WE shall ask with earnest prayer and supplication that the Creator of all may keep unbroken the fixed number of his elect in all the world through his beloved servant Jesus Christ, through whom he called us from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge of the glory of his name. Grant us, Lord, to hope on his name which is the basic principle of all creation, opening the eyes of our heart to know thee, who alone art highest in the highest, abiding holy among the holy ones.
Thou humblest the insolence of the proud, destroying the imaginations of the Gentiles, lifting the humble aloft and humbling the lofty, making rich and making poor, killing and making alive, the only Benefactor of spirits and God of all flesh.
Thou lookest into the abyss, Observer of men’s works, Helper of those in danger, Saviour of those in despair, Creator and Overseer of every spirit.
Thou increasest the nations on earth and didst choose out of them all those that love thee through Jesus Christ thy beloved Servant, through whom thou has trained, sanctified, and honored us. We beseech thee, Lord, to become our helper and protector.
Save those of us in affliction, have mercy on the humble, raise the fallen, show thyself to those who are in need, heal the sick, turn back the wanderers of thy people, feed the hungry, ransom our prisoners, raise up the weak, comfort the feeblehearted. Let all the Gentiles know thee, that thou art God alone, and that Jesus Christ is thy Servant, and that “we are thy people and the sheep of thy pasture.”
For thou didst make manifest the everlasting constitution of the world through the forces set in operation. Thou, Lord, didst create the world. Thou who art faithful in all generations, righteous in judgments, marvelous in strength and excellence, wise in creating and prudent in establishing all that was made, good in what is seen and kindly among them that trust in thee, merciful and pitiful-forgive our sins and unrighteousnesses, our trespasses and failings.
Reckon not every sin of thy servants and handmaidens, but cleanse us with the cleansing of thy truth, and make our steps straight that we may walk in holiness and righteousness and simplicity of heart, and may do what things are good and well pleasing before thee and our governors. Yea, Lord, let thy face shine upon us for good in peace, that we may be sheltered by thy strong hand and delivered from all sin by thine uplifted arm, and deliver us from those that hate us unrighteously. Give concord and peace to us and to all the dwellers upon earth, as thou didst give to our fathers, when they called upon thee reverently in faith and truth, so that we may be saved, and grant that we may be obedient to thy almighty and excellent name, and to our governors and rulers on earth.
Thou, Lord, hast given them the authority of the Kingdom by thy excellent and unutterable might, that we, recognizing the glory and honor given them by thee, may be subject to them, in no respect opposing thy will. To them, Lord, grant health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the rule given them by thee without offense.
For thou, heavenly Lord, King of the ages, givest to the sons of men glory and honor, and authority over the things which are on earth. Do thou, Lord, direct their counsels according to what is good and well pleasing before thee, that piously administering in peace and gentleness the authority given them by thee they may obtain thy mercy. O thou who alone art able to do with us these good things and others more abundant, thee we praise through the high priest and protector of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and majesty to thee both now and for all generations and forever and ever. Amen.
- Clement of Rome
