General devotions to the Blessed Virgin : arranged for congregational praying and based on the highly indulgenced prayers of the Raccolta gSHHf?- (jj&vxertv-l de^o-tic*ts k> /Ae ft leased Vir^ - A&AKW* (0^2 < ARRANGED FOR CONGREGATIONAL PRAYING AND RASED ON THE I HIGHLY INDULGENCED PRAYERS OF THE RACCOLTA 'J’HE faithful, who during the month of May take part in public exercises in honor of the B. V. M. may gain : An indulgence of 7 years on any day of the month; A plenary indulgence if they assist at the exercises on at least ten days, and moreover go to confession, receive Holy Communion and pray for the Holy Father’s intention. Those who perform their devotions private- ly during the aforesaid month are granted: An indulgence of 5 years on any day of the month; A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions every day during the month; but where public exercises are held, this in- dulgence is granted only to those who are lawfully hindered from taking part in the same (Secret Mem. March 21, 1815; S. C. Ind., June 18, 1822; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1933). Copyrighted and Arranged for Congregational Use by REV. CHARLES M. CARTY—1946 Imprimatur Die 2 Aprilis 1946 Joannes Gregorius Murray, Archiepiscopus Sancti Pauli THE RACCOLTA . . . HIGHLY INDULGENCED PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY, OCTOBER AND DECEMBER GENERAL DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY EJACULATIONS AND INVOCATIONS 1 'J'HE faithful who devoutly invoke the most holy name of Mary may gain : An indulgence of 300 days; A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions for the daily repetition of the invocation; A plenary indulgence at the hour of death if they have been wont to recite the aforesaid invocation fre- quently during life, and have gone to confession and received Holy Communion, or at least have made an act of contrition, invoking the holy Name of Jesus vocally if possible, otherwise in their hearts, and ac- cepting death with resignation from God’s hand, as the just punishment of their sins 5, 1759; S. P. Ap., Nov. 12, 1932). (S. C. Ind., Sept. 2 yOUCHSAFE that I may praise thee, 0 * sacred Virgin; Give me strength against thine enemies. (Roman Breviary). An indulgence of 300 days. A plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if this invocation is repeated daily for a month (S. P. Ind., Apr. 5, 1786; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1933). q Priest and People: (A MARY, Mother of God and Mother of mercy, / pray for us and for all who have died in the embrace of the Lord. 1 An indulgence of 300 days (Leo XIII, Audience, Dec. 15, 1883; S. P. Ap., June 4, 1934). 4 Priest and People: T* HOU who wast a Virgin before thy deliv- 1 ery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc. Thou who wast a Virgin in thy delivery, pray for us. Hail Mary, etc. Thou who wast a Virgin after thy delivery, pray for us . Hail Mary, etc. An indulgence of 300 days. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, if these invocations are repeated daily (S. C. Ind., May 29, 1893; S. P. Ap., Oct. 12, 1934). 5 Q UR Lady of Lourdes (of the Pillar, or^ under another title approved by ecclesi- astical authority), pray for us. An indulgence of 300 days (Brief June 25, 1902; S. C. Ind. Nov. 9, 1907 and Jan. 23, 1907; S. P. Ap., Nov. 15, 1927). 6 jITY MOTHER, deliver me from mortal sin. Hail Mary three times. An indulgence of 300 days (Brief, Feb. 8, 1900; S. P. Ap., Jan. 7, 1935). 2 7 | j MARY, bless this house where thy Namev is always blessed. Praise forever be to Mary Immaculate, / the ever-Virgin Mother, blessed amongst women, / the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Queen of Paradise. An indulgence of 300 days (Pius X, Audience, Feb. 26, 1905, exhib. March 21, 1905). 8 O Mary, our hope, have pity on us. An indulgence of 300 days (Pius X, Rescript in his own hand, Jan. 3, 1906, exhib. Jan. 8, 1906). MOTHER of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us. An indulgence of 300 days (Pius X, Audience, May 14, 1908; S. C. Ind., May 30, 1908). 10 TJOLY Mary, deliver us from the pains of 11 hell. An indulgence of 300 days Holy Off., Jan. 22, 1914; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1933). 11 M y Mother, my hope. An indulgence of 300 days (Benedict XV, Rescript in his own hand, Jan. 3, 1917, exhib. Jan. 27, 1917). 3 12 0 VIRGIN Mary, Mother of Jesus, make us saints (St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo). An indulgence of 300 days (S. P. Ap., June 21, 1918 and March 25, 1935). 13 Mother of mercy, pray for us. An indulgence of 300 days (S. P. Ap., July 26, 1919 and May 31, 1927). 14 A MARY, Virgin Mother of God, pray to 'J Jesus for me. An indulgence of 300 days. A plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if this invocation is repeated every day for a month (S. P. Ap., April 7, 1921; March 28, 1933). 15 0 MARY, make me to live in God, with God, and for God. An indulgence of 300 days (S. P. Ap., April 26, 1921). 16 Priest and People: A MARY, Mother of grace and Mother ofv mercy, / do thou protect us from our enemy, / and receive us at the hour of our death. An indulgence of 300 days. 4 A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this invocation (S. P. Ap., Sept. 25, 1933). 17 Priest and People: 77EMEMBER, o Virgin Mother of God, / when thou shalt stand before the face of the Lord, / that thou speak favorable things in our behalf / and that He may turn away His indignation from us (Roman Missal). An indulgence of 300 days. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this invocation (S. P. Ap., Nov. 22, 1934). 18 RLESS us, Mary Maiden mild, bless us, too, her tender Child. An indulgence of 300 days (S. P. Ap., Feb. 4, 1935). 19 T’HOU art my Mother, O Virgin Mary: / keep me safe lest I ever offend thy dear Son, / and get me the grace to please Him always and in all things. An indulgence of 300 days (S. P. Ap., Oct. 26, 1935). 