A Prayer for the Feast of All Saints

November 1 / Matthew 5:1–12 / By Esaias Heidenreich

O divine Lord Jesus Christ, who ascended the mountain with the multitudes and Your disciples, sat down before them, and opened Your most holy mouth to teach, today we remember Your great grace, that You have placed Yourself in our dear fatherland, churches, schools, even our homes, villages, territories, and cities through Your saving Word. You have taught us, our parents, our siblings, and our neighbors well and abundantly up to now through the ministry of the holy office of preaching, as through Your own mouth, and so that we may grasp what is comforting therein You have bestowed Your Holy Spirit on our hearts. Although many among us through great ingratitude, complacency, and shameful living and conduct have long deserved that You would turn away from us, nevertheless we extol You for Your inexpressible goodness, by which You remain to this day in Your Word, Spirit, and the proper use of the most holy sacraments. With heartfelt petition, we ask that You would continue to abide with and among us with the favor of Your mouth, to fruitfully teach Your holy Word, and to strengthen our faith. Seal and bind Your testimony within our hearts, that You, together with God the Father and Holy Spirit, may make Your dwelling among us and help us from this vale of misery to true, eternal peace. Amen.

Esaias Heidenreich, Betbüchlein (1572)

Jan van Eyck, The Adoration of the Lamb (c. 1425–29), from the Ghent Altarpiece