Respice de coelo Sancte Pater ex illius montis celsitudine in
hujus vallis humilitatem, ex illo quietis et tranquillitatis portu in
calamitosum hoc mare, et vide illis benignissimis oculis quibus hujus saeculi
discussa caligine clarius omnia intueris et perspicis, et visita custos
diligentissime, vineam istam quam posuit et plantavit dextera tua tanto
labore, sudore, periculis. Ad te itaque confugimus, a te opem
petimus; tibi nos
penitus totosque tradimus; te nobis patronum et defensorem adoptamus: suscipe
causam salutis nostrae; tuere clientes tuos. Te ducem omnes appellamus;
rege contra daemonis impetum pugnantem exercitum. Ad te, pientissime
rector, vitae nostrae deferimus gubernacula. Rege naviculam hanc tuam, et,
in alto collocatus, averte omnes cupiditatum scopulos, ut te duce et directore
incolumes ad illum aeternae felicitatis portum pervenire possimus. Amen. |

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Look down from heaven, Holy Father,
from the loftiness of that mountain to the lowliness of this valley;
from that harbour of quietness and tranquillity
to this calamitous sea. And now that the darkness of this world hinders no more
those benignant eyes of thine from looking clearly into all things,
look down and visit, O most diligent keeper,
this vineyard which thy right hand planted
with so much labour, anxiety and peril. To thee then we fly; from thee
we seek for aid; to thee we give our whole selves
unreservedly. Thee we adopt as our patron and defender;
undertake the cause of our salvation, protect thy clients. To thee we appeal as our leader;
rule thine army fighting against the assaults of the devil. To thee, kindest of pilots, we give up the rudder of our lives;
steer this little ship of thine, and, placed as thou art on high,
keep us off all the rocks of evil desires,
that with thee for our pilot and guide,
we may safely come to the port of eternal bliss. Amen. |