20 RLESSED art thou, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord God most high, / above all women upon the earth (Roman Missal). 5 An indulgence of 300 days. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the daily repetition of this ejaculation (S. P. Ap., May 20, 1936). 21 j^JOST high Queen of the universe, Mary ever Virgin, / make intercession for our peace and salvation, / thou who didst bear Christ the Lord, the Saviour of all mankind (Roman Missal). An indulgence of 300 days. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this invocation (S. P. Ap., Oct. 10, 1936). The Little Office 22 T'HE faithful who devoutly recite the little A Office of the B. V. M. even though bound thereto, may gain: An indulgence of 500 days for each hour of the same Office; An indulgence of 10 years for the entire Office; A plenary indulgence once a month for its daily recitation, on the usual conditions (S. C. Ind., Nov. 17, 1887 and Dec. 8, 1897; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1935). The Litany of Loreto 23 T ORD, have mercy on us.^ Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 6 God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us God the Holy Ghost, Holy Trinity, one God, Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure. Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate. Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable. Mother most admirable. Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother Of our Saviour, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned. Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice. Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy. Spiritual vessel. Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold. Ark of the covenant. Gate of Heaven, have mercy on us have mercy on pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for pray for 7 Morning star. Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners. Comforter of the afflicted. Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us pray for us sin,Queen conceived without original sin, Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us Queen of peace, pray for us Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Priest : Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, People: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Priest and People: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, / unto us Thy servants, / that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; / and, by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, / may be delivered from present sadness, / and enter into the joy of Thine pray for us Let us pray. 8 eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. An indulgence of 7 years. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this Litany with its versicles and collect (S. C. Ind., Sept. 30, 1817; S. P. Ap.f March 28, 1933). Canticle, Hymns and Psalms 24 Priest and People: \1Y SOUL doth magnify the Lord : / iTA And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden: /for, behold, from henceforth / all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done great things to me: / and holy is His Name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, / to them that fear Him. He hath showed might with His arm: / He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, / and hath exalted the lowly. He hath filled the hungry with good things: / and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath given help to His servant Israel, / being mindful of His mercy: As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. (Luke 1, 46). An indulgence of 3 years. 9 A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this canticle (S. C. Ind., Sept. 20, 1879 and Feb. 22, 1888; S. P. Ap., Feb. 18, 1936). 25 Ave Maris Stella | [AIL thou star of ocean, God’s own mother blest, Ever sinless Virgin, Gate of heavenly rest. Oh ! by Gabriel’s Ave, Uttered long ago, Eva’s name reversing ’Stablish peace below. Break the captive’s fetters, Light on blindness pour; All our ills expelling, Every bliss implore. Show thyself a Mother; May the Word divine, Born for us thine Infant, Hear our prayers through thine. Virgin all excelling, Mildest of the mild; Freed from guilt preserve us Meek and undefiled. Keep our life all spotless, Make our way secure, Till we find in Jesus, Joy forevermore. Through the highest Heaven To the almighty Three, Father, Son and Spirit One same glory be. Amen. (Roman Breviary, tr. cento). 10 An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month for the devout daily recitation of this hymn throughout a month (S. C. Ind., Jan. 27, 1888; S. P. Ap., March 27, 1935). 26 0 Gloriosa Virginum Q GLORIOUS Virgin, ever blest, All daughters of mankind above, Who gavest nurture from thy breast To God, with pure maternal love. What man hath lost in hapless Eve, The Blossom sprung from thee restores; Thou to the sorrowing here beneath Hast opened heaven’s eternal doors. O gate, through which hath passed the King, O hall, whence light shone through the gloom! The ransomed nations praise and sing The Offspring of thy Virgin womb. All honor, laud and glory be, 0 Jesu, Virgin-bom, to Thee: All glory, as is ever meet, To Father and to Paraclete. Amen (Roman Breviary, tr. cento). An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions if this hymn is devoutly recited every day (S. P. Ap., Nov. 22, 1934). 