Tuesday

O Lord my God! I stand condemned before Your Holy Face, and I confess my unworthiness, my weakness and my great poverty. For this reason I pray to You, O sweet Spring and ocean of mercy, open the floodgates of heaven and pour out upon me the bounties of Your mercy, so that I may shed tears, weep, and wash and cleanse my soul from the defilement of sins, with deep and true repentance.

And that You may grant me this Gift, O Lord, I set forth John the Forerunner as my intercessor, to whom I say: O Teacher of the faith and great Prophet, who art greater than all the prophets, as the Son of God Himselfcalled you in the Holy Gospel, you who revealed the Lord Christ to the people, you who baptised Him in the Jordan and saw the heavens open, you who heard the voice of the Heavenly Father and saw the Holy Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. I pray to you, help me through your intercession, you who stand in heaven before the Eternal Judge, and grant that He may have mercy on me, for His love gives you great boldness.

Stretch out that hand with which you baptised Him, and destroy my evil thoughts, and strengthen me to spend my life on God’s righteous path. O Prophet! Enlighten my mind with the Lord’s commandments, that I may remember and keep them until the end of my life. And stand by me at the hour of my death, to lead me, repentant, before my Lord, God. Pray also for everyone, that God may grant His help to Christians, both the living and the departed, and may relieve them of their many troubles, provide them with all they need, and make them worthy of His Kingdom.

Amen.