O _Christ_, enthroned as King above, whom the nine orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing, deign Thou _upon us_, Thy servants, ever to _have mercy_. O _Christ_, whom Thy one only Church throughout the world doth hymn, O Thou to whom the sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, do service ever, do Thou _have mercy_. O _Christ_, those holy ones, the heirs of the eternal country, one and all with utter joy proclaim Thee in a most worthy strain: do Thou _have mercy upon us_. O _Lord_, O gentle Son of Mary free, O King of Kings, blessed Redeemer, upon those who have been ransomed from the power of death, by Thine own blood, ever _have mercy_. O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son, having no beginning of age, yet without effort (in the weakness of God) excelling all things, upon this Thy congregation in Thy pity, _Lord have mercy_. O Sun of Righteousness, in all unclouded glory, supreme dispenser of justice, in that great day when Thou shalt strictly judge all nations, we earnestly beseech Thee, upon This Thy people, who here stand before Thy presence, in Thy pity, _Lord, then have mercy upon us_. Amen. —Dunstan of Canterbury Dying Words Glory be to Thee, Almighty Father, who hast given to them that fear Thee the heavenly bread of life, that we may be mindful of the marvels which Thou hast wrought upon the earth, by sending us Thy only begotten Son, very man, born of a pure virgin. We give thanks, as is most justly due, to Thee, O Holy Father, who didst create us ere yet we were, and whilst we were yet sinners didst make us partakers of Thy heavenly grace, through the same Thy Son, our Lord and God, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost maketh, ordereth, and ruleth all things for ever and ever, world without end. Amen. —Dunstan of Canterbury ELEVENTH CENTURY PRAYERS For Pardon, Grace, and Guidance O Thou plenteous source of every good and perfect gift, shed abroad the cheering light of Thy sevenfold grace over our hearts. Yea, Spirit of love and gentleness, we most humbly implore Thy assistance. Thou knowest our faults, our failings, our necessities, the dulness of our understanding, the waywardness of our affections, the perverseness of our will. When, therefore, we neglect to practise what we know, visit us, we beseech Thee, with Thy grace, enlighten our minds, rectify our desires, correct our wanderings, and pardon our omissions, so that by Thy guidance we may be preserved from making shipwreck of faith, and keep a good conscience, and may at length be landed safe in the haven of eternal rest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. —Anselm For the Afflicted and Distressed