A Litany for Peace

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Good God,
gracious Father,
creator of us all,
have mercy on us.

O Jesus,
Son of God and Son of Man,
our brother,
have mercy on us.

True Spirit,
moving over us,
Lord and giver of life,
have mercy on us.

Look at our world, broken by sin.
Look at our hearts, broken in grief.
Look at our minds, shaken in confusion.
Have mercy on us.

Forgive our shortsightedness and open our eyes.
Forgive our hate and empower us to love.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Have mercy on us.

On those who are angry,
on those who are hurting,
on those who are weary,
on those who work for peace,
on those who protect and serve,
on those who suffer loss,
on those who are vulnerable,
have mercy, Lord.

Give wisdom to those who lead,
give patience to those who wait,
give healing to those who hurt.
Have mercy, Lord.

Father, from one man you made every nation of humanity,
you make the sun shine and the rain fall on the wicked and the good,
you so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
have mercy.

Jesus, you took on human flesh and became the brother of the human race,
you suffered great injustice to bear the sin of the world,
you are the tree of life whose leaves bring healing to the nations,
have mercy.

Holy Spirit, you moved the apostles to speak the languages of all nations,
you let your Word go out to all people,
you call and gather your church from all the world,
have mercy.

See our world and our nation.
Help the helpless,
strengthen the weak,
soften the hardened,
warm the loveless,
cool the angry,
cleanse our hearts.
Mercy!

Father and maker of all, you let this world stand because you are gracious. Work that same grace within us that we love because you first loved us, that we imitate you as your beloved children, and live our lives in love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Jesus, Savior of all people and lover of all souls, show us what love is yet again by setting your selfless love before our eyes. You welcomed tax collectors and zealots, and taught them all the way of love. When you were dying you forgave those who didn’t know what they were doing. You gave your friends who deserted you your greeting of peace. Empower us to love, forgive, and give us your peace; Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Holy Spirit, you caused Scripture to be written that we might learn love that is the fulfillment of the law, and that we might know Jesus and follow him in love. You give the spark of faith and you fan faith into flame. Move us to put our faith and hope to work with an active love, that we listen before speaking, think before acting, and consider the needs of others before our own.
Amen.

Source: Paul C. Stratman, written during the violence in early June, 2020

References to Father, Son and Holy Spirit at the beginning, middle and end reflect characteristics of traditional litanies, and this is being written near Trinity Sunday.

The opening phrases “Good God,” “O Jesus” take the exclamations people often make when hearing bad news and develop them into petitions.

The shortening of responses “have mercy on us,” “have mercy, Lord,” “have mercy,” and finally “Mercy!” are intended to show a growing weariness.


The Holy Trinity

Almighty and eternal God,
you have given your servants
who confess of the true faith
the duty to acknowledge
the glory of the eternal Trinity,
and to worship the true Unity
in the power of the divine majesty.
Keep us steadfast in this faith,
and always defend us from all adversities;
for you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
live and reign,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic Collect for the Holy Trinity, Late Gregorian

Pentecost

O God,
on this day you taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit.
By that same Spirit
give us a right judgment in all things
that we may always rejoice in his holy comfort;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns,
one God, now and forever.

Source: Historic collect for Pentecost, Gregorian

Original in Latin:

Deus, qui hodierna die corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de ejus sember consolatione gaudere.

Cranmer 1459 has it as:

GOD, whiche as upon this daye haste [hast] taughte the heartes of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the lyght of thy holy spirite; graunte us by the same spirite to have a right judgement in al thinges, and evermore to rejoyce in hys holy coumforte; through the merites of Christ Jesus our saviour; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unitie of the same spirite, one God, worlde without ende.A

A prayer in the office of Terce is identical, with the omission of “on this day.”

See commentary by Bosco Peters.

The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is the oldest of the Christian Creeds. An early written version of the Apostles’ Creed, known as the Old Roman Symbol, is from around A. D. 150.

It was originally a baptismal creed, used as a personal confession of faith, recited by the baptismal candidate. Some traditions have the candidate reciting each article of the creed, “I believe in God, the Father almighty…” followed by a sprinkling of water and the baptizer saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father.” “I believe in Jesus Christ…” “I baptize you in the name of the Son.” “I believe in the Holy Spirit…” “I baptize you in the name of the Holy Spirit.”

The Apostles’ Creed is used liturgically, sometimes as an alternative for the Nicene Creed if a shorter creed is desired. Roman Catholic usage allows the Apostles’ Creed to be used in Masses for children.

It is used catechetically as the outline for Christian doctrine about God and his work.

The Old Roman Symbol

English Translation

I believe in God, the Father almighty.

