O God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou giver of all blessing and consolation, behold me, whom Thou hast placed in the estate of holy wedlock and made me the mother of this family, with the eyes of Thy mercy. Vouchsafe unto Thy handmaiden Thy grace, that I may love Thee above all things, seek Thee, and ever be diligent in Thy service. And grant that next to Thee I may honor, fear, and love my husband, and obey him with patience and kindness, in pure and modest conduct, in piety and humility well pleasing to Thee, and that the hidden life of my heart be constantly adorned with a meek and gentle disposition and every virtue, even as in former times the consecrated women, who trusted in God and continued in subjection to their husbands. Enable me to train my children and servants with meekness, to the honor and glory of Thy holy name. Give grace, that they follow me with gentleness, and grant, that I with my husband and family may satisfy the wants of this life in good health and according to Thy divine will. Protect us from harm and from enemies. Enable us so to use this world that we be not hindered in our salvation, but in all things seek Thee, O Lord, and endeavor to be well-favored in Thy sight. May we not despise the cross neither murmur against it, but bear it in patience, and thus remain in Thy keeping unto the end. May we as servants of God bring forth abundant fruitage, live holy lives in this world, and attain to the everlasting inheritance in the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of a Child.
Almighty and Eternal God! Thou hast commanded me to honor my parents, and in all things, which are not contrary to Thy word, to obey them. I beseech Thee, for the sake of the obedience of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord, grant unto me, that I may duly honor my father and mother, serve them, obey, love, and esteem them, so that their blessing may dwell with me to the end of my days. Keep me from sin and evil communications, that I may not anger or grieve my dear parents with hatred, sadness, scornfulness, disobedience, or obstinacy, and thus bring upon myself on this earth already their and Thy curse, and in the after-life Thy eternal wrath. And since I have sinned many times through weakness, I beseech Thee, work in me sorrow and true repentance, through Jesus Christ, my Savior, who gave to me the example of true obedience. Grant, that according to His example I may ever grow, and increase in wisdom, stature, and grace before Thee, O God, and all men. Amen.
Prayer of a Youth or a Maiden.
Lord, Almighty and Holy God, who lovest a pure heart, a chaste mind, and a holy life: I pray Thee, create in me also a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me, so that I may serve Thee with sincere faith and true fear, and love Thee with all my strength. And keep me from all impure communications. Subdue the evil lusts in my heart, and extinguish the fires of fleshly desire. Preserve me from unchaste and dissolute associations, from rioting and drunkenness, which lead to excess. May all filthiness, and foolish talking, unbecoming a Christian, be ever foreign to my life. Keep me from arrogant pomp, or idleness and lounging, from the snares and nets of the devil. Grant, that I may serve Thee with a pure soul and an undefiled body in true faith, as did pious and chaste Joseph in Egypt, and graciously take me into Thy safekeeping against all temptations and seductions of life, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son. Amen.
Prayer of a Servant.
Merciful God, Who through the precious suffering and death of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, hast redeemed and made me free from eternal servitude, from the power of sin, from the dominion of darkness, from the cruel tyranny of the devil, and the mastery of death and hell: I beseech Thee, grant me grace, so that in my present station and calling, in which Thou hast placed me on earth according to Thy good pleasure, I may not be dissatisfied, nor murmur impatiently against Thy ordinance, nor yet envy others in their more exalted stations, but help me to do such Thy will from the heart, with good will, ever thinking that I serve Thee, O God in Heaven, and not men. Help Thou, dear Father, that I serve Thee, the supreme Lord of heaven and earth, in true knowledge and upright fear, love Thee above all things, put all my hope and salvation in Thee, and continue in Thy commandments without blame. May I also be subject to my masters and mistresses according to the flesh, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward, and patiently obey them in everything that is not contrary to Thy pleasure, with fear and singleness of heart, as unto Christ my Lord, not with eye-service, as man pleaser, but from the depths of my heart and for the sake of Thy will and commandment. Grant me grace that I may be found faithful in all things committed and entrusted to my care, not neglect nor bring them to naught, suffer no harm to come through carelessness on my part; also that I may not covet nor fraudulently appropriate to my own use the possessions of another entrusted to my care. Preserve my health, strengthen my limbs and all the powers of my body. Endow me with wisdom and understanding, that I may perform the labor of my masters and mistresses, with Thy help improve their living. May they be blessed through my industry; and all that I do and perform, may it redound to Thy divine glory and a blessed exercise of my faith. For Christ, Thy dear Son’s sake, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Prayer of a School Child for the Holy Spirit.
O my dear Lord, Jesus Christ, I thank Thee, that to the present day, Thou ordainest church and school ordinances and regulations, and hast given unto my parents and me grace, that I too may be thus trained. I beseech Thee, fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may ever obey my dear parents and teachers, who only seek my welfare. Give unto me a docile heart, that I may learn my catechism, noble arts and language, and thus increase in godliness, wisdom, understanding, and every virtue. O my dear Lord Jesus Christ, create in me a pure, chaste, and modest heart. May I ever serve Thee in upright faith and true fear, and love Thee from all my heart. Subdue in me all evil lusts. Endow me with Thy Holy Spirit. Help me to continue in true humility. Grant me an obedient heart, to honor my parents according to Thy commandment, and neither anger nor grieve them. May they live long on this earth, and protect Thou and preserve them from disease, evil, and harm. Be gracious unto us and merciful. Bless us in body and soul, now and forevermore. Amen.