11 27 T HE faithful who devoutly recite in honorof the B. V. M., the Canticle: Magnificat; Ps. 119, Ad Dominum cum tribularer; Ps. 118, Retribue servo tuo; Ps. 125, In conver- tendo Dominus; and Ps. 122, Ad te Ievavi oculos meos, may gain: An indulgence of 5 years; A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, if these are recited every day June 13, 1815; S. P. Ap., May 8, 1935). (S. C. Ind., Devout Exercises 28 T HE faithful, who during the month of May ~ take part in public exercises in honor of the B. V. M. may gain : An indulgence of 7 years on any day of the month; A plenary indulgence if they assist at the exercises on at least ten days, and moreover go to confession, receive Holy Communion and pray for the Holy Father’s intention. Those who perform their devotions private- ly during the aforesaid month are granted: An indulgence of 5 years on any day of the month; A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions every day during the month; but where public exercises are held, this in- dulgence is granted only to those who are lawfully hindered from taking part in the same (Secret Mem. March 21, 1815; S. C. Ind., June 18, 1822; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1933). 29 HE faithful who devoutly offer some pray- ers in honor of the Nativity, Presentation, 12 Annunciation, Visitation, Expectation, Purifi- cation or Assumption of the B. V. M. at any season of the year, with the intention of con- tinuing these prayers for nine days without interruption, are granted : An indulgence of 5 years once on each day; a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions at the close of the novena (Pius IX, Audience, Jan. 3, 1849; S. C. of Bishops and Regulars, Jan. 28, 1850; S. C. Ind., Nov. 26, 1876; S. P. Ap., Dec. 16, 1935). 30 THE faithful who devoutly recite the HailA Mary three times with the invocation “Pray for me, 0 holy Mother of God,” before an image of our Lady, are granted : An indulgence of 300 days; A plenary indulgence under the usual conditions if this pious practice is performed daily for a month (S. P. Ap., May 24, 1936). An Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Against the B. V. M. 31 Priest and People; lUOST glorious Virgin Mary, / Mother of 1 God and our Mother, / turn thine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; / we are sore afflicted by the many evils that sur- round us in this life, / but especially do we feel our hearts break within us / upon hear- ing the dreadful insults and blasphemies / ut- tered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate, / to which we are so frequently constrained to listen. O how these impious sayings offend 13 the infinite Majesty of God / and of His only- begotten Son, Jesus Christ! How they pro- voke His indignation / and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives 7 might avail to put an end to such outrages and blas- phemies; /were it so, how gladly we should make it, / for we desire, O most holy Mother, / to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, / since this is the will of God. And just because we love thee, / we will do all that is in our power / to make thee honored and loved by all men. In the meantime do thou, / our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, / accept this our act of reparation / which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, / as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, / not knowing what they say. Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God / the grace of con- version, /and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, / thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee blessed among women, / the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Hail Mary three times. An indulgence of 3 years (S. C. Ind., March 21, 1885; S. P. Ap., April 6, 1935). The Crown of Twelve Stars 32 Priest and People: TET us offer praise and thanksgiving to the^ Most Holy Trinity, who hath shown us the Virgin Mary, clothed with the sun, the 14 moon beneath her feet, and on her head a mystic crown of twelve stars. People: For ever and ever. Amen. Let us praise and thank the divine Father, who elected her for His daughter. People: Amen. Our Father. Praised be the divine Father, who predes- tined her to be the Mother of His divine Son. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the divine Father, who pre- served her from all stain in her conception. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the divine Father, who adorned her at her birth with His most excellent gifts. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the divine Father, who gave her Saint Joseph to be her companion and most pure spouse. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father. People: Amen. Our Father. Let us praise and thank the divine Son, who chose her for His Mother. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the divine Son, who became in- carnate in her bosom and there abode for nine months. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the divine Son, who was born of her and was nourished at her breast. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the divine Son, who in His child- hood willed to be taught by her. 15 P^oplp. Amen. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father. Praised be the divine Son, who revealed to her the mystery of the redemption of the world. People: Amen. Our Father. Let us praise and thank the Holy Spirit, who took her for His spouse. People : Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the Holy Spirit, who revealed first to her His Name of Holy Spirit. People : Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the Holy Spirit, by whose opera- tion she was at once Virgin and Mother. People : Amen. Hail Mary. Praised be the Holy Spirit, by whose power she was the living temple of the ever-blessed Trinity. People: Amen. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father. Praised be the Holy Spirit, by whom she was exalted in heaven above every living creature. (St. Joseph Calasanctius.) An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if this devotion is repeated daily for a month (S. C. Ind., Jan. 8, 1838 and Aug. 17, 1898; Pius IX, Audi- ence March 17, 1856; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1934). 