Friday, March 6, 2026

Faith and works

"Deus, innocentiae restitutor et amator, dirige ad te tuorum corda servorum:  ut, spiritus tui fervore concepto, et in fide inveniantur stabiles et in opere efficaces."

God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of [your] servants to you, in order that, seized by the fervor of your Spirit, they may be found steadfast in faith and effectual in deed.

     Prayer for Thursday of the Second Week in Lent, Liturgy of the hours.  Corpus orationum =Bruylants, no. 235 on p. 72 of vol. 2.  From the 9th century, but the incipit ("Deus, innocentiae restitutor et amator, dirige ad te tuorum corda") from the earlier Gelasian.  On the other hand, shouldn't concepto, if modifying servorum or corda (for what else could it be modifying?), be plural?  Universalis:

God of love, bring us back to you.  Send your Spirit to make us strong in faith and active in good works.