d) RELIGIOUS LIFE

"They commit themselves to living as religious"

Before leaving for the Missions, both the Missionaries and the lay brothers will make the following vows.

To remain in the Congregation for five consecutive years, whatever be the destination or office assigned them by the superiors (...).

The lay brothers will make the vow of chastity. 

All will make the vow of obedience more religiosorum (like religious) to their own superior and to the superiors of the Congregation.

They will also make the vow of poverty, meaning that they cannot possess or acquire or accept anything as their own (besides what they may already possess or may acquire in the future in their homeland).

By this vow of poverty, the Missionaries and lay brothers pledge not to keep any sum of money, any object, or any movable or immovable goods they may receive in the exercise of their ministry either as a stipend, compensation, personal gift, or remuneration for services rendered.  All of them shall be handed in to the Congregation.

Likewise, by this vow of poverty, the Missionaries and lay brothers promise to be satisfied with the pure necessities of life and with their food and clothing, in keeping with St. Paul's recommendation.  Hence, whenever they need something on their trips or in the missions, they promise to provide for themselves within the bounds of modesty and Christian frugality, shunning luxury and superfluities and being thrifty for the sake of the Congregation (...).  All income from whatever source shall be turned over to one's superior.

Once admitted to the Institute, all candidates must clearly understand that they are to live for five years as true religious, imbued with zeal for the salvation of souls in a spirit of sacrifice and detachment from the riches and glories of the world, in full communion of love and unlimited obedience to the Pope, the superiors of the Congregation, and the Ordinaries of the places where they exercise their ministry.⁴⁵

"I judged it necessary to introduce perpetual vows"

The good Jesuit Father Rondina was here to conduct with much fruit the spiritual exercises for the young aspirants to the Missions of America.  After consulting him regarding the reform of the Rule, I thought it necessary to introduce simple but perpetual vows.  To my great satisfaction, these young men have already accepted without any problem this and other important changes, which I will submit to Your Eminence with the proper formalities through the services of the same good religious.  Hence, it is extremely important to recall the missionaries who have left for the missions without vows and replace them with others who, having made their regular novitiate as is now the practice, show promise of becoming very good missionaries.⁴⁶

"Total confidence in the future"

Fr. Rondina, a well known Jesuit writer for La Civiltà Cattolica, was here to conduct the spiritual exercises.  He went away very pleased and in agreement with me.  I decided to introduce the simple perpetual vows and a regular novitiate.  Almost all our young men enthusiastically welcomed the idea.

On Oct. 15, they began a novitiate of sorts and on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will make their perpetual vows.  I found them all happy with this program.  The new applicants will begin a regular 1-year novitiate.  This is the first time I experience such deep inner peace and unbounded hope for the future. 

Thus finalized and approved by the Holy See, the Rule will be

printed and sent to the first missionaries.  Then, whoever applies and is admitted will make perpetual vows, while those who do not feel called will leave even at once, if need be, and be replaced by these new candidates whom Father Rondina holds in high esteem as a group of saintly and promising young men.  Meanwhile, it is important to hold on to our positions as best as we can; and when God so wills, they will be filled by more generous and better formed people.  May God assist us.⁴⁷

"I am about to receive the perpetual vows of the Missionaries"

December 8, 1894 - 7:00 A.M.

I am about to receive the perpetual vows of the Missionaries.  I want the vows to be like those the Capuchins make for the first four years, that is to say: the missionaries are bound to the Congregation, but the Congregation is free to send them home, in which case the vows are ipso facto annulled without resorting to dispensations.  A serious reason, judged such by the superiors, is enough for individuals to be dispensed from the holy vows, including uneasiness of spirit, destitution of one's parents, poor health, etc.

O Mary, Virgin Immaculate, bless us all!⁴⁸

"The consecration God deigns to grant you today through the hands of Mary"

Your presence, dearly beloved sons, fills my heart with utter joy and bliss.  How blessed is the soul that has received the privilege God has granted you.  Today, by the profession of the holy vows, you gladden the Church, the choirs of angels, the saints, the martyrs, the confessors, the apostles, Mary Immaculate, Jesus Christ, and the Eternal Father.

