Episcopatus.
The Shepherd's Calling
A prayer acknowledging the divine appointment of the pastor over the flock.
O Lord, Shepherd and Rector of all the faithful, I am Your servant, whom You have appointed as the Pastor of the Church of Canterbury. Since You have willed that I should lead, look upon me with mercy: grant me, in all humility, the words and example by which I may lead others to progress. That I may reach eternal life together with the flock entrusted to me, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Virtues of the Office
A petition for the grace to embody the necessary virtues for faithful leadership.
O God, my most merciful Father, may your grace work in me so that I am humble in refusing great things, yet submissive in accepting, faithful in keeping, diligent in carrying out, watchful in guiding the people, fervent in correcting, loving in my actions, patient in enduring, and prudent in moderating; so that I may intercede before God for those entrusted to me, opposing those who ascend, in trust and in the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Fruitful Word
A prayer that the preached Word may be effective and bring peace to the people.
O Lord, just as rain falls from heaven and does not return there, but waters the earth and makes it bud and produce, so that it may give seed to the sower and bread to those who eat: let your Word that goes out from my mouth not return to me empty, but accomplish what you desire and succeed in the purpose for which you sent it, so that the people entrusted to my care may go out with joy and be led forth in peace to your freshest waters of comfort, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mercy in the Burden
A final plea for divine mercy in light of the heavy responsibility of the episcopate.
O Son of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on me in this heavy burden. Amen.
Read the original Latin
DE…s omnium fidelium Pastor & Rector, me Famulum tuum, quem Pastorem Ecclesiae Cantuar. praeesse voluisti, propitius respice: Da mihi, humillime peta, verbo & exemplo quibus p…aesum proficere. Ut una cum Grege mihi credito ad vitam perveniam sempiternam, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
O Deus mi, Pater clementissime, gratia tua ita in me operetur, ut sim humilis in recusando omne magn…m minist…ium, subditus tamen in suscipiendo, …idelis in servando, st…enuus in exequendo, i…regendo populo vigilans, in corrigendo vehemens, in amando a…dens, in sustinendo patiens, in moderando prudens: ut proiis quibus praesum Deo me interponam consulenti, opponam i…ascenti, in fiducia & meritis Jesu Christi Salvatoris nostri. Amen.
O Lord, as the rain cometh down from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the Earth, and makes it bud and bring forth, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to him that eateth: So let thy Word be that goeth out of my mouth, let it not return to me void, but accomplish that which thou wilt, and prosper in the thing whereto thou hast sent it, that the people committed to my charge may go out with joy, and be led forth in peace to thy freshest waters of comfort, in Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Son of God, thou which takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon me in this heavy Charge. Amen.
A Summarie of Devotions companion
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