O thou eternal Light, towards whose quickening dawn have moved the peoples that walked in darkness, rise with thy radiance upon the souls which here await thee.
By the visions of ancient seers who beheld thy power moving within the veil of earthly things,
TEACH US TO LIVE AS SEEING THE INVISIBLE.
By the voices of holy prophets who discerned the signs of their times and foretold the doom that follows wrong,
AROUSE US TO SEE AND OVERCOME THE EVILS OF TODAY.
By the mind that was in Christ Jesus, compassionate, free in thought, steadfast in purpose, stayed on thee,
AWAKEN IN US ALSO A GENEROUS MIND AND A BOLD VISION.
By the self-sacrifice of saints and apostles, martyrs and missionaries, who counted not the cost to themselves, if only they might testify to thy grace,
INSPIRE US TO FIND IN COMMON LIFE THE PATHS OF HIGH DEVOTION.
By the joy and praise of the Church universal, by every prayer for light in shrines of whatsoever faith, in east or west or north or south,
KINDLE IN OUR HEARTS THE FAITH THAT SHALL BE A LIGHT UPON OUR WAY AND A SONG UPON OUR LIPS.
By the labors of all who show forth thy wonderful works, searching out thy law in nature, fashioning forms of beauty, skillful in industry, wise in statecraft, gentle in parenthood, gifted with insight,
ENLARGE ALL OUR BEING WITH THE FULLNESS OF THY DIVINE LIFE, THAT IN THY LIGHT WE MAY SEE LIGHT AND BECOME MINISTERS OF THY LOVE BROUGHT NEAR.
O God, Fountain of light and truth, give to thy Church a new vision and a new charity, new wisdom and understanding, that the eternal message of thy Son, no longer confused by the traditions of men, may be hailed as the good news of this age; through him who maketh all things new, Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN.
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