Little Prayer Book

A decorative woodcut header ornament featuring a central floral motif flanked by symmetrical scrolling foliage and smaller blossoms.

Preparation for Prayer.

O Merciful, eternally-kind GOD,
I, a poor human, original: Mensch — here used in the universal sense of a "mortal" or "frail human being." come to You and
would gladly pray, and worship You as my only
Lord and GOD; my
soul, however, is so deeply entangled and sunken
in the mire of sins, original: Schlam der Sünden — a vivid Baroque metaphor for the soul being trapped in the filth or "mud" of worldly transgression. my heart is
so completely defiled and stained
with carnal lusts and evil desires, that
I must even feel ashamed to step before Your holy
countenance. O GOD Father,
You eternal Good, come to my aid, pre-
pare me through Your preceding grace, original: vorgehende Gnade — referring to the theological concept of "prevenient grace," which acts on the human heart before a person even begins to seek God. wa-
sh and cleanse me through the shed
blood of Christ Your Son, and endow
me with Your power of grace, so that I
may be worthy to pray; renew the inner-
most part of my heart, take away all for-
eign, wandering thoughts of my spi-
rit and senses, and give me Your
Holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace
and of prayer, through whom I [may lift]
my soul out of the sinful mire of the fle-