Candidates kneel before the bishop.
Bishop:
Almighty God,
be present with us by your power.
You are the source of all honor,
you assign to each his rank,
you give to each his ministry.
You remain unchanged,
but you watch over all creation and make it new
through you Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord:
he is your Word, your power, and your wisdom.
You forsee all things in your eternal providence
and make due provision for every age.
You make the Church, Christ's body,
grow to its full stature as a new and greater temple.
Your enrich it with every kind of grace
and perfect it with a diversity of member
to serve the whole body in a wonderful pattern of
unity.
You established a threefold ministry of worship and
service
for the glory of your name.
As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of
Levi
and gave them your blessing as their everlasting
inheritance.
In the first day of your Church
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
the apostles of your Son appointed seven men of Good
repute
to assist them in the daily ministry,
so that they themselves might be more free for prayer
and preaching.
By prayer and the laying on of hands
the apostles entrusted to those chosen men the ministry
of serving at tables.
Lord,
send forth upon them the Holy Spirit,
that they may be strengthened
by the gift of the sevenfold grace
to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry.
May they excel in every virtue:
in love that is sincere,
in concern for the sick and the poor,
in unassuming authority,
in self-discipline,
and in holiness in life.
May their conduct exemplify your commandments
and lead your people to imitate their purity of life.
May they remain strong and steadfast in Christ,
giving to the world the witness of a pure conscience.
May they in this life imitate your Son,
who came, not to be served but to serve,
and one day reign with him in heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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