MARY, OUR MOTHER
Introductory Prayer to Mary,
our Mother.
O Immaculate Virgin, O Mother of God, thou art the spotless Mother of us all. Thy motherly eyes guard with watchful care those little ones who are so dear to thee. Turn thine eyes of mercy towards us and never direct them from us. O Mother, thou hast the key to the divine mercies. Let thy radiant hands pour upon the world a continuous torrent of graces and blessing for thy children. In return, we wish to consecrate our hearts to thee, and to strive to make thy name better known and loved throughout this archipelago. O dearest Queen, we are unworthy to call thee our Mother on account of our many sins. But we know thy great mercy and therefore are drawn to thee. Moreover, we cannot have Jesus for our Brother, unless we have thee for our Mother. O Virgin Mother, let thy love kindle in us a deep sorrow for our sins that, pure of heart, we may ever love thee as the best of mothers and Jesus as the best of sons.
Intention: For an increase of devotion to Mary, our Mother.
O Mother, O Treasurer of Heavenly riches, we come to thee poor and miserable. We know from experience that there is no love like a mother's love. And we are aware that thy heart is most like the Heart of Jesus, with which it beats in one accord. Therefore, O most holy Queen, we desire a greater knowledge and more tender love toward thee. We wish to venerate thee as the spotless Mother of a spotless Son. O Queen Mother, take us into thy confidence. Give us this grace and thou wilt show thyself a mother to us.
Prayer to learn the dignify of Mary, our Mother.
O most noble Lady, O Friend of the faithful, we rejoice at thy great dignity as the Mother of God. Thou, art the Mother of our Savior, Who, though thy Creator, taught us by example the reverence and honor that are due to thee - O Mary, thou art the Queen of the Angels and the Saints, and blessed art thou among women. Would that we could understand thy dignity as the archangels do who stand before thy throne. Would that we had the tongues of angels and the voices of the Seraphim to express the beauty of thy divine motherhood. O Mother of Jesus, teach us thy place in creation and the role thou dost play in the great drama of our salvation. Thy own flesh made up the body of our Infant Savior who was sacrificed on the altar of the cross. Thy own blood set in motion His Sacred Heart from which the Blood of Redemption gushed forth. And thy own heart was the first shrine of His priestly prayer, unseen by mortal eyes. Nay, thy arms and bosom formed the immaculate throne from which Jesus began to show His priestly kingship to men. Mother of all blessedness, behold us before thee. Deign to cast a look of love and pity upon us and upon our entire congregation. Thy loving heart cannot reject the prayers of thy children gathered round thee in devotion. 0 Mary, help us to learn more about thy great dignity and the honor we owe thee. Keep us ever mindful of thee until we may see thee face to face. Amen.
Five Our Fathers and Hail Marys.
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.