A Prayer for New Year's Day
January 1 / Luke 2:21 / By Esaias Heidenreich
Eternal, almighty, and true God, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, You who are the life and length of our days: through You we were created, adorned in the womb with body, soul, eyes, ears, and reason, and wondrously preserved by pure grace until this present hour. Therefore, we praise and thank You for all these blessings which You have bestowed upon us, but especially for receiving us in Holy Baptism as children and heirs of Your kingdom, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, and for most richly providing for us thereafter through Your saving Word and the proper use of the most worthy Sacrament against all the devil's raging and ruses. You have allowed the doctrine of the dear Catechism to be taught to us, our children, our neighbors, and our servants purely and without adulteration. Moreover, You have upheld and blessed the orders of defense, teaching, and nourishment, so that the devil's bloodthirsty attacks have been constantly and mightily diverted, so that we have been able to establish our sustenance, business, and trades in quiet and temporal peace. To this day, You have not given us over to the cruel enemies of the Christian name, such as the Turks, Muscovites, and other tyrants. As a Father, You have gently granted precious daily bread, along with other needs pertaining to the maintenance of the body, and You have also blessed our bread of tears. For this and all other benefits, we thank You in Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, and beseech You from our hearts that You would continue to preserve, govern, and bless us with Your divine blessing in body and soul yet even more in this new year. Amen.
Esaias Heidenreich, Betbüchlein (1572)
Albrecht Dürer, from the Seven Sorrows Polyptych (ca. 1494)