PRAYER FOR OUR GOVERNMENT
Abridged from a prayer composed by Archbishop
Carroll A.D. 1800,
for the United States of America
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, 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 the 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 blessings 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 observation
of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union and
that peace which the world cannot give; and, after enjoying the
blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.
(This prayer can be found on page 672 of The New Marian Missal
for Daily Mass, by Sylvester P. Juergens, S.M., published
by Regina Press, New York, in 1960.)
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