16 Responsory Prayers 33 a) Priest: The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. People: And she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary. Priest: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, People: Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary. Priest: And the Word was made flesh. People : And dwelt amongst us. Hail Mary. Priest : Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, People: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, / Thy grace into our hearts; / that, as we have known the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son by the message of an Angel, / so by His Passion and Cross we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. / Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. b) Priest: Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia: People: For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia, Priest : Hath risen as He said, alleluia. People: Pray for us to God, alleluia. Priest : Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. 17 People: Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia. Let us pray. 0 God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, / hast vouch- safed to make glad the whole world : / grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the interces- sion of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, / we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. / Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. (Roman Breviary.) The faithful who at dawn, at noon and at eventide, or as soon thereafter as may be, de- voutly recite the Angelus, or at Eastertide the Regina coeli, with the appropriate versi- cles and collects, or who merely say the Hail Mary five times, may gain : An indulgence of 10 years each time; A plenary indulgence under the usual conditions if they persevere in this devout practice for a month (S. P. Ap., Feb. 20, 1933). Prayers 34 Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, / hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee dp we cry, poor banished children of Eve: ' to thee do we sigh, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. ' Ah then, our Advpcate, turn thine eyes of mercy toward us, / and after this our exile, show unto, us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, ' O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! (Roman Breviary). 18 An indulgence of 5 years. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this prayer. A plenary indulgence at the hour of death to be gained by those who have often recited this prayer during life, and who, after confession and Com- munion, or at least an act of contrition, shall invoke the holy Name of Jesus with their lips, if possible, or at least in their hearts, and accept death with resignation from the hand of God as the just punish- ment of sin (S. C. Ind., April 5, 1786; S. P. Ap.f July 2, 1934). 35 Y^/E FLY to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; / despise not thou our petitions in our necessities, / but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Vir- gin (Roman Breviary). An indulgence of 5 years. A plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if this prayer is said daily for a month. A plenary indulgence to be gained at the hour of death by those who have been accustomed to recite this prayer frequently in life, provided that, having confessed their sins and received Holy Communion, or at least being duly contrite, they devoutly invoke the most holy Name of Jesus with their lips, if they can, but if not, in their heart and accept death at the hands of the Lord with resignation as the just pun- ishment of their sins (S. C. Ind., April 5, 1786; S. P. Ap., Dec. 12, 1935). 36 Prayers for Every Day of the Week SUNDAY Priest and People : gEHOLD, O Mother of God, / at thy feet a wretched sinner / who has recourse to 19 thee and trusts in thee. / I do not deserve that thou shouldst even look upon me; / but I know that thou, seeing thy Son dead to save sinners, / hast a great desire to assist them. / O Mother of mercy, behold my mis- eries and have pity on me. / I hear all men call thee the refuge of sinners, / the hope of the hopeless, the help of that which is lost. / Thou art, then, my refuge, / my hope and my help. / Thou must save me by thine inter- cession ; / aid me for the love of Jesus Christ ; / give thy hand to a fallen wretch who com- mends himself to thee. / 1 know that thou art consoled in helping a sinner, / when thou canst; / wherefore help me now, for thou canst help me. / By my sins I have lost the grace of God and my soul ; / but I put myself in thy hands; /tell me what I must do to re- turn to the grace of God, / for I wish to do so at once. / He sends me to thee, that thou mayest assist me; / He wills that I should have recourse to thy mercy, / in order that I may be helped to salvation /not only by the merits of thy Son, but also by thy prayers. / To thee, therefore, do I have recourse. / Do thou pray to Jesus for me. /Make known the good which thou canst do for him who puts his trust in thee. / This is my firm hope. Amen. Hail Mary three times in. reparation for blasphemies against the B. V. M. MONDAY Priest and People: 0 QUEEN of Heaven, most holy Mary, / once I was the slave of Satan, but now 1 dedicate myself to be thy servant for ever; 20 / I offer myself to thy perpetual honor and service. / Accept me, then, as thy servant ; / ah, do not cast me out as I deserve. / In thee, my Mother, have I set all my hope. / I praise and thank almighty God, / who in His mercy gives me this confidence in thee. / True it is, in the past I have fallen miserably into sin ; / but I hope that I have already obtained par- don therefor / through the merits of Jesus Christ and through thine intercession. / But this is not enough, dear Mother; / one thought distresses me, and that is / that I may turn back and lose the grace or God; / the dangers are ever present, / mine enemies sleep not, fresh temptations will assail me. / Ah, protect me then, my Lady! / Defend me against the assaults of hell / and permit not that I should begin again / to commit sin and offend Jesus, thy divine Son. / No, may it never come to pass / that I should begin again to suffer the loss of my soul, of para- dise and of God. / This is the grace that I ask of thee, 0 Mary, / this is my one desire, this do thou obtain for me by thine intercession. / This is my firm hope. Amen. Hail Mary, three times, as above. TUESDAY Priest and People: TVIDST holy/ Mary, Mother of goodness and 1,1 mercy, when I consider my sins and think of the moment of death, / I am filled with trembling and confusion. / O sweetest Mother, in the Blood of Jesus Christ / and in thy intercession are all my hopes. / O Com- 21 forter of the afflicted, do not abandon me at that hour; / forget not to console me in that great affliction. / If at present I am so tor- mented with remorse at the sight of my sins, / the uncertainty of forgiveness, 7 the danger of falling again and the rigor of God’s jus- tice, / what will become of me at that dread hour? / Ah, my Lady, before death shall come, / do thou obtain for me true sorrow for my sins, / sincere amendment and fidelity to God for the rest of my life. / And when at length I come to the hour of death, ‘ O Mary, my only hope, / do thou assist me in the dire torments / in which I shall then find myself ; / strengthen me so that I may not despair at the sight of my sins, / which the devil him- self will set before me. / Get me the grace to call upon thee more frequently / so that I may breathe forth my spirit with thy sweet Name on my lips / and the Name of thy dear Son. / Thou hast imparted this grace to so many of thy devoted children; 7 it is the grace that I desire and hope for myself. Amen. Hail Mary three times, as above. WEDNESDAY Priest and People: 0 MOTHER of God, Mary most holy, / how often have I merited hell by my sins! / Even now the sentence might have been exe- cuted, / perhaps on the occasion of my first sin, / hadst thou not, in thy loving pity, / re- strained the hand of God’s justice; / and then, overcoming my hardness of heart, / thou didst gently draw me to put my trust in 22 thee. / Alas, into how many more sins I might have fallen, / by reason of the dangers which encompass me, / hadst thou not, O dearest Mother, / preserved me from them by the graces thou didst obtain for me. / Ah, my Queen, what will thy mercy / and the many favors thou hast done for me avail me, / if I become the cause of my own condemna- tion? / If once upon a time I did not love thee, / now at any rate I do love thee, after God, above all things. / Ah, permit not that I should turn my back upon thee and upon Al- mighty God / who has granted me so many merciful favors through thy intercession. / Wilt thou suffer one of they servants, who loves thee, to be damned? / O Mary, what sayest thou? / Am I to bring about my own damnation? / 1 shall do so, indeed, if I ever forsake thee. / But who, henceforth, will have the heart to forsake thee? / Who can forget the love which thou hast borne toward me? / No, he is not lost who commends him- self faithfully to thee and has recourse to thee. / Ah, my dearest Mother, abandon me not to my own devices, / for then I shall surely lose my soul; / grant that I may al- ways run to thy protection. / Save me, for thou art my hope, save me from hell, / but first from sin which alone can bring me down to the gates of hell. Amen. Hail Mary three times, as above. THURSDAY Priest and People : rv QUEEN of Heaven, thou who sittest en-” throned above all the choirs of Angels, / nearest to God Himself, / from this vale of 23 tears I, a wretched sinner,/ salute thee and implore thee to turn thine eyes of mercy toward me./ See, O Mary, the great dangers which encompass me now and in the future,/ so long as I shall live upon the earth,/ the danger of losing my soul, Heaven and God./ In thee, dear Lady, do I put all my trust./ I love thee and I would fain come quickly to see thee and praise thee in paradise. 7 O Mary, when will that day come? when I shall find myself in safety at thy feet? / When shall I kiss that hand of thine, which has poured so many graces upon me? / It is true, dearest Mother, that I have been many times ungrateful to thee during my life; / but when I shall come safe home to heaven, / there will I love thee every moment through- out eternity; / and I will atone for my lack of gratitude by praising and thanking thee for ever. / I give thanks to Almighty God / who gives me such confidence in the Blood of Jesus Christ and in thy mighty intercession. / Thy truly devoted servants have ever placed such confidence in thee and none has ever been confounded. / Let me never be confounded, no, not even me. O Mary, pray to Jesus thy Son, even as I also am praying, 7 to strengthen and evermore confirm these hopes of mine through the merits of His passion. Amen. Hail Mary three times, as above. FRIDAY Priest and People : Q MARY, thou are the noblest, the most exalted, the purest, the fairest, the holi- est of all things created! / O that all men 24 knew thee, dearest Lady, / and loved thee as thou deservest! /But I am consoled by the thought / that so many holy souls in heaven and so many just men upon the earth / live enthralled by thy goodness and beauty. / Above all else I rejoice that God Himself loves thee alone more than all men and Angels. / O my Queen, most worthy of love, I too love thee, / miserable sinner that I am, but I love thee far too little ; / 1 desire a great- er and more tender love of thee, / and this thou must obtain for me; / for love of thee is a great sign of predestination, / and a grace granted by God to those who shall be saved. / Therefore, dear Mother, I see that I am under exceeding obligation to thy divine Son; / I see that He is deserving of infinite love. / Thou hast no other desire but to see Him loved by men; / do thou obtain for me the grace of an ardent love of Jesus Christ, / Ah, get this grace for me, thou who dost obtain from God whatsoever thou desirest. / I do not seek the things of earth, not honors, not riches; / I seek only that which thy heart seeks most of all, to love God and Him alone. / Can it be that thou art unwilling to assist me in this my desire which is so dear to Thee? /Nay, thou art already giving me thy help ; / even now thou art praying for me. / Pray, O Mary, pray and never cease to pray until thou shalt see me safe in paradise, / where I shall be sure of possessing and loving my God / together with thee, my dearest Mother, for ever and ever. Amen. Hail Mary three times, as above. 