The Psalms of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
👈 Taken from a book of hours, this is an image of King David, author of the Psalms, by Willem Vrelant (early 1460s), Bruges, Belgium.
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The following prayers follow the model for consecration written by St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and are recited in preparation for the renewal of our family's consecration to Lord Jesus, Christ our King, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation.
- Litany of the Holy Ghost
- Ave Maris Stella / Hail Star of Ocean
- Litaniæ Sanctissimi Nominis Iesu Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
- Oraison à Jésus / Prayer To Jesus: see end of page
- Pray the Rosary
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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.
I have for some time been closing my posts with a triple seal:
* the beautiful icon of the Holy Mother of God known to many as the Vladimirskaya Icon;
* the Sub tuum præsidium, said to be the oldest prayer to Our Lady; and
* a short prayer of consecration to the Immaculate heart of Mary.
Over the coming weeks, I shall include a short commentary on one or other of these prayers, (recalling that holy icons are traditionally said to be written like prayers rather than painted).
The Vladimirskaya Icon : Bride of Christ
The icon portrays the beauty of the Holy Mother of God with her divine Son, revealing in the proximity of their faces a strong family resemblance.
The following text is my translation of excerpts taken from chapter 6 of The Crown of Excellence in La triple couronne de la bien-heureuse Vierge Mère de Dieu (The Triple Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God), by Fr F Poiré, This work was published in 1634 and is cited in True Devotion to Mary by St Louis-Marie de Montfort.
Fr Poiré explores Mary's physical beauty and the interconnected likeness between Mary and her Son.
Is it not true that Mary must have been graced with a beauty transcending the merely human? To say that even though she was Mother of a divine Son she was not His perfect likeness would rightly cause offence to those who render her the honour she merits. This is because never have so many reasons for a perfect likeness been found as in this instance where the Blessed Virgin is in a certain fashion both Father and Mother to her Son, having been the only human to contribute all that was needed to form the body of her beloved Son. An axiom of the Philosopher states that in each order of creatures there must be one who is the first and serves a model for the rest. It must be granted that, in terms of bodily beauty, there is none more perfect than the body of our Lord Jesus Christ; but, it must also be granted that no-one was closer to Him than His Blessed Mother.
Prayer
St John Damascene develops this idea in a marvellous manner in the following words he addresses to the Blessed Virgin [See Orat. 1 de Nativit. B. Virg.]
Thou hast a life and, in consequence, a beauty that surpasses the ordinary laws of nature. This is not surprising since thou didst not receive it for thine own sake but for God; for thou wast made by design to serve for the salvation of all men and to co-operate in the fulfilment of God's plan in the Incarnation of the eternal Word and the call for us to become adopted sons of God. Thine appetite knows nothing of sensuality but follows the example of reason in feeding on holy desires. Thou art also the tree of life who canst bear only good fruits, for thou hast given to the world the fruit of life, who is none other than the Word incarnate. Thine eyes are made for looking always to the highest of things, being ever focussed on thy Lord and God. Thine ears are attuned to the music of Angels and the words of the Holy Ghost, since through these salvation came into the world. Thy nostrils are made to savour the sweet fragrance of the celestial Spouse, whose very name is like a precious ointment made freely available. Thy lips are for uttering only praises to God and for being ever close to those of thy Beloved. Thy tongue pours forth without ceasing the honeyed ambrosia of thy holy speech. The desires of thy heart for God are such that He is for thee the only air thou dost breathe and thy sighs are for Him alone. Thy womb is the dwelling for Him in whom all doth dwell. Thy breasts are founts of honey and sweetness that have given suck to the Father of the universe. Thy hands do serve as a carriage for God. Thy lap is as a Cherubic throne on which His Majesty taketh His repose. Thy feet do always follow a path lit by the Law of God and did never cease to move forwards until thou didst find the Spouse of beautiful souls so as to draw Him earthwards. Finally, thou art the nuptial couch of the Holy Ghost. Thou art like an immense ocean of beautiful grace. Thou art wholly beautiful and wholly close to the Lord God.
Thus speaketh St John Damascene. [676-787 A.D.]
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Oraison à Jésus (de Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort)
St. Louis De Montfort's Prayer to Jesus
Mon aimable Jésus, permettez-moi de m’adresser à vous pour vous témoigner la reconnaissance où je suis de la grâce que vous m’avez faite, en me donnant à votre sainte Mère par la dévotion de l’esclavage, pour être mon avocate auprès de votre Majesté, et mon supplément universel dans ma très grande misère.
O most loving Jesus, deign to let me pour forth my gratitude before Thee, for the grace Thou hast bestowed upon me in giving me to Thy holy Mother through the devotion of Holy Bondage, that she may be my advocate in the presence of Thy majesty and my support in my extreme misery.
Hélas! Seigneur, je suis si misérable que, sans cette bonne Mère, je serais infailliblement perdu. Oui, Marie m’est nécessaire auprès de vous, partout:
⮚ nécessaire pour vous calmer dans votre juste colère, puisque je vous ai tant offensé tous les jours;
⮚ nécessaire pour arrêter les châtiments éternels de votre justice que je mérite;
⮚ nécessaire pour vous regarder, pour vous parler, vous prier, vous approcher et vous plaire;
⮚ nécessaire pour sauver mon âme et celle des autres;
⮚ nécessaire, en un mot, pour faire toujours votre sainte volonté et procurer en tout votre plus grande gloire.