And in Christ Jesus, his only Son, our Lord,
who was born of the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried,
the third day he rose from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

And in the Holy Spirit,
the holy church,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the flesh,
life everlasting.

Early Latin Version

Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem;
et in Christum Iesum filium eius unicum, dominum nostrum,
qui natus est de Spiritu sancto ex Maria virgine,
qui sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus est et sepultus,
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,
ascendit in caelos,
sedet ad dexteram patris, unde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos;
et in Spiritum sanctum,
sanctam ecclesiam,
remissionem peccatorum,
carnis resurrectionem.

Early Greek Version

Πιστεύω οὖν εἰς θεòν πατέρα παντοκράτορα·
καὶ εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν,
τὸν γεννηθέντα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου,
τὸν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου σταυρωθέντα καὶ ταφέντα
καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρα ἀναστάντα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν,
ἀναβάντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς
καὶ καθήμενον ἐν δεξιᾳ τοῦ πατρός, ὅθεν ἔρχεται κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς·
καὶ εἰς τò ἅγιον πνεῦμα,
ἁγίαν ἐκκλησίαν,
ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν,
σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν,
ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

Latin Original of the Apostles’ Creed

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem,
Creatorem caeli et terrae,

Et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum,
qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria Virgine,
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus,
descendit ad inferos,
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,
ascendit ad caelos,
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis,
inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam,
sanctorum communionem,
remissionem peccatorum,
carnis resurrectionem,
vitam aeternam.
Amen.

Versions in Current English Use

Book of Common Prayer

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost:
The holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints:
The Forgiveness of sins:
The Resurrection of the body:
And the Life everlasting. Amen.

From justus.anglican.org

English Language Liturgical Consultation

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

From www.englishtexts.org

The notable difference between the two versions is the line, “he descended into hell” / “he descended to the dead.” The phrase in the Latin is “descendit ad inferos.” How inferos is translated seems to depend on syntax. Inferos is a masculine plural, and favors a translation, “he descended to the dead” that is, ‘he descended to the people of the lower regions.’ Infera would be the neuter plural, and would favor the translation, “he desended into hell,” more directly, “he descended to the lower regions.”

The Apostles’ Creed has its name because it is based on the writings of the apostles, drawing on the gospels and letters of Peter and Paul. The phrase in question is treated by 1 Peter 3:

Christ also suffered once for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit, 19 in which he also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison. These spirits disobeyed long ago, when God’s patience was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. (EHV)

The biblical reference and use of the word “prison” for the realm of the dead favors the translation “he descended into hell.“

Litany of the Most Holy Trinity (2)

Trinity - Wikipedia

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. 

God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. 

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 

God, from you, by you and in you are all things,
in you we live and move and have our being,
you alone have immortality and live in light no one can approach,
your majesty fills the whole earth,
the highest heavens cannot contain you,
you are wonderful in all your works for humanity,
you work all things by your gracious will,
in your hands are the souls of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind,
you open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing, have mercy on us. 

You have the power to cast body and soul into hell,
you do great, unsearchable and marvelous things without number,
your eyes are brighter than the sun and see all the ways of mankind,
you search the heart and examine the mind,
you give food to all flesh,
you made all things for yourself,
you live forever and ever,
you are a Father of the fatherless, and defend the cause of the widow,
you are full of compassion and mercy, long suffering, abundant in goodness and truth,
you are our shield and our very great reward,
One God and Father of all, you are above all, and through all, and in us all, have mercy on us. 

Be gracious to us, spare us, Holy Trinity.
Be gracious to us, hear us, Holy Trinity.
From all evil, deliver us, Holy Trinity.

From all pride and arrogance,
from gluttony, excess and greed,
from anger, envy, and all ill-will,
from all evil desires and uncleanness,
from all laziness and despair,
by the immensity of your power,
by the infinity of your wisdom,
by the abundance of your goodness,
by the eternity of your glory and majesty,
by the depth of your knowledge and your providence,
by the unspeakable greatness of your love and pity,
by the unfathomable depths of your justice and judgment,
and on the day of judgment, deliver us, Holy Trinity.

We sinners pray, hear us, Holy Trinity.

That we may love you, our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength,
that we may serve you in holiness and righteousness all our days,
that we may worship you, the Lord our God, and serve you only,
that we may never take your holy name in vain,
that we may worship you in spirit and in truth,
that we may honor, serve and obey our parents and others in authority, and give them love and respect,
that we may never, from anger, hatred, or envy, hurt the life or reputation of any person, that we may love you above all things, and our neighbors as ourselves for your sake,
that we may never do to another what we would not have them do to us,
that we may never covet the goods of our neighbor,
that we may keep our hearts from all carnal desires and impure affections,
that you would make all grace abound in us,
that we may present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God,
that you would bring us to the kingdom you prepared for us from the foundation of the world, we pray, hear us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
pray for us to the Father.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
be merciful to us sinners.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
pour out your Holy Spirit on us.

