Excerpt, Bishop Mallard’s prayer diary:

O Lord, please let the bloodshed be ended. There are so very few of us, and we are so very far from home. Please, cover us under the wings of Your grace. Do not let our little light, an emissary amongst the abyssal black of space, blow out.

I have mixed feelings about the death of the Archbishop. One who held a mask to his face and deceived all of us—myself included—while not being sincerely devoted to You…I should be sad that he has refused the way, and has acted in the course he has chosen. But I also feel a twinge of happiness and relief. If these emotions be unfit for a man of God, especially one who shepherds those under his care to You, divest me of them. Make me clean and noble in spirit, that I may better serve You.

It is always a sad thing when one must die, even more so given our present condition. I pray to You that such shall not have to continue. Please, if it be in Your plan, spare us. But even if not, come whatever may, I will still serve You.

Amen.