Saint Catherine of Siena was a famous medieval mystic and theologian and is now one of the two patron saints of Italy (along with Francis of Assisi). One of the leading voices calling for the reform of the church in her day, Catherine played a key role in convincing the pope to return the papacy to Rome after nearly seventy years of “captivity” in Avignon.

Catherine died on April 29, 1380. In honor of her life and ministry, this Sunday’s prayer comes from her.

Eternal Trinity, you are a deep sea,
into which the more I enter the more I find,
and the more I find the more I seek.
The soul ever hungers in your abyss, Eternal Trinity,
longing to see you with the light of your light,
and as the deer yearns for the springs of water,
so my soul yearns to see you in truth.

Saint Anselm of Canterbury was one of the greatest figures of the medieval church. Philosopher, theologian, monk, and churchman, Anselm influenced the course of the Western church in many ways, most notably through his reflections on the relationship between the incarnation and the atonement.

Anselm died on April 21, 1109 after serving as the Archbishop of Canterbury for sixteen years. In memory of his life and service, today’s prayer comes from him.

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Philipp Melancthon was one of the German Reformers who worked alongside Martin Luther in Wittenberg. Though he served with Luther for many years and played an influential role in liturgical, educational, and theological reforms, he is best known as being one of the first Protestant theologians to develop a systematic account of their theological convictions. Two of his works, the Loci Communes and the Augsburg Confession, are generally regarded as among the most significant writings of the early Reformation, shaping the Lutheran tradition and influencing many others.

Melancthon died on April 19, 1560. So this Sunday’s prayer comes from him in honor of his many years of fruitful ministry.

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Saint Isidore of Seville was a Christian leader in Spain during the important transitional period between the classical era of the Roman empire and the early Middle Ages. He played a key role in converting the Visigoth rulers of Spain from Arianism to Nicene Christianity. But he is probably best known for his Etymologiae, an early attempt to compile an encyclopedia of Christian thought.

Isidore died on April 4, 636 after more than 30 years as the Archbishop of Seville. In honor of his ministry, today’s prayer comes from him.

Here we are before thee, O Holy Ghost.
We feel the burden of our infirmities,
but we are united all together in Thy name:
come to us, help us, enter into our hearts:
teach us what we should do,
the path to follow,
do for us what Thou askest us to do.
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This isn’t really a prayer, but John Chrysostom’s Easter homily is so powerful that I thought it was worth using today. Have a blessed Easter!

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
“You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

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Tomorrow is Dietrich Bonhoeffer‘s birthday (February 4, 1906). Bonhoeffer was a leading German theologian and leader in the Lutheran church during the middle of the twentieth century, probably best known for his staunch resistance to Nazism and for his involvement with the German resistance and the plot to assassinate Hitler. Although he died when he was only 39 years old, Bonhoeffer still made a mark on theology with his sermons, letters, and his writings on the church, discipleship, and ethics, among other things.

In honor of Bonhoeffer’s 107th birthday, here is his famous morning prayer.

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

Keeping with the theme from the last couple of weeks, today’s prayer comes from the third of the great Cappadocian fathers, Gregory of Nazianzus. Like his friends Basil and Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus was a staunch supporter of Nicene trinitarianism and a leading theology of the fourth century. Indeed, his influence on Christian theology and worship was so great that is revered in the east as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs.

Although there is some question as to the exact date of Gregory’s death, it is likely that he died on January 25 in 389 or 390. So this Sunday’s prayer comes from him in memory of his amazing life.

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One of three great theologians to arise in Cappadocia (central Turkey) during the fourth century, Gregory of Nyssa, along with his brother Basil the Great and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus, was one of the leading theologians in the years following the Council of Nicea. Though his writings have not been as influential as his two counterparts, he is best known for his work on the Trinity, salvation, anthropology, and the infinite mystery of God.

Gregory died sometime around 395 AD and his feast day is traditionally celebrated on January 10. So, in his memory, today’s prayer comes from him.

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Saint Basil the Great was a bishop in Cappadocia (modern Turkey) and an influential supporter of the doctrine of the Trinity laid out in the Nicene Creed, along with his brother Gregory of Nyssa and close friend Gregory Nazianzus. Basil was also famous for his sermons, exegetical writings, impact on eastern monasticism, and his work on the liturgy. Indeed, his contributions were so important in the east that he is considered one of the Three Holy Hierarchs of the eastern church, along with Nazianzus and John Chrysostom.

The traditional date of Basil’s death is January 1, 379. So, in honor of his passing, this Sunday’s prayer comes from him.

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Famous for translating the Bible into vernacular English, and thus becoming almost the patron saint of Protestant Bible translators, John Wycliffe was a philosopher, theologian, and lay preacher in 14th century England. A notable critic of the church in his day, along with his followers the Lollards, Wycliffe is often viewed as one of the harbingers of the Protestant Reformation.

Wycliffe died on December 31, 1384. In his memory, this Sunday’s prayer comes from him.

Lord, give me grace to hold righteousness in all things
that I may lead a clean and blessed life and prudently flee evil
and that I may understand the treacherous and deceitful falseness of the devil.

Make me mild, peaceable, courteous, and temperate.
And make me steadfast and strong.

Also, Lord, give Thou to me that I be quiet in words
and that I speak what is appropriate.

Amen.