One day, the great Pope St. Clement was receiving the vows of consecration of some generous souls.  At a certain point in the sacred rite, the holy Pontiff was sweetly rapt up into ecstasy (...).  Coming to, he exclaimed: O my children, I deeply rejoice with you.  Exult, weep for joy, and bless God who has called you to such glory.  I saw your consecration rise up to the heavens like a brilliant wave that gladdened the

heavenly court with new and ineffable joy.  I saw the Mother of God, the Immaculate One, present your vows before the throne of Jesus the Redeemer.  I saw a shower of mercy, of pardon and grace come pouring down upon your souls.

You blessed ones, rejoice, weep for joy, renew all your promises to God.  On your knees ask the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints we will be invoking, to fill in for you.

When, in the name of Jesus Christ and the Church, I will raise my hands over you and pronounce those most holy words: "Deign, O great God, to bless, sanctify, and consecrate these chosen souls," you must pray fervently that God's plans will be fulfilled in you, that he will let you die here and now rather than allow you to lose, to your utter misfortune, the blessing, the sanctification, and the consecration God deigns to grant you today through the hands of Mary.⁴⁹

"You will be faithful to your vows"

As the representative of Jesus Christ ‑- unworthy though I be ‑- and successor of the apostles, I accept these vows you have just made, these generous promises of yours, these most noble sentiments of your heart.  I receive them with joy and exultation through the hands of the Immaculate Virgin.  I place them on this altar dedicated to her glorious mother, on this day full of joy for her and for us.  Indeed, I beg her to place them herself in the heart of Jesus so that he, the source of all blessings, may confirm them and strengthen them.

My dear sons, I am sure you will be faithful to your vows with God's help and the blessing of his Immaculate Mother to whom ‑- I am pleased to see ‑- you were divinely inspired to consecrate this first most solemn act of your career, the first fruits of your apostolate.  Yes, you will be constantly faithful to your vows, faithful in the midst of labors and tribulations, faithful on your trips, faithful in the anxieties of your sublime mission, unto the shedding of your blood; faithful unto death.  Beloved sons, this is how you will obtain the glory of God, the salvation of souls, your sanctification, the joy of the Church triumphant, the glory of the Church militant.  Because you will manifest, in deed, the holiness and divinity of her teaching, you will be a living apologia of the Church, our most loving mother, who is so much persecuted in our day.

To this end, hold on tight to the crucifix I have just given you (...). 

Never forget those divine words: "Always be on the watch."  May God grant you this grace, dearly beloved sons.  Join me, all of you, in the unbloody Sacrifice and implore God Almighty to make you leave this church transformed, as once the apostles left the Cenacle transformed.  May he keep you always in his care.⁵⁰

"The life of the missionary in the Missions"

As a gospel worker, the Missionary must remember that he is bound to spread the beautiful fragrance of Jesus by his own life, to preach the gospel more by example than by word.  He will observe his rule always and everywhere and practice especially temperance, meekness, humility, chastity, modesty, and charity, as well as a great spirit of detachment.  This also holds true for the brother catechists.

The Missionary will make the following great maxim the foundation of all his activity: Never so apply yourself to the exercise of the apostolic ministry as to neglect your interior life and never so abide in the joys of the interior life as to neglect the exercise of your apostolic ministry.  The Missionary should also remember that, if he neglects prayer and meditation, he will have a hard time remaining in God's grace (...).

The Missionaries should make every effort always and everywhere to preserve close unity with their confreres in the Congregation, dealing with each other with an open heart and sincere love.⁵¹

"Though few, you can still do very much if you are animated by the spirit of the Apostles"

Thanks be to God, our humble Congregation has been able to assert itself so as to gain in a short time the love of good people, as well as the sympathy of honest men in all circles.  My dear, venerable brothers, notwithstanding the immense difficulties you in your zeal had to confront at the outset, you were still able to accomplish prodigious works.  I say with pleasure: you have deserved well of religion and country.  God will know how to reward you in a way

worthy of Himself. 

A good start is not enough, however.  You must persevere to the very end, as there is still much more to do.  I know, you are too few for the need.  Yet, though so few, you can still accomplish very much if you are keenly aware of the importance and high worth of your vocation and are animated by the spirit of the apostles.

