Tuesday 2 July 2013

Prayer of the Auxiliary Service (c. 1944-1945)

    Lord of Heaven and Earth,
    welcome the humble, ardent prayer
    of us Italian women,
    who place Thee, O Lord, and the Fatherland,
    above all other dearest affections.
    Bless our far-away homes,
    bless the work of our days,
    collect, as an offering of redemption
    for the betrayed Fatherland,
    the blood of the heroes and the martyrs,
    the weeping of the mothers deprived of their children,
    and the sobbing cry of the children
    deprived of their mothers
    due to the sadistic ferocity of the enemy.
    Grant, O Lord, that the resurrection
    of the Fatherland take place soon,
    and grant us victory.
    Bless Italy on the sea,
    on the bloody and oppressed terrain,
    in all the skies, the Republican Flag,
    free, strong, secure.
    Bless our dead who are always alive in us,
    who raise up towards Thee, on high,
    the Flag of Italy
    which will
    never be lowered.
    Preserve for us the Duce.
    Amen.