Almighty and eternal God, in your wonderful providence you choose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. Look favourably on this little flock of your servants gathered under the standard of the holy Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we, who have been called together in your name, grow in every virtue and so, by your mercy, be one with you, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Stir up your power, Lord, glorify your hand, and with kindness stretch out your right arm over us, so that we will be capable of defending your holy Church even with our blood, wiping out the vices of your people, defeating the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and imprinting on the hearts of the faithful the devotion to the Passion of the Lord. Show us, we pray, all that we should do and suffer for your Name, so that the world will come to know you, God Holy, Strong, Immortal, and the one whom you have sent, your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Prayer of Saint Paul of the Cross (approved by Pope Benedict XIV, 16 September 1746)
Where is this prayer taken from … I don’t think I have ever seen it before?
It was published in Latin and Italian in a book of prayers collected by Max Anselmi c.p. The book is called “Laus Crucis” (-hence the title of my blog). The translation is my own.