The honor Jesus Christ has conferred on you by calling you to take part in his redemptive work and counting you among his apostles is great, ineffably great.  It is to you in particular that he repeats even today those words of comfort:  "I have chosen you and have appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain."  Notice that he does not say: "You have been called," but "I myself have called you;" I, the Son of the living God; I, the immortal King of the ages; I, who have founded the Church and guide it to victory in the midst of the battles and storms of the world.  "I have chosen you and have appointed you."  What predilection!⁵²

"Union with Jesus Christ"

You have answered His call, dearly beloved.  You have gone forth and you have done much good.  But, I repeat, this is not enough.  This good must be lasting: "that you should bear fruit and that your fruit should remain." 

What does the shoot need to bring forth fruit?  That it remain attached to the vine.  Now the vine is Jesus and you, beloved ones, are the shoots: "I am the vine, you are the branches." Jesus Himself said so!

Therefore, as long as you remain in him, you will feel full of superhuman energy, and the results you will reap cannot but be fruitful and lasting.  Everything will be possible to you, even when faced with the most serious difficulties.  Instead, detached from him you will become like a body without a soul, destitute of all good works.  You will be like branches good for nothing except to be cast into the fire:  "Without me, you can do nothing." 

Therefore, beloved brothers and sons, first and foremost you must be united with Jesus Christ.  You will realize this union by nourishing your faith with the steady exercise of piety and by persevering in the state of grace.⁵³ 

Such a union will result in unity among yourselves.  Jesus Christ prayed so hard for his disciples to have this unity, something truly so necessary. 

No group of people, however great their abilities as individuals, will ever be able to achieve great things if they do not submit to the great law of unity.  Even less will Missionaries be able to achieve great things because, in working with souls, they ‑- as simple instruments of Jesus Christ ‑- derive all their efficacy from this sovereign principle of unity animating them. 

For this reason, dearly beloved, I beseech you and implore you, out of love for Jesus Christ and for the good of our brethren, not to scatter your forces by each one using them according to his individual whim, without any other guide except his own will.  Instead, you must be united and be as one.  "That they may be one."

You must be united in thought, affections, and desires, just as you are united for the same end.  "I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose."

How can you succeed in this?  With all humility and meekness, and by supporting one another with all patience.  This is, after all, the secret of the Apostle:  "With all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another through love."

So let injurious words, vain jealousy, conflict, and rivalry be alien to the Missionary!  Let each one be at peace and tolerant in the fulfillment of his own duties.  Let each bear with the faults of others.  Let each do what he can "to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."⁵⁴ 

"Let there be peace inside as well as outside the home.  Let there be peace with everyone"

Let there be peace not only among yourselves, dearly beloved, but also with your brother priests in the ministry.  Because of your mission you will often come into contact with priests and missionaries of different nationalities.  You must benefit from their experiences.  Have the greatest regard for them.  Love them cordially and always

respect them.  Let there be peace inside as well as outside the home.  Let there be peace with everyone.

But peace is not possible without order, and there can be no order without a rule.  My brothers and sons, you have your Rule, approved by the Apostolic See.  Be scrupulous in its observance.  But that is not enough.  Only then will there be peace among men, writes St. Augustine, when each and all keep to the place assigned them by Divine Providence.  "Peace consists in this, that all keep to their place."  Therefore let the one among you who is in command fulfill his office with firmness and modesty, and the one who must obey do so "willingly, simply, promptly and at all times," in the words of St. Bernard.  Let obedience to your superiors be your badge of honor.⁵⁵

St. Charles, a splendid model

From now on, you will have the honor of calling yourselves The Missionaries of Saint Charles. 

Saint Charles!  He was one of those men of action who do not hesitate, do not bend or ever retreat: who throw into every act the whole strength of their conviction, all the energy of their will, their whole personality, all of themselves, and win.

Saint Charles!  What a marvelous example of undaunted constancy, of generous patience, of enlightened, unrelenting, and magnanimous zeal ‑- an example of all those virtues that make a person a real apostle of Jesus Christ.  He thirsted for souls.  He desired nothing but souls, did not ask for anything but souls.  "Give me souls; take everything else away," he used to say.  My God, to gain souls for Jesus Christ what did he not do!  What did he not endure!  What did he not say!

