Talba ta’ San Klement ta’ Ruma
Int waħdek tindokra l-interessi tal-ħlejjaq spiritwali, int Alla tal-ħajjin kollha. Int tħares fil-fond u tara x’qed jagħmlu l-bnedmin. Int l-għajnuna tagħna fis-saram, int issalva lil ta’ qalbhom maqtugħa, Ħallieq li żżomm kulma hu spiritwali. Int terfa’ lill-ġnus tal-art, u minnhom kollha int għażilt lilna biex inħobbuk, f’Ġesù Kristu, Ibnek l-għażiż, li għallimna, qaddisna u żejjinna bil-ġieħ. Nitolbuk, Mulej, biex tgħinna u tħarisna. Salva lill-maħqurin, ħenn għall-imwarrbin, erfa’ lill-imtarrfin, uri ruħek lil dawk fil-ħtieġa, fejjaq lill-morda, reġġa’ lura lil dawk li tbiegħdu mill-poplu tiegħek, itma’ lill-imġewħin, għolli lid-dgħajfin, eħles lill-ilsiera mill-ktajjen tagħhom. Ħa jkun jaf kull ġens li int waħdek Alla, li Ġesù Kristu huwa Ibnek, li aħna l-poplu tiegħek, in-nagħaġ tal-mergħa tiegħek. B’dak li int ħlaqt u għamilt int urejtna kif id-dinja ilha mfassla sa minn dejjem. Id-dinja hija l-ħolqien tiegħek, Mulej, tiegħek li tibqa’ fidil lejn kull nisel, ġust fil-ħaqq, u li l-qawwa u l-ġmiel tiegħek huma tal-għaġeb. Ta’ ħila kbira int fil-ħolqien tiegħek, ta’ għerf kbir f’li żżomm wieqfa l-ħwejjeġ li sawwart, u t-tjieba tiegħek tidher f’din id-dinja li naraw. Int tibqa’ fidil lejn dawk li jafdaw fik, ħanin u tagħder. Aħfrilna dnubietna, il-ħażen tagħna, il-waqgħat tagħna, l-għemejjel koroh tagħna.
St Clement of Rome
You alone watch over the interests of spiritual beings, you are the God of all flesh. You gaze into the depths, you watch what men are doing. You are our help in danger, you save the despairing, Creator and Keeper of all that is spiritual. You give increase to the peoples of the earth, and from them all you chose us out to love you, through Jesus Christ, your dear Child, who brought us instruction, holiness and honor.We beg you, Lord, to help and defend us. Deliver the oppressed, pity the insignificant, raise the fallen, show yourself to the needy, heal the sick, bring back those of your people who have gone astray, feed the hungry, lift up the weak, take off the prisoners’ chains. May every nation come to know that you alone are God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, that we are your people, the sheep that you pasture.You have shown by what you have made and done how the world has been planned from eternity. The earth is your creation, Lord, yours that are true to every generation, just when you judge, your strength and splendour a marvel. Such competence yours in creating, such skill in setting firm the things you make, your goodness apparent in this world to see. You are loyal to those who trust you, merciful, compassionate. Forgive us our sins, our injustice, Our falls, our jarring deeds.
St Clement of Rome
(The oldest Christian prayer outside of the Bible)