Eternal God, to whom the hidden is as clearly known as the visible: before you your people bow their heads, to you they submit their hard hearts and unruly bodies. Send down blessing from your glorious dwelling on these men and women, lend them a ready ear and answer their prayers. Set them up firmly with your strong hand and protect them against all evil passions. Preserve their bodies and souls, increase their faith and fear and increase ours, through your only Son. Through him and with him and with the Spirit may glory and power be yours, now and always and forever. Amen.
A. Hamman, Early Christian Prayers (Regnery/Longman, 1961).