O Merciful Creator, Hear

O mer­ci­ful Cre­at­or

hear;

In ten­der pi­ty bow Thine ear:

Accept the tear­ful pray­er we raise

In this our fast of for­ty days.

Each heart is ma­ni­fest to Thee;

Thou know­est our in­fir­mi­ty:

Repentant now we seek Thy face;

Impart to us Thy par­don­ing grace.

Our sins are ma­ni­fold and sore

But spare Thou them who sin de­plore;

And for Thine own name’s sake make whole

The faint­ing and the wea­ry soul.

Grant us to mor­ti­fy each sense

By means of out­ward ab­sti­nence

That so from ev­ery stain of sin

The soul may keep her fast with­in.

Blest Three in One

and One in Three

Almighty God

we pray to Thee

That Thou wouldst now vouch­safe to bless

Our fast with fruits of right­eous­ness.