Holy Spirit of fortitude, who dwells in us more and more each | Heathens Begone

Holy Spirit of fortitude, who dwells in us more and more each day, preserve us from the seduction of this age! In no age has the energy of souls been so weak, nor the spirit of the world so powerful, nor sensualism so insolent, nor pride and independence so pronounced. To be strong with oneself is today something so singular, that it awakens the admiration of those who are witnesses: so much ground is being lost by the Gospel maxims! Stop us on this slope, which will drag us down, like so many others, O divine Spirit! Grant that we may address to you, in supplicating demand, the vows that Paul made for the Ephesian Christians and that we may claim from your magnanimity "this divine armor so that we may be able to resist in the evil day and remain perfect in all things. Gird our loins with the truth, clothe us with the breastplate of righteousness, and put the gospel of peace on our feet with an indestructible shoe; arm us at all times with the shield of faith with which we may quench the fiery darts of the evil enemy. Cover our head with the helmet of health and in our hand put the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God"', with whose help, like the Lord in the desert, we will be able to defeat all enemies. Spirit of Fortitude, may it be so.