Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Walking Through Divine Worship (Part One): The Collect For Purity



The translation of the Collect for Purity found in Divine Worship: the Missal, the missal of the Personal Ordinariates established under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, follows closely the translation Thomas Cranmer made.

The prayer is found in the Leofric Missal (10th and 11th century Lotharingia and England; [Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Catalogue: Bodley 579]) and the Use of Sarum (Salisbury).
ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Deus cui omne cor patet et omnis voluntas loquitur: et quem nullum latet secretum: purifica per infusionem sancti spiritus cogitationes cordis nostri: ut te perfecte diligere et digne laudare mereamur, per dominum nostrum iesum christum filium tuum qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate eiusdem spiritus sancti deus, per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.
The Collect is prayed at the conclusion of the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar (Preparatory Payers) during the Said (Low) Mass. When the Preparatory Prayers are conducted in the sacristy before Mass, the Preparatory Prayers conclude with
Most gracious God, incline thy merciful ears unto our prayers, and enlighten our hearts by the grace of the Holy Spirit: that we may be found meet to serve thy holy Mysteries; and worthy to love thee with eternal charity; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
and the Collect For Purity is prayed after the Sign of the Cross that follows the Introit of the Mass.

The Collect For Purity (Video 5:44)



A version from the 14th Century treatise on prayer The Cloud of Unknowing:
God, unto whom alle hertes ben open, and unto whom alle wille spekith, and unto whom no privé thing is hid: I beseche thee so for to clense the entent of myn heart with the unspekable gift of thi grace that I may parfiteliche love thee, and worthilich preise thee. Amen.
The Collect is a magnificent prayer for its insight into human nature and our relationship to God. If we are to enjoy a right relationship with God, then we had best know something of who God is and who we, humble mortals, are. The thoughts of our hearts require cleansing that we may worthily magnify the name of God, and so we petition God for the Holy Spirit to help us.

Suggestion: pray the Collect as you begin your day and/or as you begin any activity whereby others may encounter the love of God through you.

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HEBREWS 12

God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

ST BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.

Psalm 37 Noli aemulari.

FRET not thyself because of the ungodly : neither be thou envious against the evil doers. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass : and be withered even as the green herb. Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good : dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

MARCUS AURELIUS

There is but one thing of real value - to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.