25 SATURDAY Priest and People: Q MY most holy Mother, I behold the graces which thou hast obtained for me, / and the ingratitude which I have shown toward thee. / The thankless soul is no longer worthy of blessings; / but not even on this account will I lose confidence in thy mercy. 7 O my mighty Advocate, have pity on me. / Thou art the dispenser of all the graces that God grants to the miserable children of men, / and to this end has He made thee so mighty, / so rich and so kind, that thou mightest succor us in our need. / I wish to be saved; / in thy hands, therefore, I place my eternal salvation; / to thee I commend my spirit. / I wish to be inscribed among thy most special servants ; / drive me not away. / Thou goest about seeking the wretched to comfort them: do not abandon a poor sin- ner who flies to thy protection. / Speak thou for me; / thy Son will do whatsoever thou shalt ask Him. Take me under thy protect- ion, and this is enough for me; / for if thou shield me, I shall fear nothing : / not my sins, for I hope that thou wilt obtain their remis- sion from Almighty God; / not the evil spir- its, for thou art mightier than the powers of hell; / not even Jesus as my Judge, for one prayer of thine will turn away His anger. / Do thou, therefore, protect me, dear Mother, / and obtain for me the remission of all my sins, the love of Jesus, / final perserverance, a happy death, and paradise at last. / True it is, I do not deserve these graces, / but if thou dost ask them for me from our Lord, I shall 26 receive them./ O Mary, my Queen, pray to Jesus for me;/ in thee do I put my trust/ in this hope will I live and take my rest;/ and with this hope I wish to die. Amen(St. Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori). Hail Marjthree times, as above. An indulgence of 3 years, for each prayer. A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, if these prayers are recited throughout an entire month (S. C. Ind., June 21, 1808 and June 18, 1876; S. P. Ap., Nov. 24, 1935). 37 Priest and People: f\ MOTHER of God, Mary most holy, howu many times by my sins have I merited the pains of hell!/ Even now the sentence might have been passed/ perhaps on the oc- casion of my very first sin, hadst thou not in thy tender pity restrained the hand of divine Justice:/ and then overcoming my hardness of heart,/ thou drewest me gently to place my confidence in thee./ And oh, how very often should I have fallen in the dangers/ which beset my steps hadst not thou, loving Mother that thou art/ preserved me by the graces thou didst obtain for me/ But oh, my Queen, what will thy pity and thy favors avail me/ if after all, I become the cause of my own condemnation./ If there was once a time when I loved thee not,/ yet now, next to God, I love thee above all things./ Ah, permit not that I should turn my back on thee and on my God/ who, by means of thee, has granted me so many mercies./ Wilt thou endure seeing one of thy servants who loves 27 thee go down into hell?/ O Mary, what say- est thou?/ Shall I bring about my own con- demnation?/ I shall most surely do so, if I forsake thee./ But who would henceforth have the heart to forsake thee?/ Who could ever forget the love thou hast borne toward me? No, he assuredly is not lost who faith- fully commends himself to thee and has re- course to thee./ Ah, my dear Mother, leave me not to my own devices for then I shall surely die./ Grant that I may always seek thy protection./ Save me, for thou art my hope,/ save me from the pains of hell, but especially from sm, which alone has power to condemn me to the flames of perdition (St. Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori). Hail Marythree times. An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions, if this prayer be recited daily (S. C. Ind., May 15, 1821; S. P. Ap., April 5, 1936). 38 I. I venerate thee with all my heart, O Virgin most holy, / above all Angels and Saints in paradise, / as the daughter of the Eternal Father, / and to thee I consecrate my soul with all its powers. Hail Mary. H- I venerate thee with all my heart, O Virgin most holy, / above all Angels and Saints in paradise, / as the Mother of the only-begotten Son, / and to thee I consecrate my body with all its senses. Hail Mary. III. I venerate thee with all my heart, O Virgin most holy, / above all Angels and 28 Saints in paradise, / as the beloved Spouse of the Spirit of God, / and to thee I consecrate my heart and all its affections, ' imploring thee to obtain for me from the Most Holy Trinity all the means of salvation. Hail Mary. An indulgence of 500 days. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, if this act of consecration is devoutly re- peated every day (Leo XII, Rescript in his own hand, Oct. 21, 1823; S. C. Ind., June 18, 1876; S. P. Ap., Jan. 14, 1934). 39 VIRGIN most holy, Mother of the Word In- carnate, / Treasurer of graces, and Refuge of us poor sinners; ' we fly to thy motherly affection with lively faith, ' and we beg of thee the grace ever to do the will of God. ' Into thy most holy hands we commit the keeping of our hearts, ' asking thee for health of soul and body, / in the certain,hope that thou, our most loving Mother, ' wilt hear our prayer. ' Wherefore with lively faith we say: Hail Mary three times. An indulgence of 500 days (S. C. Ind., Aug. 11, 1824; S. P. Ap., Sept. 21, 1935). 