enriched our souls, Thou couldst make us great lords in Thy heavenly mansion. Thou hast humiliated Thyself in order to exalt us; Thou didst come down upon this earth, that we might go up to Thee in heaven.

O GOD, The Holy Ghost, our highest teacher and comforter, we to-day offer Thee the sacrifice of our lips, heartily thanking Thee that Thou hast revealed unto us this great "mystery of godliness"; and as the angels proclaimed and chanted it to the shepherds on the field, even so dost Thou proclaim it to us through Thy Word and Thy servants. Glory be to Thee, O God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in the highest, peace on earth and good will towards men. Grant, O faithful God and Father that sharing in the benefits of the human birth of Thy dear Son and delivered from the evil results of our sinful birth, we may be and remain newborn children of Thy grace and heirs of Thy kingdom.

O dearest Jesus mine,

Do Thou in my heart's shrine,

As on a bed incline,

That I be ever Thine.

Do Thou, O God the Holy Ghost, bring it about that this our Savior be spiritually born and grow in us at present and ever after. Help us also to

rejoice over this birth and find comfort in it amidst all temptations, to suffer all things patiently and to gain the victory, so that we may honor, praise and glorify Thee with all the angels of God, here in time and hereafter in eternity. Amen.

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A Prayer on New Year's Day

WE HAVE Again, O Triune God, by Thy grace arrived at the end of another year of our frail life and wearisome pilgrimage on earth, and we to-day in Thy name begin a new year. O Lord, how unspeakably great is Thy goodness, how innumerable the many blessings Thou hast shown unto me and mine in time past, though we have not deserved aught but Thy wrath and punishment because of our sins. In Thy holy Church Thou hast preserved Thy precious Word and Sacraments; in the government, peace and concord in matters material Thou hast bestowed Thy blessing and prosperity, and hast favored body and soul abundantly with every manner of blessing. Owing to Thy paternal care, Thy Church has been preserved from false doctrine and persecution on account of the true faith, our country was not invaded by an enemy, nor de

vastated by a plague; our homes were not exposed to perils of fire or flood, in short no dire calamity was permitted to overtake us, thanks to Thy faithful providence. How am I to find words adequate for Thy praise? How can I properly show my gratitude? Behold, O Lord, at the close of the old year I offer unto Thee the sacrifice of my lips, and glorify Thy grace and mercy with all my strength and powers. My soul shall honor Thee, my spirit must praise Thee, my mouth shall thank Thee, and all that is within me shall proclaim Thy glory. I prostrate myself before Thee in penitence, and, with a contrite heart, I confess unto Thee all my sins-those I was conceived and born in and those with which I offended Thee, not only during the past year, but also all the days of my life.

Dearest Father, do Thou not count these old sins against me to my damnation, and do not in Thy wrath remember my former transgressions, but graciously forgive and forget them because of the wounds of Thy most dearly beloved Son. O Jesus, my precious Savior, be merciful unto me a sinner, and, by virtue of Thy merits, remove like mist all my transgressions, cast them into the sea of Thine innocent blood, that they may never again come to light or before the judgment of God. O God, Holy Spirit, do Thou renew me as to the inner man, that I may not take any old sin or impurity over into