Alas, O Lord! I am so wretched that without this dear Mother I should be certainly lost. Yes, Mary is necessary for me at Thy side and everywhere: that she may appease Thy just wrath, because I have so often offended Thee; that she may save me from the eternal punishment of Thy justice, which I deserve; that she may contemplate Thee, speak to Thee, pray to Thee, approach Thee and please Thee; that she may help me to save my soul and the souls of others; in short, Mary is necessary for me that I may always do Thy holy will and seek Thy greater glory in all things.
Ah! que ne puis-je publier par tout l’univers cette miséricorde que vous avez eue envers moi! Que tout le monde ne connaît-il que, sans Marie, je serais déjà damné! Que ne puis-je rendre de dignes actions de grâces d’un si grand bienfait! Marie est en moi, haec facta es mihi. Oh! quel trésor! Oh! quelle consolation! Et je ne serais pas, après cela, tout à elle! Oh! quelle ingratitude, mon cher Sauveur! Envoyez-moi plutôt la mort que ce malheur m’arrive: car j’aime mieux mourir que de vivre sans être tout à Marie.
Ah, would that I could proclaim throughout the whole world the mercy that Thou hast shown to me! Would that everyone might know I should be already damned, were it not for Mary! Would that I might offer worthy thanksgiving for so great a blessing! Mary is in me. Oh, what a treasure! Oh, what a consolation! And shall I not be entirely hers'? Oh, what ingratitude! My dear Saviour, send me death rather than such a calamity, for I would rather die than live without belonging entirely to Mary.
Je l’ai mille et mille fois prise pour tout mon bien avec saint Jean l’Evangéliste, au pied de la croix et je me suis autant de fois donné à elle; mais, si je ne l’ai pas encore bien fait selon vos désirs, mon cher Jésus, je le fais maintenant comme vous le voulez que je le fasse; et si vous voyez en mon âme et mon corps quelque chose qui n’appartienne pas à cette auguste Princesse, je vous prie de me l’arracher et de le jeter loin de moi, puisque, n’étant pas à Marie, il est indigne de vous.
With St. John the Evangelist at the foot of the Cross, I have taken her a thousand times for my own and as many times have given myself to her; but if I have not yet done it as Thou, dear Jesus, dost wish, I now renew this offering as Thou dost desire me to renew it. And if Thou seest in my soul or my body anything that does not belong to this august princess, I pray Thee to take it and cast it far from me, for whatever in me does not belong to Mary is unworthy of Thee.
Ô Saint-Esprit! Accordez-moi toutes ces grâces et plantez, arrosez et cultivez en mon âme l’aimable Marie, qui est l’Arbre de vie véritable, afin qu’il croisse, qu’il fleurisse et apporte du fruit de vie avec abondance.
O Holy Spirit, grant me all these graces. Plant in my soul the Tree of true Life, which is Mary; cultivate it and tend it so that it may grow and blossom and bring forth the fruit of life in abundance.
Ô Saint-Esprit! Donnez-moi une grande dévotion et un grand penchant vers votre divine Epouse, un grand appui sur son sein maternel et un recours continuel à sa miséricorde, afin qu’en elle vous formiez en moi Jésus-Christ au naturel, grand et puissant, jusqu’à la plénitude de son âge parfait. Ainsi soit-il.
O Holy Spirit, give me great devotion to Mary, Thy faithful spouse; give me great confidence in her maternal heart and an abiding refuge in her mercy, so that by her Thou mayest truly form in me Jesus Christ, great and mighty, unto the fullness of His perfect age. Amen.
Ô Jésus vivant en Marie
O Jesus Living in Mary
Ô Jésus vivant en Marie,
venez et vivez en nous,
en votre esprit de sainteté,
en la plénitude de vos dons,
en la perfection de vos voies,
en la vérité de vos vertus,
en la communion de vos mystères.
Dominez en nous sur toutes les puissances ennemies,
le monde, le démon et la chair,
en la vertu de votre Esprit et pour la gloire de votre Père. Amen.
O Jesus living in Mary,
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the communion of Thy mysteries;
Subdue within us every hostile power,
The world, the Devil and the flesh,
In power of Thy spirit, for the glory of thy Father. Amen.
Ô Jésus vivant en Marie,
venez et vivez en nous,
en votre esprit de sainteté,
en la plénitude de vos dons,
en la perfection de vos voies,
en la vérité de vos vertus,
en la communion de vos mystères.
Dominez en nous sur toutes les puissances ennemies,
le monde, le démon et la chair,
en la vertu de votre Esprit et pour la gloire de votre Père. Amen.
O Jesus living in Mary,
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the communion of Thy mysteries;
Subdue within us every hostile power,
The world, the Devil and the flesh,
In power of Thy spirit, for the glory of thy Father. Amen.
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Je me donne tout à vous, Ô Marie… je vous prends pour tout mon bien.
I give all myself to you, O Mary... I take you for all that is good for me.
La seule grâce que je vous demande, par pure miséricorde, c’est que, tous les jours et moments de ma vie, je dise trois fois Amen / Ainsi soit-il:
The only grace I beg thee to obtain for me is that every day and every moment of my life I may say:
⮚ Ainsi soit-il, à tout ce que vous avez fait sur la terre, lorsque vous y viviez;
⮚ Ainsi soit-il, à tout ce que vous faites à présent dans le ciel;
⮚ Ainsi soit-il, à tout ce que vous faites en mon âme, afin qu’il n’y ait que vous à glorifier pleinement Jésus en moi pendant le temps et l’éternité.
Ainsi soit-il.
Amen, to all that thou hast done while on earth; Amen, to all that thou art now doing in Heaven; Amen, to all that thou art doing in my soul, so that thou alone mayest fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity. Amen.
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SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
WE fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers always Glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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