40 Q MOST excellent, most glorious, most holy and ever inviolate Virgin Mary, ' Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Queen of the whole world and Mistress of every creature; ' thou forsakest no one, thou despisest no one, ' thou sendest away disconsolate no one wha comes to thee with a pure and lowly heart; ' 29 despise me not for my countless grievous sins, / neither forsake me for my exceeding iniquities, / nor for the hardness and un- cleanness of my heart ; / cast me not away, who am thy servant, from thy grace and love. / Graciously hear me, a miserable sinner, trusting in thy tender mercy; / come to my assistance, O most loving Virgin Mary, in all my tribulations, trials and necessities; / ob- tain for me of thy dear Son, almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ, / the forgiveness and remission of all my sins, / and the grace of fear and the love of thee; /health likewise and chastity of body, / and deliverance from all evils and dangers which beset both soul and body. / In my last moments do thou graciously as- sist me, / and deliver my soul and the souls of my parents, brothers, sisters and friends, kinsmen and benefactors, / and of all faith- ful Christians, both living and departed, / from eternal darkness and from all evil, by the grace of Him / whom thou didst bear inm thy sacred womb for nine long months, / and didst lay in the manger with thine own pure hands, / even our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son who is blessed for ever. Amen. An indulgence of 500 days. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, if this prayer is devoutly recited every day (S. C. Ind., Jan. 30, 1828; S. P. Ap., March 10, 41 JjEMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, / that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, / implored thy 30 help or sought thy intercession, was left un- aided. / Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee,/ O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; / to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sin- ful and sorrowful;/ O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this prayer (S. C. Ind., Dec. 11, 1846; S. P. Ap., Sept. 8, 1935). 42 Hail Mary, etc. lyTY QUEEN! my Mother! I give thee all iTA myself,/ and, to show my devotion to thee,/ I consecrate to thee my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self./ Where- fore, O loving Mother, as I am thine own, / keep me, defend me, as thy property and possession. An indulgence of 500 days. A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, if this act of oblation is repeated every day for a month (S. C. Ind., Aug. 5, 1851; S. P. Ap., Nov. 21, 1936). 43 BLESSED Virgin Mary, who can worthi-J ly repay thee thy just dues of praise and thanksgiving, / thou who by the wondrous assent of thy will didst rescue a fallen world? / What songs of praise can our weak human nature recite in thy honor, / since it is by thy intervention alone that it has found the way 31 to restoration? / Accept, then, such poor thanks as we have here to offer, / though they be unequal to thy merits; / and, receiv- ing our vows, obtain by thy prayers the re- mission of our offenses. / Carry thou our prayers within the sanctuary of the heavenly audience, / and bring forth from it the anti- dote of our reconciliation. / May the sins we bring before Almighty God through thee, become pardonable through thee; / may what we ask for with sure confidence, through thee be granted. / Take our offering, grant us our requests, / obtain pardon for what we fear, for thou art the sole hope of sinners. / Through thee we hope for the remission of sins, / and in thee, O blessed Lady, is our hope of reward. / Holy Mary, succour the miserable, help the faint-hearted, / comfort the sorrowful, pray for thy people, / plead for the clergy, intercede for all women conse- crated to God; / may all who keep thy holy commemoration feel now thy help and pro- tection. / Be thou ever ready to assist us when we pray, / and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. / Make it thy con- tinual care to pray for the people of God, / thou who, blessed by God, didst merit to bear the Redeemer of the world, / who liveth and reigneth, world without end. Amen (St. Au- gustine). An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this prayer (Secret Mem., May 19, 1854; S. P. Ap., Feb. 5, 1932). 32 44 jtyJOST holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary,/ to thee who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the universe, / the advocate, the hope, the refuge of sinners, / I who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse this day. / I venerate thee, great Queen,/ and I thank thee for the many graces thou hast bestowed upon me even unto this day; / in particular for having delivered me from the hell / which I have so often de- served by my sins. / I love thee, most dear Lady ; / and for the love I bear thee, I prom- ise to serve thee willingly forever / and to do what I can to make thee loved by others also. / I place in thee all my hopes for salvation ; ' accept me as thy servant / and shelter me under thy mantle, thou who art the Mother of mercy. / And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, ' or at least get me the strength to overcome them until death. / From thee I implore a true love for Jesus Christ. / Through thee I hope to die a holy death. ' My dear Mother, by the love thou bearest to Almighty God, ' I pray thee to assist me always, ' but most of all at the last moment of my life. ' For- sake me not then, until thou shalt see me safe in heaven, ' there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies through all eternity. ' Such is my hope. Amen (St. Alphonsus M. de’ Liguori). The faithful who recite this prayer before an image of the B. V. Mary, may gain: An indulgence of 3 years. 33 A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions, if they recite it every day (Pius IX, Re- script in his own hand, Sept. 7, 1854; S. P. Ap., May 18, 1934). 