A Prayer for a Person Bound to Sea
O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreads out the haves, and rules the raging of the sea; Be pleased to receive into thine protection the person of thy servant, for whom our prayers are deferred. Preserve him from the dangers of the sea, (*and from the violence of the enemy;) and may he return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of his labours; and with a thankfully remembrance of thy mercies, to praise and glorify they holy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
*These words to be said in time of war.
Book of Common Prayer 1785, for King’s Chapel
King’s Chapel was housed in what was formerly called “Stone Chapel”, an 18th century structure at the corner of Tremont Street and School Street in Boston, Massachusetts.
A Prayer of Protection
O, Heavenly Father, as Thou watchest over Thy children I humbly beseech Thee to have mercy on those in dire peril. Bless the men of our armed forces as they perform the duties of their calling.
Preserve the navy from the perils of the sea, the snares and violences of our enemies. In the hour of danger let their hearts be on Thee and their eyes turned to Thy holy star; and as our aviators fly on the wings of the morning and soar into the uttermost parts of the world, have mercy upon them and bring them safely back from their missions.
Give courage to the boys in the trenches and take the fear and horror of war from their minds.
For those boys who have been wounded and bodies torn asunder from battle scars, I ask Thee to be with them when they try to readjust themselves. Give them courage of heart and the will to go on. These things, together with whatever Thou would have me ask, I ask in Christ’s name. Amen.
George Van Inwegen
The Armed Forces Prayer Book 1951
A Special Measure of Your Presence
PRJC Chaplain (COL) Thomas MacGregor boldly prayed in Jesus’ name with heads of state of the world at the international D-Day Recognition Event in Normandy, France, 2009. Here is Chaplain MacGregor’s prayer:
Our Gracious and Loving Father in Heaven, We ask for the blessing of Your Presence on this significant event that touches the lives of the Families and Citizens of the Grateful Nations here represented. Magnify Yourself this day as we pause to fittingly remember those men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of France and the Allied nations during the Second World War. Truly, this is sacred ground for it holds the remains of those Hero Warriors whose dreams were cut short and who have entered their eternal rest. Many cried out to You as they breathed their last, many seeking help from Him, Who, alone, is the Resurrection and the Life.
O God, salve now the hearts of those who mourn; grant them Your comfort and peace. Temper the memories of those whose loved ones perished in horrific conflicts at sea and on these bloody fields of battle so many years ago. Lovingly support the Family members and Friends who grieve the loss of a loved one, both past and present. Help each of us to look ahead to that grand and glorious day when You shall return; the dead shall be raised; loved ones be rejoined once again; and all wars shall cease. O God, speed the day of Your coming, we ask!
Guard, this day, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen of our several Nations who fight for liberty and the freedom of oppressed peoples. Grant each a special measure of Your Presence, Protection, and Abiding Grace. Indeed, Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Man Impelled by Guileless Love Goes By
“Oh, give us riches, of love’s glorious kind, That come from openness of heart and mind! Recall to us the story which doth say
When base or cruel men pass this way
Nothing at all is freely offered then
Save hollow echoes – yet how wondrous when
A man impelled by guileless love goes by:
The very gold deep in the earth doth cry;
“Take me and use me for the greater good
For all creation and for brotherhood.”
Amen.”
Mrs. Robert Patterson
Wife of the former Secretary of War, Judge Robert Patterson
Let Duty to God and Country be My Most Sublime Aspirations
O God, My Father, The Great Referee of earth and sea and sky, be with me in combat and adversity. Strengthen my love for the land that has given me birth and make me worthy of the sacrifices of my fathers in hewing America from the wilderness they found. Endow me with the courage to face danger in spite of fear. Make me resolve that the blood of my fathers was not shed in vain and that regardless of cost – our way of fear. Make me strong that I may better defend my home and my native land. Keep me mentally awake that my enemies may never again strike with surprise and deal with me in treachery. Uplift my morals that I may better maintain the honor of my country and the reverence of my forefathers. Let duty to God and Country be my most sublime aspirations, and kindle my heart and soul with the determination to die rather than yield the ideals of my world. O God, My Father, whatever duty befalls me when my country calls, may I acquit myself as worthy of Thy Guidance.
And when my combat’s over and my flying days are done I will store my ship forever in the airdrome of the sun. Then I’ll meet the Referee, Great God, my Flying Boss, Whose Wingspread fills the Heavens from Polaris to the Cross…. Amen.
Brigadier General Robert L. Scott, Jr,
Fighter Pilot, United States Army Air Forces,
Author of God is My Co-Pilot
1777 – A Chaplain’s Prayer
I know you are strong in the might of the Lord. You will go forth to battle on the morrow with light hearts and determined spirits, though the solemn duty may rest heavy on your souls.
And, in the hour of battle, when all around is darkness, lit by the lurid cannon glare and the piercing musket flash – when the wounded strew the ground, the dead litter your path – then remember, soldiers, that God is with you. The eternal God fights for you. He rides on the battle cloud, He sweeps onward with the march of the hurricane charge – God, the Awful and Infinite, fights for you, and you will triumph…
Great Father, we bow before Thee. We invoke thy blessing, we deprecate thy wrath, we return Thee thanks for the past, we ask thy aid for the future. O God of mercy, we pray thy blessing on the American arms. God prosper the cause. Amen.
Joab Prout, 1777
Chaplain of the Continental Army
Before the Battle of Brandywine