The festival of a saint is observed in accordance with the rules of
precedence set forth in the Calendar of the Church year.
At the discretion of the Celebrant, and as appropriate, any of the
following Collects, with one of the corresponding sets of Psalms and
Lessons, may be used
a) at the commemoration of a saint listed in the Calendar for which no
Proper is provided in this Book
b) at the patronal festival or commemoration of a saint not listed in
the Calendar.
Of a Martyr
Almighty God, who gave your servant N. boldness to
confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers
246 Collects: Contemporary
of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we
may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in
us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
or this
Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr
N. triumphed over suffering and was faithful even to death:
Grant us, who now remember him in thanksgiving, to be so
faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may
receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
or this
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your
love in the heart of your holy martyr N.: Grant to us, your
humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who
rejoice in her triumph may profit by her example; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of a Saint
Of a Missionary
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your
servant N., whom you called to preach the Gospel to the
people of __________ (or to the __________ people). Raise
up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your
kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable
riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
or the following
Collects: Contemporary 247
Almighty God, whose will it is to be glorified in your saints,
and who raised up your servant N. to be a light in the world;
Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation
may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness
into your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of Pentecost
Of a Pastor
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people, we thank you for
your servant N., who was faithful in the care and nurture of
your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the
teaching of his holy life, we may by your grace grow into the
stature of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
or this
O God, our heavenly Father, who raised up your faithful
servant N., to be a [bishop and] pastor in your Church and to
feed your flock: Give abundantly to all pastors the gifts of
your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as
true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of a Saint
Of a Theologian and Teacher
O God, by your Holy Spirit you give to some the word of
wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the
word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace
248 Collects: Contemporary
manifested in your servant N., and we pray that your Church
may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
or this
Almighty God, you gave to your servant N. special gifts of
grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Christ Jesus:
Grant that by this teaching we may know you, the one true
God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
Preface of a Saint, or of Trinity Sunday
Of a Monastic
O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his
poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of
this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant
N., may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the
riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
or this
O God, by whose grace your servant N., kindled with the
flame of your love, became a burning and a shining light in
your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit
of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Preface of a Saint
Collects: Contemporary 249
Of a Saint
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of
witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of
your servant N., may persevere in running the race that is set
before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal
joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our
faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
or this
O God, you have brought us near to an innumerable company
of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect: Grant us
during our earthly pilgrimage to abide in their fellowship, and
in our heavenly country to become partakers of their joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
or this
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with
your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly
pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of
love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their
witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of
Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable
through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
Preface of a Saint
250 Collects: Contemporary