(2.7) The Collect
The Collect starts with an invitation.
Priest says: Let us pray.
A period of silence follows thereby allowing us to reflect and pray for whatever are dearest to us.
Then the Priest says the Collect prayer which, as the name suggests, collects all the prayers of the people.
The first line of the prayer is addressed to God, followed by our collective petition and then it is followed with reference to the Holy Trinity.
The prayer is concluded with our reply: Amen.
Origin and Meaning
Our collective prayers are presented by the Priest to God for it is written Mt 18:18-20,
"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on erth abouth anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
We furthermore take the opportunity to pray to God for his favour and with hope that he grants our prayer according to Mt 7:7;
"Ask, and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you."