Prayers of St. John Chrysostom

 

Before and After Reading Spiritual Texts

Before reading:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

Illumine my heart, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open Thou the eyes of my mind to the understanding of Thy Gospel teachings. Implant also in me a love for Thy blessed commandments. Grant me the grace to overcome all my carnal desires, so that I may enter more completely into a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well pleasing to Thee; For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit; now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, open Thou the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Thy word and understand and do Thy will, for I am a sojourner upon the earth. Hide not Thy commandments from me, but open mine eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Thy law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom. On Thee do I set my hope, O my God, that Thou shalt enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of Thy knowledge, not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them, that in reading the lives and sayings of the Saints I may not sin, but that such may serve for my restoration, enlightenment and sanctification, for the salvation of my soul, and the inheritance of life everlasting; For Thou art the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from Thee cometh every good deed and every gift. Amen.

After reading:

By the intercessions of Thine All-immaculate Mother and of all Thy Saints, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Prayers of St. John Chrysostom for every hour of the day

1:00 a.m. O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings;

2:00 a.m. O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment;

3:00 a.m. O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive me.

4:00 a.m. O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;

5:00 a.m. O Lord, deliver me from every temptation;

6:00 a.m. O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desires;

7:00 a.m. O Lord, I, being a human being, have sinned; do Thou, being God, forgive me in Thy lovingkindness, for Thou knowest the weakness of my soul.

8:00 a.m. O Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy holy Name;

9:00 a.m. O Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the Book of Life, and grant me a blessed end;

10:00 a.m. O Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me, according to Thy grace, that I may make a start in doing good.

11:00 a.m. O Lord, sprinkle on my heart the dew of Thy grace;

12:00 p.m. O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold of heart and impure, in Thy Kingdom.

1:00 p.m. O Lord, receive me in repentance;

2:00 p.m. O Lord, leave me not;

3:00 p.m. O Lord, save me from temptation;

4:00 p.m. O Lord, grant me pure thoughts;

5:00 p.m. O Lord, grant me tears of repentance, remembrance of death, and the sense of peace;

6:00 p.m. O Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins;

7:00 p.m. O Lord, grant me humility, charity, and obedience;

8:00 p.m. O Lord, grant me tolerance, magnanimity, and gentleness;

9:00 p.m. O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings: the fear of Thee in my heart;

10:00 p.m. O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love Thee with all my heart and soul, and that I may obey in all things Thy will;

11:00 p.m. O Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all other lawless matters;

12:00 a.m. O Lord, Who knowest Thy creation and that which Thou hast willed for it; may Thy will also be fulfilled in me, a sinner, for Thou art blessed forevermore.

Amen.