[Prayer] for purity, by Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques (1916)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=48794

Date: 2023-02-06

Last Updated: 2025-04-11

Categories: Bedtime Shema, Immersion (Purification)

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., British Jewry, English vernacular prayer, Liberal Movement for Progressive Judaism in Britain, teḥinot in English

Excerpt: Basil L.Q. Henriques's prayer "For Purity" was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George's Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George's Settlement Synagogue (1929), "Special Prayers" section, page 96. . . .

Content:

Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	For purity.
	Many are the temptations against which I try to fight, and were it not for the help which Thou art ever ready to give unto me, I should fail and they would overcome me. But I need Thee more than ever in my struggles against the evil passions and desires which sometimes come to me. It is not through ignorance that I sin, but through weakness and through the deliberate suppression of the voice of conscience. I cast Thee from me and forget Thy presence within me.
	O my Father, when I am with my companions, and above all when I am alone, help me to keep my mind pure and clean. Give me the strength of will to banish thoughts and desires which I know to be wrong, so that I sin not in mind nor in deed.
	May the remembrance of my beloved ones help to restrain me; for how can I bear to face those whom I love, if I have been disloyal and false to them? It is so easy to blind myself to my sin. With shame and horror may I realise whither my weakness will lead me. O help me to rise above my sinful self, and so to discipline and rule myself that without fear I may meet my temptations. Thou art with me, and with Thy help all things are possible.
	Only in Purity and Uprightness can I bear witness unto Thee, my Master in whose service I strive to live. Amen.

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Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Purity” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, page 96.

Source(s)

 

Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques
  Bio: Sir Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques CBE JP (17 October 1890 – 2 December 1961) was a British philanthropist of Portuguese Jewish descent, concentrating his work in the East End of London during the first half of the 20th century.
  Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Henriques
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/basil-lucas-quixano-henriques
• 
  Name: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
  Bio: Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)
  Website: https://aharon.varady.net
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-transcription

Featured Image:

Title: for purity (Basil L.Q. Henriques 1929) – cropped
Caption: for purity (Basil L.Q. Henriques 1929) - cropped