Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/522



ALMIGHTY and  eternal  God,  who  hast  dominion over the  living  and  the  dead,  and  art  merciful  to all,  whom  thou  foreknowest  shall  he  thine  by  faith  and good works; we  humbly  beseech  thee,  that  they  for whom we  hare  determined  to  offer  up  our  prayers, whether this  present  world  still  detains  them  in  the flesh, or  the  world  to  come  hath  already  received  them out of  their  bodies,  may,  by  the  clemency  of  thy goodness (all  thy  saints  interceding  for  them),  obtain pardon and  full  remission  of  their  sins; through  our Lord Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son,  who,  with  thee  and  the Holy Ghost,  liveth  and  reigneth,  one  God,  world without end. Amen.

INCOMPREHENSIBLE Creator,  the  true fountain of  light,  and  only  Author  of  all  knowledge; vouchsafe,  we  beseech  thee,  to  enlighten  our understanding, and  to  remove  from  us  all  darkness  of sin  and  ignorance. [Thou, who  makest  eloquent  the tongues of  those  that  want  utterance,  direct  our tongues, and  pour  on  our  lips  the  grace  of  thy  blessing.] Give us  a diligent  and  obedient  spirit,  quickness  of apprehension,  capacity  of  retaining,  and  the  powerful assistance of  thy  holy  grace; that  what  we  hear  or learn,  we  may  apply  to  thy  honour  and  the  eternal salvation of  our  own  souls,  through  Jesus  Christ  our Lord. Amen.

GOD, who  hast  ordained  and  sanctified  the  holy estate of  matrimony,  for  replenishing  the  earth, for mutual  consolation,  and  as  a type  of  the  union  of Christ  and  his  Church; give  me  grace  both  thankfully to accept  its  blessings,  and  carefully  to  fulfil  its