Blessed Trinity, hear us.
Adorable Trinity, hear us.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Our Father …

Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors,
and to be praised and highly exalted forever; (Song of the Three Holy Children, 29)

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven
and worthy of great praise, to be sung and glorified forever. (Psalm 145:3 and Song of the Three Holy Children, 34)

Let all your angels and saints praise you.
Let them praise and glorify you forever.

Let us praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
We praise and magnify him forever.

O Lord, hear our prayer,
and let our cry for help come to you. (Psalm 102:1)

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God, you have given your servants who confess of the true faith the duty to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and to worship the true Unity in the power of the divine majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith, and always defend us from all adversities; for you, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Treasury of Devotion: A Manual of Prayer for General and Daily Use, 1869, edited by T. T. Carter, 1808-1901.

In the original, the phrase “that we may worship you in spirit and in truth” is “that we may keep holy the fasts and festivals of the Church, by religious worship and deeds of mercy,”

In the original, the phase “that we may honor, serve and obey our parents and others in authority, and give them love and respect,” is “that we may pay all due honor, reverence and obedience to our parents, bishops, superiors, and all who stand to us in the place of parents,”

Featured Prayers: The Holy Trinity

Click here to scroll through all of our Trinity prayers.

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The Trisagion

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Main Collects for the Holy Trinity

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Acclamation

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Blessings

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Creeds

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Litanies

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Next: Featured Prayers: Sundays after Trinity / Pentecost

Featured Prayers: Pentecost

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Scroll through all our Pentecost prayers at this link: https://acollectionofprayers.com/tag/pentecost/

Ancient Antiphon and Prayer

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Main Collects for Pentecost

Other Collects

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Litanies

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Next: Featured Prayers: The Holy Trinity

Litany of the Holy Spirit (3)

cathedra-holyspirit1

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

God, the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit, most merciful and patient, always striving for humanity in all its wanderings,
Holy Spirit, by your power the blessed virgin conceived and bore a Son,
Holy Spirit, through you the holy child Jesus grew strong in spirit and was filled with wisdom,
Holy Spirit, you descended on Jesus at his baptism and anointed him without measure,
Holy Spirit, by your power Jesus fulfilled his earthly ministry, teaching and working miracles, and preaching the kingdom of God,
Eternal Spirit, through you Jesus offered himself without blemish to God as our Priest and Victim,
Comforter, you proceed from the Father and were promised by the Lord to his disciples in their hour of sorrow, have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit, you were given to the apostles by the breath of Christ,
Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost you descended on the apostles as tongues of fire,
Holy Spirit, you blessed the apostles with wisdom and power to preach the gospel, to build the Church, and to send messengers tor the extension of Christ’s kingdom,
Holy Spirit, you inspired the apostles and evangelists to write the holy books of the New Testament for the comfort and edification of the Church,
Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life in both the new and old creation, by your divine power you quicken the whole body of Christ,
Holy Spirit, by your supernatural work you give power and efficacy to the means of grace,
Holy Spirit, in all ages you comforted and strengthened martyrs and confessors, and enlightened the teachers of your Church with heavenly wisdom, have mercy on us.

Blessed Paraclete, you have always been the sustaining comfort and sweet refreshment of the sorrowful and suffering,
Holy Spirit, you spread abroad love, joy and peace  in the hearts of the faithful and obedient followers of Christ,
Most gracious and patient Spirit, in your unending mercy you always seek to recall us from our wandering and bring us back in to God in repentance, have mercy on us.

By your life-giving power and might,
by your all powerful grace and strength,
by your continual presence in the church, good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners pray, hear us, Holy Spirit.

That we who have been made members of Christ’s body may be filled with all the fullness of your gifts of grace,
that we may never resist your holy work, but by your inspiration think those things that are good, and by your guidance do them,
that we may always enjoy the full blessing of Christ’s sacramental gifts through you,
that we may be led by you, live and walk in you, and rightly using the freedom with which Christ has made us free,
that as there is one body and one Spirit, the Church may be enabled to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
that you would enlighten all ministers and stewards of your mysteries with true knowledge and understanding of your holy Word,
that you would give all your people a right understanding of Christian truth, and a brotherly love and affection towards one another, hear us, good Lord.

That you would take away from us all hatred and prejudice and whatever else hinders us from godly union and concord,
that you would give us the gift of perseverance, that being faithful to the point of death, we may hereafter be glorified with Christ,
that you would bring new life to your Church, that reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ, when he appears in glory at the end of time, hear us, good Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
pour out your Holy Spirit on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
send us the promised Spirit from the Father.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
give us the Spirit of peace.

