Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thomas Cranmer, the architect of the original English Prayer Book, translated the Collect for Purity from an 11th-century Latin prayer—likely inspired by Psalm 51. Since then, it has found its way into nearly every Anglican Prayer Book around the world, becoming a hallmark of Anglican liturgy.

The 2019 Book of Common Prayer restores the Collect for Purity to its rightful place, making it a required part of the liturgy. In contrast, Rite II of the 1979 BCP included the prayer only as an option. The 2019 revision also allows the priest to invite the congregation to pray the collect in unison, further emphasizing its communal significance.

What Is a Collect?
A collect is a short prayer intended to “collect” or gather the prayers of the community. These prayers are often seasonal or written for specific intentions. Most collects follow a four-part structure:

1. Invocation – God is addressed.
2. Meditation – An attribute or action of God is described.
3. Petition – A request for grace or blessing is made.
4. Doxology – A concluding phrase of praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Collect for Purity exemplifies this structure beautifully.

Why It Matters
The Collect for Purity is a profound way to begin worship. It reminds us that when we approach God, we do so fully seen and fully known. God perceives not only our actions but also the intentions of our hearts—whether they are focused in worship or distracted and distant.

This prayer asks God, through His divine insight and the power of the Holy Spirit, to cleanse our thoughts so that we may worship rightly. It acknowledges a deep truth: we cannot worship God as He deserves without His merciful help.

The Collect also reminds us what kind of worship God desires—a perfect love. A love that is whole and encompasses our heart, mind, and soul. Worship that magnifies God’s name and reveals His character to the world. We ask for God’s help to be worthy of this calling—to bear His name and proclaim it through our praise. When we worship rightly, God’s greatness is planted in the hearts of those around us.

Read more about this collect at The Anglican Compass / Rookie Anglican Guide to the Collect of Purity

Did you miss last months article on the Opening Acclimation? Check it out here.