Prevent
Proper 23 The Sunday closest to October 12
Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and
follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good
works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good
works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Marion Hatchett (Commentary on the American Prayer Book) reports that this ancient prayer was in the 8th century Gregorian sacramentary for the daily offices as well as being the collect for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Quaintly to us, the early English prayer books had “prevent” in its archaic meaning of “go before,” instead of “precede.” We pray that God may guide us to dedicate our lives to lovingkindness.
Let it be so.
TW+