Our Father …

Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, send us your Holy Spirit, and by his gracious indwelling, make us a temple of his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Treasury of Devotion: A Manual of Prayer for General and Daily Use, 1869, edited by T. T. Carter, 1808-1901.

See also Featured Prayers: Pentecost

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Litany of the Ascension

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Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, King of glory, you led your disciples as far as to Bethany and ascended into heaven in their sight, have mercy.
Jesus, Lord and Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, Prince and Savior, have mercy.
Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, have mercy.
Jesus, you ascended far above all heavens, that you might fill all things and be head over all things for the good of your Church, have mercy.
Jesus, you ascended to your Father and our Father, to your God and our God, have mercy.
Jesus, you led captivity captive and gave gifts to your people, have mercy.
Jesus, you are at the right hand of God exalted far above all rule, authority, power and dominion, and above every name that is given, have mercy.

Jesus, at your name every knee must bow, have mercy.
Jesus, you are seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, have mercy.
Jesus, to you all power is given in heaven and in earth, have mercy.
Jesus, in your sacred humanity you are crowned with glory and honor at the right hand of the Majesty on high, have mercy.
Jesus, you must reign until you have put all enemies under your feet and your kingdom shall have no end, have mercy.

Jesus, you are adored by all the angels of God, have mercy.
Jesus, you are anointed with the oil of joy more than any of your companions, have mercy.
Jesus, you are the happiness of the blessed and your presence is life, have mercy.
Jesus, you have opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, have mercy.
Jesus, our High Priest forever, the Mediator of the new covenant, you have entered into the true Holy of Holies, heaven itself, for us, have mercy.
Jesus, Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the one Propitiation for our sins forever, have mercy.
Jesus, you live forever to make intercession for us, always pleading your precious sacrifice before your Father for us, have mercy.
Jesus, you are able to completely save all who come to God through you, have mercy.

Jesus, you sent your Holy Spirit on your disciples and promised whatever we ask in your name, you will do it, have mercy.
Jesus, you have gone up to heaven, and yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, are really present with us in the Sacrament of the Altar, have mercy.
Jesus, you have gone to prepare a place for us, have mercy.
Jesus, you will come again in glory to judge the world, have mercy.
Jesus, you will receive your own to yourself, that they may be with you where you are to behold your glory, have mercy.
By your glorious resurrection and ascension, good Lord, deliver us.
By your all powerful intercession, good Lord, deliver us.
By your triumphant majesty and power, good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners pray, hear us, Lord Jesus.

That we who are risen with you may set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things, hear us, good Lord.
That we, whom you have blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, may be holy and blameless before you in love, hear us, good Lord.
That now, when the world sees you no more, we see you by faith and live through you, hear us, good Lord.
That we may remain in your love by keeping your commandments, hear us, good Lord.
That through the power of the Comforter you would abide with us and show yourself to us, hear us, good Lord.
That the Spirit of Truth may testify about you and may take what is yours and reveal it to us, hear us, good Lord.
That in your spiritual presence with us our heart may rejoice with the joy no one can take from us, hear us, good Lord.

That in you we may have peace, hear us, good Lord.
That in the trouble we have in the world we may be courageous, knowing that you have overcome the world, hear us, good Lord.
That while we are in the world, you intercede for us, and the eternal Father will preserve from all evil and sanctify us through his Word of Truth, hear us, good Lord.
That, as you and the Father are One, so all your people may inwardly and outwardly be one in you, hear us, good Lord.
That the world may believe that the Father sent you, and may know you and your almighty love, hear us, good Lord.
That you would draw all people to yourself, hear us, good Lord.
That you would generously pour out your Holy Spirit on your Church, hear us, good Lord.
That you would quicken the whole body of your Church by the power of your Holy Spirit, hear us, good Lord.
That you would especially bless your ministers with the Spirit of power, love and peace, and that you would give them the gifts of courage, faithfulness and zeal, hear us, good Lord.
That you would increase the number of your ministers and stir up all your people to love and to good works, hear us, good Lord.
That you would preserve your Church from the powers of the world and from all its enemies, hear us, good Lord.
That you would give your Church purity, unity, liberty and peace, and every needful means to do its proper work, hear us, good Lord.
That you would soon fill up the number of your elect and bring to fulfillment your kingdom of glory, hear us, good Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

God has gone up with a shout. Alleluia!
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Alleluia!

Our Father…

Let us pray.

O Lord, in your mercy help us as we pray, and just as we believe the Savior of the world is seated with you in your majesty, we may also be assured that he dwells with us as he has promised, even to the end of the age; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from The Treasury of Devotion: A Manual of Prayer for General and Daily Use, 1869, edited by T. T. Carter, 1808-1901.