Saint John Chrysostom: Prayer According to the Hours of Day and Night

Today, September 13, we celebrate the feast day of Saint John Chrysostom (344-407), Bishop of Constantinople, and Doctor of the Church. The power of Saint John’s words, and the eloquence of his sermons earned him his surname, which translated literally means “the golden mouthed.” Saint John preached the Gospel to all who would listen, drawing attention to the needs of the poor, and advocating for great social change on the part of the rich and noble classes. As such, he was exiled twice, but never gave up preaching the Gospel message, even while banished from his homeland. Saint John is the recognized as the Eastern Father of the Church.

Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

According to the Hours of Day and Night

1. O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings;


2. O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment;


3. O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive me.


4. O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;


5. O Lord, deliver me from every temptation;


6. O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desires;


7. O Lord, I, being a human being, have sinned; do Thou, being God, forgive me in Thy lovingkindness, for Thou knowest the weakness of my soul.

8. O Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy holy Name;


9. O Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the Book of Life, and grant me a blessed end;


10. O Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me, according to Thy grace, that I may make a start in doing good.


11. O Lord, sprinkle on my heart the dew of Thy grace;


12. O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold of heart and impure, in Thy Kingdom.


13. O Lord, receive me in repentance;


14. O Lord, leave me not;


15. O Lord, save me from temptation;

16. O Lord, grant me pure thoughts;


17. O Lord, grant me tears of repentance, remembrance of death, and the sense of peace;


18. O Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins;


19. O Lord, grant me humility, charity, and obedience;


20. O Lord, grant me tolerance, magnanimity, and gentleness;


21. O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings: the fear of Thee in my heart;


22. O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love Thee with all my heart and soul, and that I may obey in all things Thy will;


23. O Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all other lawless matters;


24. O Lord, Who knowest Thy creation and that which Thou hast willed for it; may Thy will also be fulfilled in me, a sinner, for Thou art blessed forevermore. Amen.