Furthermore let us pray for mercy, life....
That to him may be remitted....
_And the exclamation._
For a merciful....
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
_Priest, this prayer._
O Lord our God, who chastenest and again healest, who raisest the
poor from the earth, and liftest up the beggar from the dunghill, O
Father of the orphans, and haven of the tempest-tost, and physician of
them that are sick; who painlessly bearest our weaknesses, and takest
away our sicknesses; who shewest mercy with gentleness, overlookest
transgressions, and takest away unrighteousness; who art quick to help
and slow to anger; who didst breathe upon thy disciples, and say, Receive
ye the Holy Ghost, whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto
them; who acceptest the repentance of sinners, and hast power to forgive
many and grievous sins, and vouchsafest healing unto all that continue
in weakness and protracted sickness; who me also, thine humble, sinful,
and unworthy servant, involved in many sins, and overwhelmed with lusts
of pleasures, hast called to the holy and exceeding great degree of the
priesthood, and to enter in within the veil into the holy of holies,
where the holy Angels desire to stoop to look, and hear the evangelical
voice of the Lord God, and behold as eye-witnesses the presence of the
holy oblation, and be enraptured with the divine and sacred liturgy; who
hast counted me worthy to minister the sacred rite of thy most heavenly
mystery, and to offer unto thee gifts and sacrifices for our sins,
and for the ignorances of the people, and to mediate for thy rational
flock, that, through thy great and unspeakable love to man, thou mayest
cleanse their iniquities; do thou thyself, O most good King, attend
unto my prayer at this hour, and on this holy day, and in every time
and place, and accept the voice of my prayer, and grant healing unto
thy servant, _name_, who is in weakness of soul and body, vouchsafing
unto him remission of sins and forgiveness of voluntary and involuntary
iniquities: heal his incurable wounds, and every sickness and every
sore, bestowing upon him spiritual healing. It was thou who didst touch
the mother-in-law of Peter, and the fever left her, and she arose and
ministered unto thee: do thou thyself, O Master, bestow a remedy upon thy
servant, _name_, and an alleviation of every mortal pain, and remember
thine abundant compassions, and thy mercy. Remember that the intention
of man inclineth constantly toward evil from his youth up, and that none
is to be found sinless upon earth; for thou alone art without sin, who
didst come and save the race of men, and deliver us from the servitude of
the enemy. For if thou shouldest enter into judgment with thy servants,
there is none that would be found pure from defilement, but every mouth
would be shut, not having wherewith to answer; for all our righteousness
is as filthy rags before thee. For this cause remember not, Lord, the
sins of our youth; for thou art the hope of the hopeless, and the rest of
them that are weary and heavy-laden with transgressions, and to thee we
ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and
good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And after the prayer the fifth priest straightway taketh a fifth twig,
and, dipping it in the holy oil, anointeth the sick person, saying the
prayer,_
Holy Father, physician of souls and bodies....
_Vide page 101._
_Deacon._ Let us attend.
_And the sixth priest._ Peace to all.
_Prokimenon, tone vi._
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to great mercy.
_Verse._ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
within me.
_The epistle to the Galatians, section ccxiii._
Brethren, the fruit of the spirit.... _ending_, so fulfil the law of
Christ.[25]
_The sixth priest._ Peace to thee.
_Deacon._ Wisdom, let us attend.
_Alleluia, tone vi._
_Verse._ Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, in his commandments he
rejoiceth exceedingly.
_Deacon._ Wisdom, standing, let us hear the holy gospel.
_The gospel from Matthew, section lxii._