📖 Biblical Definition
A collect is a short, structured prayer in which the congregation's petitions are gathered around a single theme. The classical form has five parts: address (to God), descriptive clause (who has done...), petition (grant...), aspiration (so that...), and pleading conclusion (through Jesus Christ our Lord). Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer collected the form's English-language flowering; the structure goes back to the early Latin Church.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Liturgical.) A short, structured prayer gathered around a single theme; classically with address, attribute, petition, purpose, and conclusion.
expand to see more
COLLECT, n. A short comprehensive prayer; a prayer of unique form composed to be uniformly used in public worship.
Cranmer's collects in the 1549 and 1552 Books of Common Prayer are masterpieces of compressed devotional theology — many translated from earlier Latin, many newly composed, all shaped by Reformation conviction.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 6:7 — "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."
Matthew 6:9 — "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven."
Hebrews 4:16 — "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
1 Timothy 2:1 — "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern free-prayer culture sometimes despises structured prayer; Christ's own teaching commends both extempore and structured prayer.
expand to see more
Christ Himself gave the disciples a structured form: after this manner therefore pray ye (Mt 6:9). The Lord's Prayer is the original collect — address, petitions, doxology. Free prayer and structured prayer are not enemies; both are commanded.
The household that learns even one collect by heart for each season gains a treasury. The mind shaped by good prayer-form prays better extempore as well. Cranmer's collects are evangelical heritage; recovering them is not Romanism.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Latin collecta; gathered prayer.
expand to see more
Latin collecta — gathered (prayer); from colligere, to gather.
Note: the term may originally have referred to the prayer at the gathering of the people for worship.
Usage
"Free prayer and structured prayer are not enemies."
"Christ's own model is structured: address, petitions, doxology."
"One collect learned by heart per season is a household treasury."