COLLECTS

GOD,* That art the Source of mercy, Who for us didst descend into the womb of the Virgin; wast nailed to the Cross; didst behold Thy garments divided; didst rise Victor from Hell; we beseech Thee that Thou, remembering this Thy conversation amongst us, wouldst free Thy people from the mouth of the lion, as Thou didst once deliver their fathers that hoped in Thee. Who livest.

O LORD GOD,* Who, when our fathers cried unto Thee, didst set them free, when they trusted in Thee didst save them; we pray and beseech Thee not to be far from us, but to haste to our defence, and to save us from the mouth of the lion. Through (1.)

O CHRIST,* Who didst exclaim from the Cross to the FATHER, My GOD, My GOD, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Who by Thy Cross didst redeem lost man, and didst give Satan to be bound in eternal chains: we beseech Thy mercy that us, who believe in Thee, Thou wouldst never forsake; us, who confide in Thee, Thou wouldst never repel; but that when we cry in the day time Thou wouldst hear, and in the night-season also Thou wouldst receive our prayer. (11.)

O Shepherd of souls,* LORD JESU CHRIST, look graciously to the defence of Thy Church; deliver us of Thy mercy from the mouth of the lion, Thou Whose own soul was delivered from the power of the dog. (11.)

O CHRIST,* Who didst leave the synagogue on account of its incredulity, and didst gather together Thy Church out of an innumerable company of all nations, thus accomplishing the prophecy that all the ends of the world shall remember themselves and be turned to the LORD, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him: raise up children of belief from the circumcision, that they who come may be received to the kingdom of faith, and that they who have been received, may not, through any sin, be deprived of Thine heritage. (11.)

[O GOD the FATHER Almighty, (D. C.) Who didst will to send Thy SON our LORD JESUS CHRIST into the world for His Passion, and to call back man to the kingdom of heaven, who had been tempted by the fruit of the forbidden tree, and cast out of the bliss of Paradise, look upon us who cry unto Thee, deliver us from words of sin, and save us who trust in Thee for evermore. Through the same (2.)]