The Collects: Contemporary – Holy Days
Saint Andrew November 30
Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew
that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and
brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by
your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to
bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Preface of Apostles
Saint Thomas December 21
Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with
firm and certain faith in your Son’s resurrection: Grant us so
perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our
Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting
in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of Apostles
Saint Stephen December 26
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the
first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at
your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Preface of the Incarnation
Collects: Contemporary 237
Saint John December 27
Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light,
that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and
evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that
at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of the Incarnation
The Holy Innocents December 28
We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy
innocents of Bethlehem by King Herod. Receive, we pray,
into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your
great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish
your rule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of the Incarnation
Confession of Saint Peter January 18
Almighty Father, who inspired Saint Peter, first among the
apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God:
Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that
in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow
the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of Apostles
Conversion of Saint Paul January 25
O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have
caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world:
238 Collects: Contemporary
Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in
remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following
his holy teaching; 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 Apostles
The Presentation February 2
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your
only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so
we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by
Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of the Epiphany
Saint Matthias February 24
Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful
servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that
your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always
be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors; 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 Apostles
Saint Joseph March 19
O God, who from the family of your servant David raised
up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the
spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his
uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of the Epiphany
Collects: Contemporary 239
The Annunciation March 25
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have
known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced
by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion
be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and
reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen.
Preface of the Epiphany
Saint Mark April 25
Almighty God, by the hand of Mark the evangelist you have
given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of
God: We thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be
firmly grounded in its truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of All Saints
Saint Philip and Saint James May 1
Almighty God, who gave to your apostles Philip and James grace
and strength to bear witness to the truth: Grant that we, being
mindful of their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of Apostles
The Visitation May 31
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your
incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more
blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the
exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her
devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
240 Collects: Contemporary
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of the Epiphany
Saint Barnabas June 11
Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your
faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown
but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his
life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread
of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
Preface of Apostles
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist June 24
Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the
Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of
your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to
follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent
according to his preaching; and, following his example,
constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently
suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of Advent
Saint Peter and Saint Paul June 29
Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified
you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by
their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your
Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which
is 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 Apostles
Collects: Contemporary 241
Independence Day July 4
Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this
country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the
torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and
all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our
liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect “For the Nation,” page 258, may be used instead.
Preface of Trinity Sunday
Saint Mary Magdalene July 22
Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene
to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness
of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we
may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the
power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of All Saints
Saint James July 25
O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant
and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom
for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour
out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying
service by which alone they may have true authority among
your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
Preface of the Apostles
242 Collects: Contemporary
The Transfiguration August 6
O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses
your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment
white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being
delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith
behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and
you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
Preface of the Epiphany
Saint Mary the Virgin August 15
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary,
mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been
redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your
eternal kingdom; 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 the Incarnation
Saint Bartholomew August 24
Almighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle
Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your
Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed
and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of the Apostles
Collects: Contemporary 243
Holy Cross Day September 14
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted
high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to
himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery
of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and
follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Preface of Holy Week
Saint Matthew September 21
We thank you, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle
and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior;
and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills
and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of the Apostles
Saint Michael and All Angels September 29
Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a
wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals:
Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and
worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may
help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of Trinity Sunday
Saint Luke October 18
Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician
to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your
Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power
244 Collects: Contemporary
to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; 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 All Saints
Saint James of Jerusalem October 23
Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant
James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give
itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all
who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
Preface of All Saints
Saint Simon and Saint Jude October 28
O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles,
and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray
that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we
may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Preface of the Apostles
All Saint’s Day November 1
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Preface of All Saints
Collects: Contemporary 245
Thanksgiving Day
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the
fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those
who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of
your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and
the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For the Prayers of the People, the Litany of Thanksgiving on page 836
may be used.
Preface of Trinity Sunday
246 Collects: Contemporary
