Of Prayers of Thanks and for the Nation

We had a Missa Cantata this morning, in the Extraordinary Form of course, using the texts for the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, adding the prayers Pro gratiarum actione.  The schola did a good job and Mass was well-attended.

Here is the “For thanksgiving”…

COLLECT

Deus, cuius misericordiae non est numerus, et bonitatis infinitus est thesaurus: piissimae maiestati tuae pro collatis donis gratias agimus, tuam semper clementiam exorantes; ut, qui petentibus postulata concedis, eosdem non deserens,  ad praemia futura disponas.

O God, of whose mercy there is no reckoning, and whose treasury of goodness is infinite: always imploring your clemency we give thanks to Your most gracious Majesty for the gifts that have been conferred, so that, You who grant the things petitioned to those seeking them, even as you never abandon them, may ready them for the rewards to come.

This prayer is often prayed when the Te Deum is sung. You will hear in it an echo of Wisdom 7:14: For she [Wisdom] is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline. … Infinitus enim thesaurus est hominibus quod qui usi sunt participes facti sunt amicitiae Dei propter disciplinae dona commendati.

During my brief sermon, I mentioned that I was in the Chapel on the Rue du Bac last week, that I prayed for the people present and for benefactors, and for the bishop, for whose intention we celebrated the Mass.  Also, I mentioned that in the apparition, some of the rings which Our Lady displayed, were not shining with light and that they symbolized the graces that we have not asked for.  We must turn to God, through the intercession of the saints and the Queen of Saints, asking God to help us, who must apply our own elbow grease to the exigencies of life.

At the end of Mass we all knelt and I said the “Prayer for Government” composed by John Carroll, Archbishop of Baltimore, in 1791. John was a cousin of Charles Carroll of Maryland, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Fathers, you might want to post this in your parish bulletins and ask families to recite it regularly in their homes. I like to recite it on national holidays.

PRAYER FOR GOVERNMENT 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, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope N., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation. 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 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 blessing 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 observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

In case you don’t know the prayers Pro gratiarum actione, here, too, is the

SECRET

Odorem, Domine, sacrifiii huius cum gratiarum actionibus suscipe, et praesta: ut, quos exaudire et incolumes servare dignatus es, ab omni in posterum adversitate custodias; et in tuo servitio et amore concrescant.

Receive, O Lord, the savor of this sacrifice with our acts of thanksgiving, and vouchsafe that You might guard hereafter those whom you have deigned graciously to hear and to keep safe; and that they might increase in Your service and love.

POST COMMUNION

Deus, qui neminem in te sperantem nimium affligi permittis, sed pium precibus præstas auditum : pro postulationibus nostris votisque susceptis gratias agimus, te piissime deprecan-tes : ut per hæc quæ sumpsimus, a cunctis eripi mereamur adversis.

O God, who permit no one hoping in You to be overmuch afflicted, but grant their prayers a merciful hearing: we thank You for the acceptance of our prayers and devotions and, devoutly entreating You, that through these things we have received, we may merit to be snatched away from every adversity.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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9 Comments

  1. Someone please be the Garrigue says:

    Will the good people of Madison have the pleasure of seeing your incardination?

  2. Iacobus M says:

    Archbishop Carroll’s Prayer for Government is wonderful – I will definitely share it with my family. It is always helpful to pray for our government officials, but today . . . well, you know . . .

  3. Riki says:

    Happy Thanksgiving to all the true followers of the One and Only true Creator and Savior

    Thanksgiving Day 2014

    I was born on Thanksgiving
    my brother came out winning
    I was the surprise turkey
    and came out pretty perky

    I thank You Lord for my life
    for the easy and the strife
    for the hardships and the struggle
    it saved me from the worldly bubble

    Thankful for the love I know
    which empowers me to show
    that no matter the years I measure
    l view life as the greatest treasure

    Let me, My Master and My Savior
    celebrate through thankful behavior
    many many more Thanksgiving days
    following Your footsteps and Your ways.

    Amen

    Rita Biesemans Thanksgiving November 21 2011

  4. Netmilsmom says:

    why can’t I live in Wisconsin?

  5. IoannesPetrus says:

    Near-belated greetings and good wishes to you, Father, and to the US readers of this blog on the celebration of Thanksgiving Day. The occasion reminds me of this line from one of the (OF) Common Prefaces:

    Quia, cum nostra laude non egeas,
    tuum tamen est donum quod tibi grates rependamus,
    nam te non augent nostra præconia,
    sed nobis proficiunt ad salutem,
    per Christum Dominum nostrum.

  6. yatzer says:

    Thanks, Padre, and happy Thanksgiving.

  7. JoseTomas says:

    Off Topic:

    I am just out of the conference delivered by Bp. Athanasius Schneider here in São Paulo, at the benedictine abbey. Wonderful man. Came to launch his new book. Speaks Portuguese fluently, lived here in the past, and I did not even know that!

    Good to see and be close to the Right Stuff for a change…

    (Don’t know how to post photos, otherwise I would.)

  8. JoseTomas says:

    BTW, at the book signing, I dared to suggest him that his next book (this one is about Communion in the hand) should be about the all too common liturgical abuses of Confession. General (collective) absolution still being done today, made-up absolution formulae, no confessional to be seen anywhere, no grille in the “confessionals” at our major National Shrine (Nossa Senhora Aparecida) – actually they have a table, a chair for the priest and another for the “penitent” (or should I say “consulent”?), no kneeler, lots of pious pamphlets but no “Rite of the Sacrament” cards, etc. etc. etc.

  9. RJHighland says:

    On this day of Thanksgiving, I would like to thank God for Fr. Z and this incredible blog, that through out the year gives an an opportunity to read and comment on the current events in the Church an our faith. Thank you Fr. Z for all that you do, we are blessed to have you. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

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