Saint Charles!  This is a name which the Catholic missionary should never hear without being inflamed with the noblest and liveliest enthusiasm, without feeling profoundly moved (...).

Dearly beloved, pattern yourselves after him.  Recommend yourselves to him.  Put all your trust in him.  You can be certain of his protection.⁵⁶

"Help each other grow in the knowledge and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ"

I congratulate you and Fr. Vittorio on the work you are doing.  Pursue the work of God with cheerfulness of spirit.  Help each other grow in the knowledge and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Be saints and everything will blossom in your hands.  This is my hope and prayer for you and all the rest.⁵⁷

"Work diligently but without agitation, in the peace of God"

You ask me what your duties are.  My answer: Do everything you can for our little orphans.  Always work in full agreement with your provincial.  Try to keep peace and harmony among the confreres and you will have done your duty.

Meditate often on the wise words of Kempis: "If we try to stand up in the battle like brave men, we will at once see the help of the Lord upon us."

Surely, in your place, young as you are, you cannot be without crosses and difficulties.  This is just as well, because they foster humility and defend us against vainglory.

The field you must till is beautiful and fruitful.  You will receive a reward for your work from him who said: "Let the little children come to me."  Work diligently but without agitation, in the peace of God, expecting everything from him.  This is the secret of victory in the midst of the most serious difficulties.⁵⁸

"Let everything be done according to our Rules"

I strongly urge you to introduce the exercises of piety, to be done in common as far as possible: meditation, spiritual reading, visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and the Rosary.  Start with Boston if it is not the practice there.  When the new ones arrive, make sure everything is done according to our Rules.  This is supremely important.  Our men who have left for Brazil write back very encouraging letters, like the real missionaries that they are, full of fervor, of love for the Congregation, of desire to sanctify themselves through the exact observance of the Rules and through the steady exercise of the sacred

ministry.  Letters like these are really uplifting.  I have them read in the community for the edification of all.  May God bless these good sons of mine, who make every effort to make up for the disappointments caused me by others.  Let us pray much and have others do likewise so that God's adorable plans may be accomplished in us and in our confreres.⁵⁹

"Revive the spirit of piety, harmony, and obedience in our confreres"

Now, with all my heart I urge you to be faithful to the practices of piety, especially to meditation, in common in keeping with the Rule.  You must insist "in season and out of season," even in virtue of your authority if exhortation is not enough.  But you must absolutely enforce what is prescribed in this regard.  Meditation and the annual retreat are essential to priestly life, and one should want to do them at all costs.  You will be doing an inestimable service to our cause if, with God's help, you succeed in this most holy goal.

I have noted with great joy that God is blessing your mission and your calm, firm, and prudent work.  I am confident you will know how to revive the spirit of piety, harmony, and obedience in our confreres.⁶⁰

"It is important that the rules be put into practice"

Make sure the rules are put into practice, especially those that have to do with the practices of piety in common, and meditation at all costs (...).  I must call your attention to this very serious matter (...).  Admonish, be vigilant, exhort, and, if necessary, give orders.  This is such a necessary goal that no sacrifice should be too much to achieve it. 

As I have already told you, the Lord is blessing your work.  Once again we can see that "the obedient person speaks of victories."  But, in my opinion, the greatest victory will be ensuring the observance of the rules in the two houses I mentioned before and subsequently the observance of the rules also in the other houses where there are at least two Fathers.  I think we understand each other.  "Fight like a good soldier of Christ" and God will reward you.⁶¹

"Putting together those who have perpetual vows"

The year about to end has been full of crosses for me; but perhaps it has been the most productive of holy works, thanks be to God.  How true it is: "in the Cross strength, in the Cross power" (...).

How are things by you?  How is your health?  How have you assigned the Fathers?  Who stays on?  Who is to return?  Regarding assignments, I strongly insist on one thing: make sure you put together those who have perpetual vows.  In this way, they can more easily observe the rules and feel more at ease (...).

The financial reports that every house should send you and you to me are due.  It is important to review the financial administration so as to ascertain how the money is being spent and with what criteria.  Here we are living in destitution, I even more so than our house.  So you must keep in mind the needs of the Motherhouse and send as much as you can.⁶²

It is hard for one to keep the spirit of his vocation for long if he lives alone"

Through good Fr. Marchetti I received your very kind letter of Nov. 11.  I cannot tell you how happy it made me.  I am always overjoyed whenever I meet talented and compassionate  people who harness mind and heart and strength to the alleviation of the miseries of others.

