Commontide
Watch over your child N., O Lord, as his days increase; bless him and guide him, and keep him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BCP 2019, p. 667
This prayer appears in more than one place in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer.
Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.
A tender little prayer for a growing child, first printed in the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer under the plain heading "For a Birthday," and carried, with only small wording changes, all the way to today's ACNA prayer book.