Prayers for a Blessed Nap (and Death) (Part 3)
By Esaias Heidenreich
Blessed Holy Tuesday to all of you!
While all of these prayers are under the category of nap time prayers, these are all a reminder that sleep is a time to prepare ourselves for death. These prayers are perfect for this week, since they draw so much from the passion and crucifixion of Christ!
Prayers for a Blessed Nap (Part 3)
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me; let the healing medicine of Your wounds abound to the comfort, quickening, and refreshment of my poor soul, lest it grow feeble under the trials of sin, death, and hell. O refresh it from the well of Your grace. Help it through the cruel agony of Your innocent soul, under which You sweat drops of blood in the garden. Through this agony, still my sorrow and take away sudden, eternal death. And, O Lord Jesus, think of me now, since You sit in Your kingdom at the right hand of Your heavenly Father, and are the one real, true, High Priest, Mediator, and Helper in eternity. Amen.
O Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You teach Your Christendom to pray in the Our Father: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done.” When shall that blessed little hour of sleep be at hand when we may pass from all misery and sorrow, cease to live among the wretched devils, godless, proud, jealous, mendacious, and beastly men, and make our acquaintance with You, Your holy angels, and all the elect? O let this blessed little hour draw near, and when it pleases You, release us with grace, grant our souls to joyfully behold Your kingdom, let our bodies well receive their rest in the earth, and grant that on the last day, through Your glorious, lovely voice, they may be awakened with all believers, when You shall say, "Come, you blessed ones, inherit the kingdom of My heavenly Father." Amen.
O sweet Lord Jesus, who on the tree of the cross, after cruel suffering and agony, commended Your soul to the heavenly Father with bowed head, to You alone I, a poor and forsaken sinner, bow and turn my body and soul. Through Your precious, rose-colored shedding of blood, let these be commended and appointed to You, protect them from the striking angel, the devil, shorten death's torment and fear, and grant, after all the poverty, cares, cross, and misery of this life, a blessed rest, to dwell with You in eternal life. Amen.
O Holy Spirit, You who proceed from God the Father and God the Son and are sent for the assistance and comfort of all believing hearts: Be a faithful helper to my weak heart and timid conscience in the final distress when I journey home from this misery, that I may remain with the true Savior, Jesus Christ, who has brought me to the true fatherland. And when also my mouth shall no longer bring forth speech or utterance, speak for my poor soul the best and highest wish and desire: Father, into Your hands I commend my Spirit. Amen.
Esaias Heidenreich, Kirchen und Hausgebetlein (1582)
Albrecht Dürer, The Crucifixion (1508)