Morning Prayer for the New Year

O my God and Father! In these first hours of the new year which Thy goodness has permitted me to see, I appear in prayer before Thy throne. And what shall I ask of Thee? Three things I will ask in childlike confidence, hoping that Thou wilt not deny my requests.

First, I pray Thee to shield, guard, and preserve me in this new year by Thy strong and mighty hand. As long as we human beings sojourn on earth, we are exposed to many vicissitudes and perils which may readily prove our ruin, if Thou wilt not keep and deliver us by Thy mighty power. Should harm of any kind threaten me, therefore, mercifully ward it off. Should danger of any kind impend over me, spread Thy protecting wings over me, that it may not touch me. Should crosses, tribulations, and afflictions lower over me, preserve and guard me against them. If, however, it be Thy will, that I should experience many of the sufferings of this present time, let me bear them patiently, accept them as Thy chastenings, and subordinate my will to Thine. Be with me in my hours of trial, and let me not lose courage. Deliver me speedily, and let me rejoice in Thy mercy.

Again, I pray Thee to let Jesus dwell ever within my heart. He prepared it as His temple through Holy Baptism. He took possession of it as His habitation even before I knew Him aright. And although I turned Him away by my sins, and forfeited His fellowship, yet He returned and took up His abode in me again when I sought His fellowship anew in true repentance. O let this precious treasure always be mine! Strengthen my faith in Christ’s name. Let me love and value Jesus above all else. Let me, in the strength which Thou suppliest, tread in His holy footsteps; and let the same mind be in me which was also in Him: that I may always remain most intimately united with Him, and be pleasing to Thee.

Finally, in deep humility of heart, I pray Thee to let Thy holy angels keep me during this year in all my ways. Thou sendest them as ministering spirits, to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. And since Thou wouldest not have that any should perish, but that all should be heirs of salvation, I also belong to those who may share in the blessed ministrations of those perfect spiritual beings who continually surround Thy throne. I therefore beseech Thee to grant me the guardian care of Thy angels. Command them to keep me in all my ways. Let them encamp around me and form a wall of defense for me, that no evil may reach me, and that Satan, even if he should transform himself into an angel of light, may not be able to harm me. Let me remember that Thy angels are with me, so that I may carefully avoid sin, and permit myself to be led in the paths of righteousness.

O my God and Father! If Thou wilt grant me this threefold petition, I shall, in the new year, remain unharmed and blessed. On every day in it I shall experience proofs of Thy grace and mercy. My soul shall be filled with light and power and strength. I shall increase in faith and holiness. I shall be enabled to follow my daily occupation in health. If Thou wilt grant me what I have now besought, I shall have everything that is needful for blessedness in body and soul. And since Thou desirest nothing but the true happiness of Thy Creatures, bestow upon me in the new year the blessings for which I have prayed. Hear this first prayer which I offer up to Thee in the new year. Grant me what in all humility I have asked of Thee. Be merciful to me. Then with joyful voice I will give Thee praise, and declare what Thou hast done for me. Amen.