By Pope St Clement of Rome, 4th pope and bishop
He knew St Peter and St Paul before their martyrdoms in Rome
(circa 95AD):
We beg you, Lord, to help and defend us.
Deliver the oppressed.
Pity the insignificant.
Raise the fallen.
Show yourself to the needy.
Heal the sick.
Bring back those of your people who have gone astray.
Feed the hungry.
Lift up the weak.
Take off the prisoners’ chains.
May every nation come to know that you alone are God,
that Jesus is your Child,
that we are your people, the sheep that you pasture.
Amen.
