  Traditional Prayers, Page 2 PRAYER FOR
OUR GOVERNMENT For Thou, O heavenly
Master,
King of eternity, hast given to
the sons
of men glory and honor and power over the things that are on the earth;
do Thou, O Lord,
direct their counsels according to that which is "good and pleasing"
before Thee, that they may administer with piety in peace and
gentleness the power given to them by Thee, and may find mercy in Thine
eyes.
O Thou Who alone art able to do these things and far better things for
us, we praise Thee through Jesus Christ, the High Priest and Guardian
of
our souls, through Whom be glory and majesty to Thee, both now and for
all generations and forever and ever. Amen.
------Pope Clement We pray Thee, O God of
might, wisdom, and justice, through
Whom
authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment
decreed, assist, with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fottitude, the
President of the United Srates, that his administration may be
conducted in
righteousness and be eminently useful to Thy creatures over whom he
presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and for religion; by a
faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining
vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy Divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government; so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, and may perpetUate to us the blessings of equal liberty. Grant that our leaders recognize and acknowledge publicly that Thou art our Sovereign and only good. We pray for his
Excellency
the governor of our state, for the
members
of the legislature, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers
who are appointed to guard our political welfare; that they may be
enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their
respective stations with honesty and ability. We recommend likewise
to
Thee O unbounded mercy! all our
brethren and
fellow citizens, throughout the United States, that they may be blessed
in the knowledge, and sanctified in the observance, of Thy most holy
law; that they may be preserved in union and in that peace which the
world cannot give; and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be
admitted to those which are eternal. O God, Who hast
appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be
the
eternal High Priest for the glory of Thy Majesty and the salvation of
mankind; grant that they whom He hath chosen to be His chaplains and
the stewards of His mysteries, maybe found faithful in the fulfilment
of the ministry which they have received. Grant, O Holy and
Mighty
Trinity, that they may never lose
that
purity of heart with which they were ordained, though all around them
lie terrors and the uncertainty of war. Give them an abundance of wise
counsel, fortitude, temperance and justice and supernatural charity.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
May I be no man's
enemy, and
may I be the friend of that which
is
eternal and abides. -----Eusebius O Lord, I know not
what I
should ask of Thee; Thou alone know
what I
need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself; O Father,
give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either
for
crosses or consolations: I simply
present
myself before Thee, I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I
know not myself; see and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smite, or heal;
depress me,
or raise me up: I adore all Thy
purposes
without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield
myself to Thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy
will. Teach me to pray. Pray Thyself in me. Amen. -----Bishop Fenelon FOUR
THINGS -----Robert Southey More than ever I feel
the
need of having Thee close to me. At
any moment I may find myself in battle. However rigorous the
task
that awaits me, may I fulfill my
duty with
courage. If death should overtake me on this field, grant that I die in
the state of grace, forgive me all my sins, those I have forgotten and
those I recall now: grant me the grace of perfect contrition.  CONTACT US HOME-------------------------------------DIRECTORIES www.catholictradition.org/war-time2.htm |