45 A HOLY Mary, my Mistress, into thy bless-” ed trust and special keeping, / into the bosom of thy tender mercy, this day, / every day of my life and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body ; / to thee I en- trust all my hopes and consolations, / all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, / that through thy most holy interces- sion and thy merits, / all my actions may be ordered and disposed / according to thy will and that of thy divine Son. Amen (St. Aloysius Gonzaga). An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions if this prayer is recited daily (S. C. Ind., Mar. 15, 1890; S. P. Ap., Mar. 28, 1933). 46 O MARY, crowned with stars, / who hastthe moon for thy footstool/ and who sit- test enthroned above all the choirs of Angels, / incline thine eyes toward this vale of tears, and hear the voice of one / who puts all his hope and trust in thee. / Now thou dost rejoice in the endless bliss of paradise; / but once thou didst endure the miseries of this our exile / and thou knowest how bitter are the days of him who eats the bread of sorrow. / On Calvary thou didst hear a voice, well- known to the$ which said; “Woman, be- 34 hold thy son”; that is to say, “a son in my stead”. / By these words thou wast appoint- ed the Mother of all believers. / And without thee what life should we have, who are the unhappy children of Adam? / Each of us has a sorrow that tries him, / a grief that oppresses, a wound that rankles. / All men run to thy protection, as to the haven of safety and the fountain of healing. / When the waves rise high in the tempest, / it is to thee the mariner turns and prays for calm. / The orphan flies to thee, for he sees himself as a plant in a thirsty land, / defenseless be- fore all the whirlwinds of life. / To thee the poor offer their supplications / when they are in want of daily bread. / And not even one is left without thy help and consolation. / O Mary, dear Mother, enlighten our minds, and warm our hearts; / let that pure love which streams forth from thine eyes, / spread itself abroad and bring forth those wondrous fruits / which thy Son hath pur- chased for us by the shedding of His Blood, / the while thou didst suffer most bitter tor- ments at the foot of His Cross. An indulgence of 500 days (Pius X, Rescript in his own hand, March 24, 1905, exhib. June 2, 1905; S. P. Ap., Sept. 23, 1936). 47 MAJESTIC Queen of Heaven and Mistress A of the Angels, / thou didst receive from God the power and commission to crush the head of Satan; / wherefore we humbly be- f ech thee, send forth the legions of heaven, that, under thy command, they may seek 35 out all evil spirits, / engage them everywhere in battle, curb their insolence, / and hurl them back into the pit of hell. / “Who is like unto God?” 0 good and tender Mother, thou shalt ever be our hope and the object of our love. / O Mother of God, send forth the holy Angels / to defend me and drive far from me the cruel foe. Holy Angels and Archangels, defend us and keep us. / An indulgence of 500 days (S. C. Ind., July 8, 1908; S. P. Ap., March 28, 1935). 48 MA.Y we, be assisted, we beseech Thee, O Lord/ by the worshipful intercession of Thy glorious Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary; / that we, who have been enriched by her perpetual blessings, / may be delivered from all dangers, / and through her loving kind- ness made to be of one heart and mind: / Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen (Roman Missal). An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions if this prayer is recited every day for a month (S. P. Ap., Feb. 6, 1934). 49 QRANT, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord God, / that we Thy servants may rejoice in con- tinual health of mind and body; / and, by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary ever- Virgin, / deliver us from present heaviness 36 and grant us the joy of eternal happiness; through Christ our Lord. / Amen (Roman Missal). An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the daily repetition of this prayer (S. P. Ap., March 18, 1935). 50 XT OLY Mary, be thou a help to the helpless, / strength to the fearful, comfort to the sorrowful,/ pray for the people, plead for the clergy, / intercede for all holy women conse- crated to God; / may all who keep thy sacred commemoration feel the might of thine as- sistance (Roman Breviary). An indulgence of 3 years. A plenary indulgence once a month under the usual conditions for the devout recitation of this prayer every day (S. P. Ap., May 29, 1936). ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK S. P. Ap., the Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic. S. C. Ind., the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences. exhib., exhibited; said of documents being present- ed to the respective Congregations. 37 INDEX ANALYTICAL AND ALPHABETICAL (The references are to the numbers prefixed to the prayers, etc.) Aloysius (St.), Gon- zaga: 45 Alphonsus (St.), M. de’ Liguori: 36, 37, 44 Annunciation of the 29 Assumption of the 29 Augustine (St.): 43 Blasphemy: 31 Chaplet: 32 Confidence, Our Lady of: 11 Consecration: 38, 42 Day of the Week Prayers: 36 Death, A happy: 16 Expectation of the B.V.M.: 29 Hour of Death: 1, 34, 35 Hymns: 25, 26 Images: 30, 44 Joseph (St.), Calasanctius: 32 Litany B.V.M.: 23 Magnificat: 24 Mary, The Blessed Virgin: Invocations, 1, 21 Little Office, 22 Litany, 23 Magnificat, 24 Hymns, 25, 26 Devotions, 28, 30 Act of reparation, 31 The crown of twelve stars, 32 Prayers to, 33-50 Mother of Confidence: 11 May, Month of: In honor of the B.V.M., 28 Name of Mary: 1 Nativity of the B.V.M.: 29 Night Prayers: 33 Novena: 29 Office: 22 Prayers B.V.M.: 33 Presentation of the B.V.M.: 29 Purification of the B.V.M.: 29 Reparation, Acts of: 31 Sanctity: 12 Visitation of the B.V.M.: 29 For copies address FATHERS RUMBLE AND CARTY Radio Replies Press St. Paul 1, Minn., U.S.A.