The War Prayer
O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our
hearts, go forth to battle -- be thou near them! . . .O Lord our God,
help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us
to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead:
help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their
wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a
hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows
with unavailing grief. . . .For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast
their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make
heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow
with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it in the spirit of live, of
Him who is the source of Love, and who is the ever-faithful refuge and
friend of all who are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite
hearts. Amen.
