Monday, October 27, 2008

Daily Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary

For Sunday
Mother of my God, look down upon a poor sinner, who has recourse to you and puts his trust in you. I am not worthy that you should even cast your eyes upon me; but I know that you, beholding Jesus your Son dying for sinners, do yourself yearn exceedingly to save them. O Mother of Mercy, look on my miseries and have pity on me.

Men say you are the refuge of the sinner, the hope of the desperate, the aid of the lost; be you, then, my refuge, hope and aid. It is your prayers which must save me. For the love of Jesus Christ be my help; reach forth your hands to the poor fallen sinner who recommends himself to you. I know that it is your joy to aid the sinner when you can; help me now, you who can help. By my sins I have forfeited the grace of God and my own soul. I place myself in your hands; oh, tell me what to do that I may regain the grace of God, and I will do it.

My Savior bids me to go to you for help; He wills that I should look to your pity; that so, not only the merits of your Son, but your own prayers, too, may unite to save me. To you, then, I have recourse: pray to Jesus for me; and make me experience how great good you can do for one who trusts in you. Be it done unto me according to my hope. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

For Monday
Most holy Mary, Queen of heaven. I who was once the slave of the Evil One now dedicate myself to your service forever; and I offer myself to honor and to serve you as long as I live. Accept me as your servant and cast me not away from you, as I deserve. In you, O my Mother, I place all my hope. All blessing and thanksgiving be to God, who in His mercy gave me this trust in you.

True it is, that in times past I have fallen miserably into sin; but by the merits of Jesus Christ, and by your prayers, I hope that God has pardoned me. But this is not enough, my Mother. One thought distresses me; it is that I may yet lose the grace of God. Danger is ever near; the devil sleeps not; fresh temptations assail me. Protect me, then, my Queen; help me against the assaults of my spiritual enemy. Never let me sin again, or offend Jesus your Son. Let me not by sin lose my soul, Heaven, and my God. This one grace, Mary, I ask of you; this is my desire, this may your prayers obtain for me. Such is my hope. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

For Tuesday
Most holy Mary, Mother of Goodness, Mother of Mercy, when I reflect upon my sins and upon the moment of my death, I tremble and am confounded. O my sweetest Mother, in the Blood of Jesus, in your intercession, are my hopes. Comforter of the sad, abandon me not at that hour; fail not to console me in that affliction. If even now I am so tormented with remorse for the sins I have committed, the uncertainty of my pardon, the danger of a relapse, and the strictness of the Judgment, how will it be with me then?

O my Mother, before death overtakes me, obtain for me great sorrow for my sins, a true amendment, and constant fidelity to God for the remainder of my life. And when at length my hour has come, then do you, Mary, my hope, be yourself my aid in those great troubles wherewith my soul will be encompassed. Strengthen me, that I may not despair when the enemy sets my sins before my face. Obtain for me at that moment grace to invoke you often, so that with your own sweet name and that of your most holy Son upon my lips I may breath forth my spirit. This grace you have granted to many of your servants; this, too, is my hope and my desire. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

For Wednesday
Mother of God, most holy Mary, how often by my sins have I merited hell! Long ago, perhaps, judgment would have gone forth against my first mortal sin, had not you in your tender pity delayed the justice of God, and afterward attracted me by your sweetness to have confidence in your prayers. And oh, how very often should I have fallen in the dangers which beset my steps had not you, loving Mother that you are, preserve me by the grace you did obtain for me by your prayers. But, my Queen, what will your pity and favors avail me, if after all I perish in the flames of hell?

If there was once a time when I loved you not, now, next to God, I love you before all. Wherefore, henceforth and forever, let me not turn my back upon you and upon my God, who through you has granted me so many mercies.

