Truly it is worthy and just, meet and profitable to salvation, that we give Thee thanks always, here and everywhere, o Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, humbly entreating Thy majesty, that in Thy might Thou may drive away from Thy Church whatever is harmful, and give bountifully what is beneficial. Grant to us to preserve a reasonable humility against the proud spirits, and mercifully bestow upon us Thy grace. Leave us not in the uncertainty of human aid, but preserve us by Thine own governance, that cannot be deceived: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy majesty, the Archangels venerate, the Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Principalities and Powers worship. The Cherusim also and the Seraphim, join them in exsultant praise. And we beseech that that Thou order our voices also to be admitted with theirs, saying with humble confession: Holy, holy, holy ... (
The Preface of the 14th Sunday after Pentecost in the traditional Ambrosian Rite. This is the second of a group of 6 prefaces said in rotation through the Sundays between Pentecost and Advent.)
 |
| The Most Holy Trinity, by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, ca. 1550 |
Vere quia dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, hic et ubique gratias agere, Domine, Sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus, majestatem tuam suppliciter exorantes: ut ab Ecclesia tua, quidquid est noxium, tua virtute repellas; et quod eidem salutare est, largiaris: nobisque contra superbos spiritus humilitatem tribuas rationabilem custodire, et gratiam tuam clementer impendas: nec nos humani incertos auxilii derelinquas; sed tua quae falli non potest, gubernatione conserves. Per Christum Dominum. Per quem majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, venerantur Archangeli, Throni, Dominationes, Virtutes, Principates, et Potestates adorant. Quem Cherubim et Seraphim socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus...
