Saturday, April 4, 2020

PRAYER IN TIMES OF EPIDEMICS


(Extract from the Roman Ritual, Titulus IX, Caput X)

V/. Deal not with us, Lord, according to our sins.
R/. And take not vengeance on us because of our misdeeds.

V/. Remember not, O Lord, our sins of old.
R/. Hasten to us with thy compassion, for we are become exceeding poor.

V/. St. Sebastian, pray for us.
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Vouchsafe to hear us, O God, our only salvation! And through the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary, Mother of God and ever Virgin, of thy blessed martyr, Sebastian and of all the saints, deliver thy people from the terrors of thy wrath, and restore their confidence by the outpouring of thy compassion. Be moved to pity, O Lord, at our earnest entreaties, and heal the illnesses of body and soul; so that experiencing thy forgiveness we may ever rejoice in thy blessing.

We beseech thee, O Lord, grant us a hearing as we devoutly raise our petitions to thee, and graciously turn away the epidemic of plague which afflicts us; so that mortal hearts may recognize that these scourges proceed from thine indignation and cease only when thou art moved to mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

R/. Amen.

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