The follwoing prayer was written in 1959 by Pope John XXIII for the convening of the Vatican II council.

O Divine Spirit Who was sent by the Father in the Name of Jesus and Who remains present in the Church to govern her without error, pour forth we ask You the fullness of Your gifts upon the Ecuмenical Council.

Tenderest of teachers and comforters, enlighten the minds of our holy prelates who in eager allegiance to the Roman Pontiff will make up the assemblies of the sacred synod.

Grant that abundant fruit may come from this Council. May the light and strength of the Gospel be diffused more deeply and more widely throughout human society. May the Catholic religion and the diligent work of the missions flourish with increased vigor. And may the happy result be a fuller knowledge of the teaching of the Church and a salutary progress in Christian morality.

O welcome Guest of the soul, establish our minds in truth and bring our hearts to a ready obedience so that what is determined in the Council may be sincerely accepted and promptly fulfilled by us.

We also pray to You for those sheep who are not yet of the one true fold of Jesus Christ. As they glory in the name of the Christian so may they finally come to true unity under the guidance of the one Pastor.

By a kind of new Pentecost renew Your marvelous works in this our time. Grant to Holy Church that unanimously and insistenly persevering in prayer together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus she may, under the guidance of Saint Peter enlarge the kingdom of the Divine Savior a kingdom of truth and justice, of love and peace. Amen.