The word Collect means to gather. In the context of prayer, a collect a prayer which is often used in worship, and it is one which gathers the intentions of the people.
Collects follow a pattern of prayer adopted by early Christians. Thomas Cranmer is well known for his further development of this style of prayer in the first Book of Common Prayer (1549). The structure of these prayers is very simple.
- First, we respectfully address God, recalling his character or actions in the world on our behalf
- Second, we make our request to God,
- Third, we invoke the name of Jesus, that name which is above all names. We do this, confident in the words of Jesus that “whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (Johnn.15:16). Some prayers also include praise of the one God, Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (doxology).
- Lastly, we conclude with the Amen.
For example, in the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is said every day up to Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter), we can easily see these parts in the prayer:
(1) ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: (2) Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; (3)through Jesus Christ our Lord. (4) Amen.
Having become familiar with the structure of these prayers, has made it easier for me to pray for myself and for the needs of others. If you find doing free-form prayer difficult, try following this structure. It has really been helpful to me.
In the calendar that I have created for Lenten devotions, you will find one or more collects the appointed for each day. Once you have read them, go back a look for how they respectfully address God, make our desires known to Him, and make those requests through Jesus.