Some Embertide Devotions

A Litany of the Holy Spirit

(Especially to be used during the Embertides)

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O God the Father of heaven:

Have mercy upon us.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world:

Have mercy upon us.

O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful:

Have mercy upon us.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and One God:

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who at the beginning moved upon the face of the waters;

Have mercy upon us.

O holy Spirit, by whose inspiration prophets and teachers of old spoke as they were moved;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, power of the Highest, that overshadowed the Virgin Mary;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, through whom the holy Child Jesus grew strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who descended like a dove and rested upon Christ our Lord at his baptism;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Sprit, of whom Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, eternal One, through whom Christ our Priest and Victim offered himself without spot to God;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who on the day of Pentecost descended upon the Apostles in the likeness of fiery tongues;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, by whom we are new-born in Baptism;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who strengthens us at Confirmation;

Have mercy upon us.

O Holy Spirit, who continues to make intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered;

Have mercy upon us.

From all sin;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit

From all arrogance and despair;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit

From all impenitence and hardness of heart;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit

From envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit

From all impurity, whether of mind or body, and from all that has ever defiled your temple within us;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit

We beseech you to hear us, O Holy Spirit, that it may please you to guide your holy Church universal into all truth, and to fill it with your love;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That we may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That, as we live in the Spirit, we may also walk in the Spirit;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That by your indwelling our thoughts, words, and works, we may be conformed more and more to the life and passion of the Lord Jesus;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That we may grow in the sacred knowledge through the Holy Scriptures and reverently receive and show forth your grace in the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That we may show forth your light to the world;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That we may ever be mindful of the account which we must one day give at the judgment seat of Christ;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

That we may have grace to persevere to the end;

Grant this, O Holy Spirit

O, Holy Spirit;

We beseech you to hear us.

Lord, and Giver of life;

We beseech you to hear us.

Spirit who descended at Pentecost;

Have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Our Father, &c

V. The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit;

R. He shall teach you all things.

O God, who taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in the Holy Comforter; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For those to be ordained (Ember Wednesdays)

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

For the choice of fit persons for the ministry (Ember Fridays)

O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in everyc place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For all Christians in their vocation (Ember Saturdays)

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations forever and ever. Amen.