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Prayer for the Church
O God, the
most gracious Maker and most merciful Redeemer of
mankind, who, when man, by envy of the devil, was
cast down from Eternal Life, did redeem him with the
Blood of your only Son: Give life to your servants,
whose death you in no wise desire; and as you did
not leave them when they went astray, so do you
receive them when they are brought back. Let the
sorrowful sighings of your servants move your pity.
Heal their wounds. Extend your saving hand to the
prostrate, lest your Church should be despoiled of
any portion of her body, lest your flock should
suffer loss, lest those who were born again to the
salutary waters should be possessed by the second
death. Spare those who confess, that in this mortal
life they may, by your help, so mourn over their
sins, that in the day of dreadful Judgment they may
escape the sentence of eternal damnation, and may
know neither the terrors of the darkness nor the
fury of the flame, and that, having returned from
the path of error to the way of righteousness, they
may be pierced with no more wounds, but may retain,
in fullness and perpetually, both what your grace
has vouchsafed and what your mercy has restored:
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, God, eternally. Amen.
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Prayer for the Church
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