Prayer to Our Lady

Hail Mary, beloved daughter of the Eternal Father!  Hail  Mary, admirable Mother of the Son!  Hail Mary, faithful spouse of the Holy Ghost!  Hail Mary, my dear Mother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign!  Hail my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul!

Destroy in me all that may be displeasing to God, root it up and bring it to nought; place and cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to thee.  May the light of thy faith dispel the darkness of my mind; may thy profound humility take the place of my pride; may thy continuous sight of God fill my memory with His presence; may the burning love of thy heart inflame the lukewarmness of mine; may thy virtues take the place of my sins; may thy merits be my only adornment in the sight of God, and make up for all that is wanting in me.

Finally, dearly beloved Mother, grant, if it be possible, that I may have no other spirit but thine to know Jesus and His divine will; that I may have no other soul but thine to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may have no other heart but thine to love God with a love as pure and ardent as thine.

I beg of thee the grace to believe sincerely without spiritual pleasures, to suffer joyfully without human consolation, and to die continually to myself without respite, that thou alone mayest fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity.  Amen.

The world was unworthy to receive the Son of God directly from the Father's hands. He gave Him to Mary in order that world might receive Him through her.

- St. Augustine