For the telecommunications term, see collect call.

In Christian liturgy, a collect is a short, general prayer. In this sense, it is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable. A collect always consists of a single sentence, although this is often accomplished through non-standard punctuation, with a colon or semi-colon taking the place of a period.

In the Roman Catholic rite, it is one of the prayers offered by the priest after the Gloria in Excelsis Deo. It is part of the accentus proper, and spoken or chanted on a psalm tone instead of sung. Typically two of three collects are used in a mass.

In the Anglican rite, collects for each Sunday of the year are a particular feature of the Book of Common Prayer and subsequent alternative liturgies.

Lutherans also employ collects as liturgical practice.

The format of a collect is:

• 1) Address (the person of the Trinity who is being addressed)
• 2) A quality of the deity, which relates to the petition
• 3) Petition (the matter being asked about or requested)
• 4) Sometimes, the reason and hoped-for result of a granted petition. This usually beings with the word "that"
• 5) Doxology (an invocation naming a person of the Trinity)

Examples

"A Collect for the Renewal of Life"

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"A Collect for Purity"

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.

These break down into the sections mentioned above as follows:

A Collect for the Renewal of Life

• 1) O God, the King eternal,
• 2) whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning:
• 3) Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace;
• 4) that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks;
• 5) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Purity

• 1) Almighty God,
• 2) to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid:
• 3) cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
• 4) that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name,
• 5) through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Structure of the Mass | Christian prayer

Kollekt