Almighty, Eternal God, by ever giving strength to our weakness, you enable the Church to flourish even amidst its trials, so that when it appears to men to be utterly cast down, then rather does it gloriously prevails. Whilst then, it accepts affliction as a proving of its faith, let it persevere, by your grace, in triumphant loyalty. Amen.
A Collect from the Missal of Robert of Jumieges, 11th century.
This image of
The Protection of the Mother of God is an exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.