Your Honor, I thank you for your noble concern for our poor emigrants. Personally, I would be very happy to satisfy the desire you expressed to me.  To me, the most serious problem is that of leaving the Missionaries separated from each other.  You are a man of experience and know how hard it is for one to keep the spirit of his vocation for long if he lives alone, in the midst of people of different backgrounds with whom one must more or less always contend.  Over the long haul, the inner life becomes weak and, every now and then, needs to be nourished and strengthened in the spirit of the Rule by the word and example of confreres.

There should be at least two Missionaries, and they should also be able to live the common life.  In the beginning it would be enough for them to have a little church or even some oratory with a residence

nearby.  One of the two could go to the barracks of the emigrants and, as a rule, return to the residence.⁶³

"There should be at least two of them"

As soon as the Archbishop and you give me a sign, I will immediately send two Missionaries and a brother catechist to Boston.  You must insist that there be at least two of them.  With uncommon speed, the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide has approved our Rule and insists that there be at least two priests in every house.  I don't foresee any opposition (...).

I consider it a wise rule.  What can you expect of a priest isolated in the midst of a clergy that, at least in the beginning, may not be too friendly to him?  He would get disheartened.  So there should be at least two of them together.  On Sundays they will go wherever they are needed.⁶⁴

"Let them keep up the spirit of their vocation"

You already have with you, or soon will, the two new priests.  I cordially and warmly entrust them to you.  Love them as a father loves his children.  Encourage them; correct them; see to it that they keep up the spirit of their vocation.

To this end, I urge you to have the Rules strictly observed, especially the practices of piety in common, meditation first and foremost.

You must give your residences the atmosphere of a religious house.  Otherwise, you won't be able to do all the good you and all of us desire.  These are good young men; they will be what you want them to be.  Begin at once: "Let everything be done according to order." It is a serious obligation of conscience, and to fulfill it one must impose all kinds of sacrifices on oneself.⁶⁵

"Entrusting oneself to God in all simplicity"

Will the Institute endure, will it not endure?  It will endure as long as it pleases God.  Dear Monsignor, those who have a vocation enter the Institute without worrying at all about

their future, knowing that the future is in the hands of God.  Entrusting oneself to God in all simplicity is worth much more than an obsession with guarantees for the Institute's moral, financial, and stable conditions.⁶⁶

"We form a small, humble Congregation but a Congregation nonetheless"

I congratulate you and your confreres on the good you are doing.  Of course, we have to accept the good with the inevitable defects of our human frailty.  But we cannot deny that we are doing good, lots of good.  Let us give infinite thanks to the Lord for this.  I tell you these things to encourage you in your difficulties and make you eager to do your good work with ever increasing perfection.

The holy founder of a religious order used to say that in the beginning Divine Providence sent him a few very generous men who ‑- plunging ahead blindly, it seemed ‑- would sometimes undertake works that were above their possibilities and unpopular with their more cautious confreres.  In the end, the holy founder had to confess publicly that without these men his institute would have died or almost.

Dear Fr. Domenico, let us pray the good Lord to grant us the same grace.  He will do so if we become ever more worthy of his blessings.  We form a small, humble Congregation but a Congregation nonetheless.  So it is only fair that what little money the Lord sends us be used for it.  So when Fr. Morelli is in need and you can help him, by all means do so "in the name of the Lord" (...).

Whenever possible remember to help our Motherhouse.  I warmly recommend her to you because she is always poor and needy.  Right now, we are planning to buy a new house and church.  For this we will need about one hundred thousand lire.  And where will we find them?  I am sure God will provide.⁶⁷

"The backbone and life of every community"

We must thank the Lord for the immense good our Congregation has done so far despite formidable difficulties and many deficiencies.

Nevertheless, I want her to flourish ever more for the greater glory of God and the good of souls.  For this reason, taking into account, as I told you orally, the desires expressed to me by a number of our missionaries as well as the needs of the Congregation and having invoked the help of our heavenly patron, St. Charles, I have ordered and do hereby order the following:

1.     Every day all will do their spiritual reading and meditation and recite the rosary in common.

2.     Every year ‑- or every two years, depending on the custom of the different dioceses ‑- all will make their spiritual exercises together with the clergy of the diocese in which they reside.

