A Prayer for Exaudi

John 15:26–16:4 / By Esaias Heidenreich

Lord Jesus Christ, You promise all Christendom Your Holy Spirit, calling Him the true and only Comforter. Therefore, we ask that, because Your congregation is now enmeshed in the deepest sorrow and tribulation, You would govern, strengthen, and quicken her by Your Holy Spirit's comfort and protect her from eternal sorrow and misery. But especially we ask for every individual, contrite, and troubled heart, who heartily bears a longing for such consolation and quickening in cross, distress, misery, and in death's final throes. Let such a heart be preserved by the power of Your Spirit unto Your honor. Amen.

Esaias Heidenreich, Betbüchlein (1572)

Petrus Christus, Madonna of the Dry Tree (1480)