Fr Joseph Huneycutt posted this prayer from St. Ephraim: Prayer to the Theotokos in preparation for the Dormition Fast observed in the Orthodox Church.

O most holy Mother of God, O only Lady who art utterly pure in both soul and body, look upon me, abominable and unclean, who have blackened soul and body with the stains of my passionate and gluttonous life. Cleanse my passionate mind; set aright my blind and wandering thoughts and make them incorrupt; bring my senses to order and guide them; free me from my evil and repulsive addiction to unclean prejudices and passions which torment me; grant my clouded and wretched mind the sobriety and discernment to correct my intentions and failings that, freed from the darkness of sin, I might be worthy to boldly glorify and praise thee, O only true Mother of the true Light, Christ our God; for all creation, visible and invisible, blesses and glorifies thee, both with Him and in Him.

After I read it, all I could think of was that it is a perfect prayer for bloggers to make – asking Our Lady’s intercession. Besides the outward petition for help in freeing ourselves of improper bodily passions, this prayer might also help us keep our words free from prejudice and improper passion, seeking only a clear mind set on the glory of God.