Seek ye a patron to defend Your cause?—then, one and all, Without delay upon the Prince Of the Apostles call. Blest holder of the heavenly keys, Thy prayers we all implore; Unlock to us the sacred bars Of heaven's eternal door. By penitential tears thou didst The path of life regain; Teach us with thee to weep our sins, And wash away their stain. Blest holder, etc. The angel touch'd thee, and forthwith Thy chains from off thee fell; Oh, loose us from the subtle coils That bind us fast to hell. Blest holder, etc. Firm rock, whereon the Church is based, Pillar that cannot bend, With strength endue us; and the faith From heresy defend. Blest holder, etc. Save Rome, which from the days of old Thy blood hath sanctified; And help the nations of the earth That in thy help confide. Blest holder, etc. Oh, worshipp'd by all Christendom, Her realms in peace maintain; Let no contagion sap her strength, No discord rend in twain. Blest holder, etc. The weapons which our ancient foe Against us doth prepare, Crush thou; nor suffer us to fall Into his deadly snare. Blest holder, etc. Guard us through life; and in that hour When our last flight draws nigh, O'er death, o'er hell, o'er Satan's power, Gain us the victory. Blest holder, etc. Glory be▾ to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Blest holder, etc. Ant. Thou art the Shepherd of the sheep, Prince of the Apostles; to thee were given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. V. Thou art Peter. R. And upon this rock will I build my Church. Let us pray. O Lord, we beseech Thee, raise us up by the Apostolic might of blessed Peter, thy Apostle; that, the weaker we are in ourselves, the more powerful may be the assistance whereby we are strengthened through his intercession; that thus, ever fortified by the protection of thy Apostle, we may neither yield to sin nor be overwhelmed by adversity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.