The Collect for the 32nd Ordinary Sunday has an antecedent in the Gelasian Sacramentary. It is also used in the Extraordinary Form on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, and it is cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1742).
Omnipotens et misericors Deus, universa nobis adversantia propitiatus exclude, ut, mente et corpore pariter expediti, quae tua sunt liberis mentibus exsequamur.
Adversantia (from adverso) is, “to be against, resist, oppose (in his opinions, feelings, intentions, etc)”. Resistere, however, denotes resistance through external action. The distinction of “internal” and “external” is useful for understanding our Collect. We are challenged from without, but the greatest challenges come from within. We must constantly cope both with the unreconstructed effects of original sin and also with attacks from the Enemy, who stirs up passions and memories, plants wicked thoughts and images. Holy Church traditionally prays: “Be sober and vigilant: for your adversary (adversarius) the devil is going around like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour: whom you must resist (resistite), strong in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8).
