Collects and Post Communions in Contemporary Language

   Lesser Festivals August
     
     
    5 August Oswald
Red
   
King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642
  
   
    Collect
     
    Lord God almighty,
who so kindled the faith of King Oswald with your Spirit
that he set up the sign of the cross in his kingdom
and turned his people to the light of Christ:
grant that we, being fired by the same Spirit,
may always bear our cross before the world
and be found faithful servants of the gospel;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Martyrs is used.
     
     
    8 August Dominic
White
   
Priest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221
  
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
whose servant Dominic grew in the knowledge of your truth
and formed an order of preachers to proclaim the faith of Christ:
by your grace give to all your people a love for your word
and a longing to share the gospel,
so that the whole world may come to know you
and your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Members of Religious Communities is used.
     
     
    9 August Mary Sumner
White
   
Founder of the Mothers' Union, 1921
  
     
    Collect
     
    Faithful and loving God,
who called Mary Sumner to strive for the renewal of family life:
give us the gift of your Holy Spirit,
that through word, prayer and deed
      your family may be strengthened and your people served;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name,
your servant Mary Sumner revealed your goodness
      in a life of tranquillity and service:
grant that we who have gathered in faith around this table
may like her know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge
and be filled with all your fullness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
    Or another Post Communion of 'Any Saint' is used.
     
     
    10 August Laurence
Red
   
Deacon at Rome, Martyr, 258
  
   
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
who made Laurence a loving servant of your people
and a wise steward of the treasures of your Church:
fire us with his example to love as he loved
and to walk in the way that leads to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    One of the Post Communions of Martyrs is used.
     
     
    11 August Clare of Assisi
White
   
Founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253
  
     
    Collect
     
    God of peace,
who in the poverty of the blessed Clare
gave us a clear light to shine in the darkness of this world:
give us grace so to follow in her footsteps
that we may, at the last, rejoice with her in your eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Members of Religious Communities is used.
     
     
    13 August Jeremy Taylor
White
   
Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667
  
     
    Collect
     
    Holy and loving God,
you dwell in the human heart
and make us partakers of the divine nature
in Christ our great high priest:
help us who remember your servant Jeremy Taylor
to put our trust in your heavenly promises
and follow a holy life in virtue and true godliness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Teachers of the Faith is used.
     
     
    20 August Bernard
White
   
Abbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153
  
     
    Collect
     
    Merciful redeemer,
who, by the life and preaching of your servant Bernard,
rekindled the radiant light of your Church:
grant us, in our generation,
to be inflamed with the same spirit of discipline and love
and ever to walk before you as children of light;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Teachers of the Faith is used.
     
     
    27 August Monica
White
   
Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387
  
     
    Collect
     
    Faithful God,
who strengthened Monica, the mother of Augustine, with wisdom,
and through her patient endurance encouraged him
      to seek after you:
give us the will to persist in prayer
that those who stray from you may be brought to faith
      in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name,
your servant Monica revealed your goodness
      in a life of tranquillity and service:
grant that we who have gathered in faith around this table
may like her know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge
and be filled with all your fullness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
    Or another Post Communion of 'Any Saint' is used.
     
     
    28 August Augustine of Hippo
White
   
Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430
  
     
    Collect
     
    Merciful Lord,
who turned Augustine from his sins
      to be a faithful bishop and teacher:
grant that we may follow him in penitence and discipline
till our restless hearts find their rest in you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Teachers of the Faith is used.
     
     
    29 August The Beheading of
Red
                                                                  John the Baptist  
     
    Collect
     
    Almighty God,
who called your servant John the Baptist
to be the forerunner of your Son in birth and death:
strengthen us by your grace
that, as he suffered for the truth,
so we may boldly resist corruption and vice
and receive with him the unfading crown of glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    Merciful Lord,
whose prophet John the Baptist
proclaimed your Son as the Lamb of God
      who takes away the sin of the world:
grant that we who in this sacrament have known
      your forgiveness and your life-giving love
may ever tell of your mercy and your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
     
    30 August John Bunyan
White
   
Spiritual Writer, 1688
  
     
    Collect
     
    God of peace,
who called your servant John Bunyan
to be valiant for truth:
grant that as strangers and pilgrims
we may at the last rejoice with all Christian people
      in your heavenly city;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Teachers of the Faith is used.
     
     
    31 August Aidan
White
   
Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651
  
     
    Collect
     
    Everlasting God,
you sent the gentle bishop Aidan
to proclaim the gospel in this land:
grant us to live as he taught
in simplicity, humility and love for the poor;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
     
    Post Communion
     
    The Post Communion of Missionaries is used.