Let us pray (in silence) [that the more we see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, the more we may be drawn closer to God]
pause
God,
the source of all our strength;
watch over us within and without,
that in body we may be protected from all adversity,
and in mind cleansed from all destructive thoughts;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
From The Gregorian Sacramentary through Sarum into the Book of Common Prayer Tradition, the original is:
Deus, qui conspicis omni nos virtute destitui: interius exteriusque custodi; ut ab omnibus adversitatibus muniamur in corpore, et a pravis cogitationibus mundemur in mente. Per Dominum . . .
A commentary can be found here. If you have improvements to the translation in a manner that also proclaims well in our contemporary context, please put this in the comments.
The story of the Tower of Siloam is particularly poignant as we remember 5 years since the quakes that killed people and destroyed our city in Christchurch/Canterbury.
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These ancient prayers are a treasure house. Thank you, Bosco, for your work in keeping them before our eyes.
Thanks for the encouragement, Trevor. This particular one has been going around and around in my prayer life in preparation for this post – and as you intimate, that is exactly how they should work. Blessings.