I’m discovering an insight to my grandfather who died in 1962 at the age of 82.
I recently received his book “Johann Friedrich Starck’s Morgen und Abendandachten”, translated means Morning and Evening Prayer, a 1901 copy of a 18th century theologian’s writing. Reviewing my grandfather Georg (without “e” pronounced GAY-org) Reiter’s daily devotional book, it is fragile, very worn and obviously much used. To connect with a particular day’s prayer is to wonder how many times has this person read this particular prayer on this particular day over a lifetime. And, the wonder is also a warm feeling and thought that this person was a good and righteous person.
I’m seeing a pattern with each day’s prayer ending with psalms, hymns, carols, and ballads. Here is the Evening - Prayer (Abend) for 21 February. I used an internet on-line translator as I wrote from the original German text these sentences, trying to interpret the old Gothic letters, used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century, if the letter was a U or A.
Some words do not exactly fit the logic in this translated prayer, because words in all languages become outdated and not easily translated. This text is probably translated in the 19th century from the 18th century, which would further outdate todays translation.
So, here is my translation from page 105 and at the bottom is from Pslam 51:
Evening Prayer for 21 February
Return to me, saith the Lord Almighty, so I will teach you, saith the Lord Almighty Zech. 1.3
Almighty and gracious God! As night falls, I see all my trust and confidence in you and your merciful side. I ask you humbly, Lord, to forgive me all my sins and transgressions out of grace. Like a sheep strayed from the herd heading for his shepherd. So I too want to turn to you, faithful Jesus, and hold myself to you, so that I will never leave you again. Without this inner conversion no one has ever found grace before your eyes. A David, a Peter, a Paul have become completely changed people through your spirit power, so give me such a new meaning, O my merciful. In grace you will abdicate all uncleanness and all damages from me. Let your holy angels encamp around me so that I may enjoy a good night's sleep under their care. Ah, Lord, come to me when I pray, and hear me; Comfort me when I am depressed, save me when the floods cross over me. Comfort me when I'm sick and lonely. Will you, sir, attribute sin, who will prevail? Let my soul, when leaving that mortal coffin, open the entrance into your heaven, where I will be eternally united with you. Amen.
I want from my wrongdoing
to convert me to the Lord;
You want help and advice for yourself
for that, O God, bring
and your spirit's power,
that creates new hearts in us,
grant me with mercy.