3.     Every year the missionaries will send the provincial the certificate for confessions.

4.     Every year, upon notification of the provincial, the local superiors will meet in one of our houses, selected by the provincial himself, to discuss and recommend the most suitable means for continually improving our missions (...).

8.     The financial administration of the house must be scrupulously kept.  The income and expenses are to be entered into the journal daily in a clear and detailed way, and every month there will be the balancing of the budget.

9.     Every month, after deducting from the closing balance enough money for house expenses and a reasonable sum for unforeseen expenses, the house treasurers will send the rest to the provincial, who, in turn, will forward it to the superior of the Motherhouse.  No one must neglect this serious obligation, meager as the savings may be sometimes (...).

Dear Father, you will notify all the Missionaries of the Congregation of these directives as soon as you get to America, and you personally will make every effort to see to their exact observance (...).

You well know that the backbone and life of every community is harmony and discipline.  You will strongly recommend these two things to your confreres.  Without them, they would accomplish very little even if they were an army.  With them, they will perform miracles even if they are just a few.

In every house, increasingly, you must foster and cultivate the spirit of piety and prayer: the foundation and support of everything.⁶⁸

"All this is necessary for the good functioning of the Congregation"

1.     The provincial superior at least every six months and the superiors of the houses at least once a year must communicate directly with the superior general who resides in Italy.  They will give him an exact account of all the activities promoted or organized in each mission of America, of the results obtained and those hoped for, as well as of the financial condition of these missions. 

2.     The Provincial, who, as you know, has ultimate authority over all the houses and the power to give orders to all the missionaries residing in his province, must see to the exact observance of the rules.  He will communicate all the orders of the superior general and see to it that they are carried out.

3.     The provincial will periodically visit each house of the Province and make the decisions that urgent situations require.  He will also obtain a faithful account of the income and expenses of each house.

4.     He will be assisted in the government of the Province by two consultors (...).  He will listen to their advice on the situation of our missions and on the transfer of missionaries, as well as ‑- and I hope this will never happen ‑- on the application of canonical penalties, such as the Spiritual Exercises, suspension from hearing confessions, and so on.

5.     At least once a year, the Provincial will call a meeting of the local superiors so that they can discuss the needs of the missions and come to an agreement on common policies.  Those who for whatever reason cannot attend these meetings must send in their proposals in writing. 

6.     Besides seeing to it that "duties are performed sincerely and properly," the superiors of the houses must try to foster and increase in their subjects the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, a spirit of humility and sacrifice, a spirit of meekness and charity.⁶⁹

"The superior of the house is a real superior"

To my great chagrin, I have learned of something I can hardly believe, namely, that some of our missionary priests look on the superior of the house as an honorary superior rather than as a real superior.

To root out this error that tends, believe it or not, to the disintegration and destruction of our little, humble Congregation, I hereby solemnly declare that the superior of the house is the  real superior of all the Missionaries ‑- both priests and brothers ‑- who reside in that house and that they therefore owe him respect and obedience in everything he sees fit to prescribe or command on behalf of the community and of the individuals.  If they fail in this matter of obedience, they will have to give a serious account to God and to me both for the evil action itself as well as for the scandal given.  I trust no one will ever dare propose this false theory any more.⁷⁰

"Prudence and firmness: these are what make for good government"

Governing human beings is hard and the cross of command is heavy.

This is what came to my mind when I got your last few letters.  But it is also true that "I can do all things in him who gives me strength".  And this happens whenever we are worthy of it: "The Lord stood by me and strengthened me."  So, have courage, be calm, and trust in God (...).

You did the right thing in answering Fr. Vicentini as you did.  It would have been an invalid dispensation.  If he had had a little more courage in the beginning, things would not have come to this point.  But the fear of something worse made him close an eye, or both eyes, without thinking of the necesse est, etc.  A superior must be strong when his duty calls for it and not let himself be frightened by what might happen.  Prudence and firmness: these are the qualities that make for good government and these I daily beg God to grant you.⁷¹