Mary Frances Lester - Favorite Prayers to Our Lady

Favorite Prayers to Our Lady

Copyright 2010 by TAN Books. This copyright covers this particular arrangement of existing material, plus any revisions of existing material and any other new material included herein.

Illustrations: , painting by Heinrich Kaiser (1813-1900), photo by Victoria Ambrosetti, photo copyright 2005 by TAN Books.

Cover design by Sebrina Higdon.

Cover photo: Stained glass image of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dominican Priory, London. Brother Lawrence Lew, O.P.

TAN Books
Charlotte, North Carolina
www.TANBooks.com
2010

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MOTHER OF GOD

AT THE ANNUNCIATION. HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE!

MAGNIFICAT

MY SOUL doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed, because 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 in 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 humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy: as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

The Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1:46-55

HAIL MARY

The Angelic Salutation

H AIL MARY, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

Salve Regina

H AIL HOLY QUEEN, Mother of mercy, 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 toward us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

MEMORARE

By St. Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1153)

R EMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, OVirgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

THE THREE HAIL MARYS

This devotion, highly recommended by saints, consists of reciting the Hail Mary three times morning and evening every day of ones life, followed by this aspiration: O Mother mine, keep me from mortal sin this day (night); O Mother mine, keep me from mortal sin forever. The Hail Marys are recited in honor of Our Ladys Immaculate Conception.

The practice of the Three Hail Marys is especially recommended for obtaining the virtue of purity.

THE SEVEN JOYS OF MARY

As listed in the Franciscan Crown. Other versions include the Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Ghost.

1. The Annunciation

2. The Visitation

3. The Nativity

4. The Adoration by the Magi

5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple

6. The Resurrection

7. The Assumption and Coronation of Our Lady

THE ANGELUS

The Angelus is traditionally prayed standing, in the morning (6:00 a.m.), at noon and in the evening (6:00 p.m.), throughout the year, except during Paschal Time (Easter Sunday through the evening of the Saturday preceding Trinity Sunday), when the Regina Coeli is prayed instead.

Let Us Pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

REGINA COELI

This prayer is traditionally prayed standing, in the morning (6:00 a.m.), at noon and in the evening (6:00 p.m.) during Paschal Time (from Easter Sunday through the evening of the Saturday preceding Trinity Sunday) instead of The Angelus.

Let Us Pray

O God,Who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, hast been pleased to give joy to the whole world, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

WORDS OF ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT

Both St. Bernard and St. Bonaventure say that the Queen of Heaven is certainly no less grateful and conscientious than gracious and well-mannered people of this world. Just as she excels in all other perfections, she surpasses us all in the virtue of gratitude; so she would never let us honor her with love and respect without repaying us one hundredfold. St. Bonaventure says that Mary will greet us with grace if we greet her with the Hail Mary. (Secret of the Rosary, ).

WORDS OF THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL TO OUR LADY

Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.... Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.Luke 1:28-33

JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

J ESUS, Mary and Joseph, I give thee my heart and my soul.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with thee.

WE FLY TO THY PATRONAGE

(Sub Tuum Praesidium)

W E fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God.

Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.