O Lady, most worthy of all love, let it not be that I your child, should be doomed to hate and curse you forever in hell. You will surely never permit your servant to be lost who loves you. O Mary, say not that I ever can be lost! Yet lost I shall assuredly be if I abandon you. But who could ever have the heart to leave you? Who can ever forget your love? No, it is impossible for that man to perish who faithfully recommends himself to you and has recourse to you. Only leave me not, my Mother, in my own hands, or I am lost! Let me but cling to you! Save me, my hope! Save me from hell; or, rather, save me from sin, which alone can condemn me to hell. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

For Thursday
Queen of Heaven, who sit enthroned above all the choirs of angels nearest to God, from this vale of miseries I, a poor sinner, say to you “Hail Mary,” praying to you in your love to turn upon me those gracious eyes of yours.

See, Mary, the dangers among which I dwell, and shall ever have to dwell while I live upon this earth. I may yet lose my soul, heaven and God. In you, Lady, is my hope, I love you; and I yearn for the time when I shall see myself safe at your feet.

When shall I kiss that hand, which has dispensed to me so many graces? Alas, it is too true, my Mother, that I have ever been very ungrateful during my whole life; but if I get to heaven, then I will love you there every moment for all eternity and make there reparation in some sort for my ingratitude by ever blessing and praising you.

Thanks be to God that He has granted me this hope through the Precious Blood of Jesus, and through your powerful intercession. This has been the hope of all your true lovers; and not one of them has been defrauded of his hope. No, neither shall I be defrauded of mine. O Mary, pray to your own Son Jesus, as I too pray to Him, by the merits of His Passion, to strengthen and increase this hope. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

For Friday
O Mary, you are the noblest, highest, purest, fairest creature of God, the holiest of all creatures! Oh, that all men knew you, loved you, my Queen, as you deserve to be loved! Yet great is my consolation Mary, in that there are blessed souls in the courts of heaven, and just souls still on earth, whose hearts you lead captive with your beauty and your goodness. But above all I rejoice in this, that God Himself loves you alone more than all men and angels together.

I too, O loveliest Queen, I, a miserable sinner, dare to love you, though my love is too little; would that I had a greater love, a more tender love; this you must gain for me, since to love you is a great mark of predestination, and a grace which God grants to those who shall be saved. Moreover, O my Mother, when I reflect upon the debt I owe your Son, I see He deserves of me an immeasureable love.

Do you, then, who desired nothing so much as to see Him loved, pray that I may have this grace – a great love for Jesus Christ. Obtain it, you who obtain what you will. I covet not goods of earth, nor honors, nor riches, but I desire that which your own heart desires most – to love my God alone. Oh, can it be that you will not aid me in a desire so acceptable to you? No, it is impossible! Even now I feel your help; even now you pray for me. Pray for me, Mary, pray; nor ever cease to pray, till you see me safe in heaven, where I shall be certain of possessing and of loving my God and you, my dearest Mother, forever and ever. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

For Saturday
Most holy Mary, I know the graces which you have obtained for me, and I know the ingratitude which I have shown you. The ungrateful man is unworthy of favors, and yet for all this I will not distrust in your mercy. O my great Advocate, have pity on me.

You, Mary, are the stewardess of every grace which God vouchsafes to give us sinners, and therefore did He make you so mightily rich and kind, that you might succor us. I will that I may be saved: in your hands I place my eternal salvation, to you I consign my soul. I will be associated with those who are your special servants; reject me not. You are always seeking the wretched to console them. Cast not away, then, a wretched sinner who has recourse to you. Speak for me, Mary; your Son grants what you ask. Take me under your protection, and it is enough for me; for with you to guard me I fear no ill – no, not even my sins, because you will obtain God’s pardon for them; neither evil spirits, because you are far mightier than hell; nor my Judge Jesus Christ, for at your prayer He will lay aside His wrath.

Protect me, then, my Mother; obtain for me pardon of my sins, love of Jesus, holy perseverance, a good death, and heaven. It is true, I merit not these graces; yet do you only ask them of our God and I shall obtain them. Pray, then, to Jesus for me. Mary, my Queen, in you I trust; in this trust, I rest, I live; and with this trust, I desire that I may die. Amen. (3 Hail Marys in reparation for blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary.)