"Almighty and Ever-loving God, Thou livest though Thy children die, and Thou art ever near to uphold and comfort. Blessed be Thy Name for the faith which is by Christ and that in Him Thou hast overcome the bitterness of sorrow and the sharpness of death, and opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believing hearts. May Thy children of this household be near to Thee as Thou art near to them. Let this sorrow be unto them as Thy fatherly discipline, and may they hear Thee saying unto them as by the lips of the Christ, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." They would confess the wisdom of Thy decree. For all that hath been gracious and merciful they would devoutly thank Thee, and compassed about by the mystery of our life they would say, "Thy will be done." Be Thou the Strength of the weak, the Companion of the lonely, the Author and Finisher of an immortal life. Go with those who shall bear forth their dead to be gathered to kindred dust. Let the face of the risen and glorified shine down through the darkness, and refresh our spirits evermore with the light of Thy Countenance. We pray in His Name who died for our sakes, beseeching Thee to forgive our great and manifold transgressions through Him who ever liveth to make intercession for us. Amen."
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