We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal
God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all
nations,
to preserve the works of Thy mercy,
that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may
continue
with unchanging faith in the
confession of Thy Name.
We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with
heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life,
our chief bishop, Pope Francis, the
Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church;
our
own Bishop, John Barres, all other
bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially
those who are appointed to exercise
amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct
Thy people into the ways of
salvation.
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 fortitude the President of
these
United States, that his
administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be
eminently useful to Thy people
over whom he presides; by encouraging
due respect for virtue and 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 blessing of equal liberty.
We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the
members of the assembly, 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 Thy 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.
Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls
of Thy servants departed who are gone before
us with the sign of faith and repose
in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and
friends; of those who,
when living, were members of this
congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased;
of all benefactors who,
by their donations or legacies
to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine
worship and
proved their claim to our grateful
and charitable remembrance.
To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we
beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting
peace,
through the same Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
Written and first delivered on
November 10, 1791 by John Carroll of Baltimore,
a cousin of a signer of the
Declaration of Independence and the nation's first bishop.
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