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|man, who, with great longing, was waiting for the redemption of Israel, ||Luke ii. |- |Who, by the sight of thee, didst comfort Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, who served thee constantly in the temple by fastings and prayers, ||Ibid. |- |Who didst inflame the three kings with strong desire to seek and adore the newborn King of heaven and earth, ||Matt. ii. |- |Who, by the leading of a star, didst enlighten the same kings with a noble faith to acknowledge a little infant to be God and man, ||Ibid. |- |Who didst send John the Baptist, of wonderful abstinence and austerity of life, to be thy precursor and preacher of penance, ||Matt. iii. |- |Who didst endue him with zeal and love for the truth, fearlessly to reprove the crime of the wicked king, ||Mark vi. |- |Who broughtest the whole world to the obedience of thy Gospel by those whom thou choosest to be thy disciples and apostles, though poor, simple, and unlearned men, ||Matt. iv. |- |Who didst vouchsafe to John, who was signally gifted with chastity, the special privilege of thy love, ||John xiii. |- |Who commendedst the woman of Canaan when she besought thee, for her faith and perseverance in prayer, ||Matt. xv. |- |Who approvedst the faith of the centurion and the ruler, and blessed them with a miraculous cure, ||Matt. viii. |- |Who didst mark the humility of the publican with special commendation, ||Luke xviii. and John iv. |- |Who didst favour with a miracle the zeal of the multitude that stayed with thee three days to hear thy word, ||Mark viii. |- |Who, by the fire of the Holy Ghost, on the day of Pentecost, didst confirm in thy love the hearts of thy Apostles, ||Acts ii. |- |Be favourable, O Lord, and spare us. |- |Be favourable, O Lord, and deliver us. |}

That we may deny ungodliness and worldly