Lord G.o.d, our Heavenly Father! We implore Thy eternal compa.s.sion for all who are this day wounded, suffering, or dying. Be Thou nigh unto them in their affliction. Comfort them with Thy grace and with the hopeful a.s.surance, that, though kindred and friends be far away, Thou art ever present and hearest even the faintest sight of all who seek Thy succor.

If it be Thy pleasure, restore to them their former health and vigor.

Help them to bear their pains without murmuring against Thy grace. Give them patience and strength and faith in Thee. May they rest a.s.sured, that Thou wilt never leave nor forsake them. Deliver them from the a.s.saults of the enemies of their souls. O G.o.d and Father in heaven, bless them and all of us, and may we ever seek those things that are acceptable to Thy sight. Forgive us our sins, not because of any merit or worthiness in us, but solely because Thou art merciful for Christ's sake. And to Thee, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be glory and honor forever. Amen.

Prayers for the Dying.

(St. Paul's Prayer)

"The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: not to me only, but to all of them also that love His appearing." 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

O Lord, on Thy cross Thou didst cry, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit!" I, too, commend my spirit into Thy hands now when my end is near. Thou hast redeemed me, O faithful G.o.d. Amen.

Lord Almighty G.o.d, Heavenly Father! My time has come to an end, my life is slowly ebbing away. Be Thou with me. O Lord, I suffer much and Thou only canst help me. Be Thou my succor, and shorten and soften my pain.

Darkness comes over me and I cry for comfort and strength. Have mercy upon me. Take my soul under Thy protecting wing, that I perish not. Take my sins from me, and blot all my guilt; for Christ's sake, my Savior and my Lord. Amen.

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide.

The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies: Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee: In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

Prayers for the Sick and Dying

Prayer of a Patient.

Lord G.o.d, Heavenly Father! Thou art a faithful G.o.d, and wilt not suffer any one to be tempted beyond what he is able, but rather with the temptation wilt also make a way to escape, that he may be able to bear it. I supplicate Thee in my great suffering and pain, so shape the cross, that it may not lay too heavily upon me, and strengthen me that I may bear it with patience, and nevermore despair of Thy mercy. O Christ, Thou Son of the living G.o.d! Thou hast endured the agony of the cross for me, and hast died for my sins, I beseech Thee with my whole heart, have mercy upon me a poor sinner, and forgive me my transgressions, wherever I have sinned against Thee. Let my faith in no wise diminish. O G.o.d Holy Ghost!

Thou true comforter in all times of need. Keep me ever in the spirit of patience and supplication. Sanctify me in my reliance upon Thee. Turn not from me in the hour of my death, and lead me from this vale of sorrow to Thyself in heaven. Amen.

Prayer for a Blessed End.

O Merciful G.o.d, Thou hast put a limit to man's life, which no man can set aside. For he has his definite time, the number of his months rests with Thee. Thou hast numbered all our days, which pa.s.s away like a stream, as though we flew away. Man is like gra.s.s, which soon withereth, like the flower of the field, which pa.s.seth away. Teach me, O merciful G.o.d, to know and take to heart, that I, too, must pa.s.s away and that my life has a limit, and I must go hence. Behold, my days are as a handbreadth before Thee, and my life as nothing in Thy sight. Every man at his best is altogether vanity. Lord, so teach us to number our days, what it is, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Lord, teach me to remember that I must die, and have no continuing city in this pilgrimage. Make known unto me my short and transient being, that I may often think of my end, so that in this world I may not live unto myself, but live and die unto Thee, so that I may bravely and joyously await the day of my translation and the appearance of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, and with a consecrated life and a pious conduct hasten to Him. Bless me, O G.o.d, with a blessed departure, and when my hour cometh, that I may joyously die, find a rational end in true knowledge, and that my reason and intellect be not deranged, and I speak no arrogant words or blasphemies against Thee, my Lord, or against my salvation. Preserve me from an evil sudden death and from eternal d.a.m.nation. Let me not be suddenly overcome by my last hour without warning, but that I may prepare myself with true repentance and sincere faith. And when it comes make me joyous and brave for my temporal death, which only opens the door to the eternal life. May I then, as Thy servant, depart in peace. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Grant that my last word may be that which Thy dear Son spoke on the cross, "Father, into Thy hands do I commend My spirit!" And when I can no longer speak, hear Thou my last sigh through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer in the Hour of Death.

Almighty, Everlasting, and Most Merciful Lord and G.o.d! Thou art the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I know that Thou art willing and able to fulfill whatsoever Thou hast said. Thou canst not lie. Thy word is truth. Thou hast from the beginning promised me Thy dear Son Jesus Christ. And He is come, and has redeemed me from the devil, death, h.e.l.l, and sin. And in Thy gracious providence Thou hast for a greater surety established the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion in which His true natural body and blood are given me in, with, and under the bread and wine, thus offering and a.s.suring me of the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and every heavenly gift. And because of this Thy a.s.surance I have made use of these means of grace, and firmly relying upon Thy word have received them. And now I do not doubt but that I am secure from the power of the devil, death, h.e.l.l, and sin. And if now my hour hath come, and this is Thy divine will, I will gladly and willingly depart hence and be with Thee in peace. Amen.

Prayer of the Bystanders for the Sick One.

Almighty, Merciful G.o.d, who keepest our life in death, we pray Thee, turn the eyes of Thy mercy to this sick person, strengthen him in body and soul, and forgive him all his sins through Thy grace. Take the sacrifice of the innocent death of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, as a propitiation for his transgressions, since he, too, is baptized in His name, washed and cleansed with His blood. Save him from the pains and agonies of his body. Shorten his sufferings. Keep him from the accusations of his conscience and all temptations of the enemy, so that in faith he may truly battle and conquer. Grant him a blessed translation to the eternal life. Send Thy holy angels, that they accompany him to the blessed company of all the elect in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer When the Patient Has Died in the Lord.

Jesus Christ, Thou Lord of glory and Prince of life, we glorify and thank Thee now and always, that Thou hast so mercifully helped this now blessed one, and hast taken his soul into Thy holy keeping. And when the last day cometh Thou wouldest reunite his soul with his body in heavenly radiance, and grant us altogether, when the divinely appointed hour cometh, to follow him in blessedness. Meanwhile grant us a Christian conduct, refresh all sorrowing hearts with heavenly solace. Keep us in Thy eternal grace, for the sake of Thy inexhaustible mercy and goodness. Amen. O Thou most holy, most glorious Trinity. Amen.

Hymns

Du Volk, das du getaufet bist.

Ye baptized people, one and all, Who know your G.o.d in heaven, Who have received a holy call, To whom Christ's name is given, Do not forget, but ponder well, The gifts that now within you dwell, The blessings of baptism.

This washing cleanseth us from sin And lends a sacred beauty, It makes us white and pure within, Incites to love and duty, From Satan's prison sets us free, Enables us the sons to be And heirs of G.o.d, our Father.

Our sinful nature is renewed, The curse of G.o.d is lifted; By choicest blessings thus endued And with the Spirit gifted, We unto sin are pledged to die And by the pow'r of G.o.d on high The gates of h.e.l.l can conquer.

Here we with Jesus Christ are clad, His righteousness receiving, Which covers what in us is bad, Our rescue thus achieving; His holy blood, for sinners spilt, Releases us from sin and guilt, And we with G.o.d find favor.

O wondrous work, O sacred bath, O water thou of blessing, The world nowhere thy equal hath, Such healing grace possessing.

Thou hast indeed a pow'r divine, According to G.o.d's own design, And with His word connected.