Merciful God and Father in heaven, to Thee I give the humblest thanks
with heart and lips, that Thou didst so mercifully visit us poor human
beings through the giving of Thy dearest Son, and didst raise up our Lord
Jesus as a horn of salvation in Thy church, in order that we should lay
hold of the same in true faith, receive comfort, joy and salvation from
the same, and sustain ourselves by it in danger and in death. Equal
thanks do I owe Thee, Lord Jesus, Thou day-spring from on high, that Thou
didst so gloriously enlighten, through Thy appearing, us poor, blind
people who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and didst direct
our feet upon the way of divine peace. No less do I thank Thee, O God
Holy Ghost, that Thou didst raise up John as a prophet of the Highest,
and didst give through him the knowledge of salvation which consists in
the forgiveness of sins. O holy Trinity, give me Thy grace, that I may
worthily acknowledge such great benefits, and be thankful to Thee always
for the same, not only in words, but also in a Christian life, and serve
Thee all the days of my life in holiness and righteousness, which are
pleasing to Thee, until in the land of eternity I shall behold Thee face
to face, and sing, with the assembly of the chosen, the never-ending
hymns of praise and thanks. Amen.