Saint David of Scotland

The Thistle, the royal badge of Scotland

Almighty God, who dost choose thine elect out of every nation, and dost shew forth thy glory in their lives: Grant, we pray thee, that following the example of thy servant King David, we may be fruitful in good works to the praise of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Archbishop William Laud

NPG 171; William Laud after Sir Anthony Van Dyck

William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, after Sir Anthony Van Dyck. From Wikimedia

Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like thy servant William Laud, we may live in thy fear, die in thy favour, and rest in thy peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son . . . → Read More: Archbishop William Laud

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - Adoration of the Magi - Google Art Project

Adoration of the Magi, by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). From Wikimedia

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only–begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may . . . → Read More: The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

The First Sunday after Christmas Day

Advent Wreath Christmas

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only–begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus . . . → Read More: The First Sunday after Christmas Day

The Circumcision of Christ, or The Holy Name

Albrecht Dürer Circumcision

The Circumcision, from the middle panel of The Seven Sorrows of Mary, by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1518. From Wikipedia.

Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man: Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified . . . → Read More: The Circumcision of Christ, or The Holy Name

Saint Sylvester

St Sylvester and the Dragon

Saint Sylvester overcomes the dragon of the Tarpeian Rock, by Battista da Vicenza (1375?–1438)

Most merciful God, we humbly pray thee, that like as when thy blessed Abbot Sylvester was devoutly meditating over an open tomb on the vanity of this life, thou didst vouchsafe to call him thence unto the desert, and . . . → Read More: Saint Sylvester

Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

Thomas Becket

The Martyrdom of Thomas Becket

O God, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr Thomas triumphed over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight we may with him receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. . . . → Read More: Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Holy Innocents

The Massacre of the Innocents, from the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1644). From Wikipedia.

O Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy . . . → Read More: The Holy Innocents

Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Saint John and the Poisoned Cup, by El Greco (1541–1614). From Wikipedia.

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that . . . → Read More: Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Saint Stephen

martyrdom of st stephen by carracci

The Martyrdom of St Stephen by Annibale Carracci (1560—1609)

Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to . . . → Read More: Saint Stephen