Come, Lord Jesus.
Stir up thy power, O Lord, and come;
that by thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins
and saved by thy mighty deliverance.
Make us ready to receive thee;
keep us watchful in prayer;
and grant that when thou comest in glory
we may be found among those who look for thee
with joy and hope;
who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
ECUMENICAL TRADITIONAL; ECUMENICAL
An Advent Prayer
Also known as Prayer for the Advent Season ยท Come, Lord Jesus
About this prayer
Advent is the season of the Christian year that precedes Christmas, beginning on the Sunday nearest November 30 and lasting four weeks. The word 'Advent' comes from the Latin adventus, meaning 'coming' or 'arrival.' Advent is a season of double expectation: it looks back to the first coming of Christ at the Incarnation and forward to his promised return. Its character is one of watchful, hopeful waiting. Advent prayers draw on the language of the prophets, particularly Isaiah, and on the New Testament passages about Christ's return. The ancient prayer 'Maranatha' ('Come, Lord' in Aramaic, 1 Corinthians 16:22 and Revelation 22:20) is the simplest form of Advent prayer. The prayer given here draws on the Advent tradition of both the Catholic and Anglican liturgies.
When it's said
This prayer is used during the four weeks of Advent, either privately as a daily devotion or in corporate worship. The short form 'Come, Lord Jesus' (Maranatha) is used at the beginning or end of Advent prayers in many traditions. In the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, Advent prayers are said at each of the Hours throughout the season.
Notes on the text
The phrase 'stir up thy power, O Lord, and come' is drawn from the BCP Collect for Advent, itself translated from an ancient Latin collect. 'Threatening perils of our sins' is BCP language expressing the traditional Advent theme that Christ comes to rescue humanity from the consequences of sin. The season's two-directional character (looking back to the Incarnation and forward to the return) is held in the prayer by the phrase 'when thou comest in glory.'
Source
Ecumenical Advent prayer drawing on the Book of Common Prayer, 1662, and traditional Catholic and Anglican Advent liturgy. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.