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 without inflaming  it  with  thy  love;  and  they  who  love thee cannot  think  of  thee without  feeling  themselves  animated to  love  thee  move  and  more,  and  putting  all  their confidence in  thee. O Mary,  O  my  Mother,  thou  seest my trouble,  look  upon  me  with  an  eye  of  pity;  thou  art the consolation  of  all  who  call  upon  thee  in  affliction,  be thou,  then,  mine. Hearken to  the  sighs,  graciously  hear the prayers  of  my  poor  heart;  forsake  me  not,  but  support me  in  affliction,  and  strengthen  me  in  danger. Thou art the  heavenly  dew  that  sweetenest  our  sorrows;  O Mother  of  consolation,  I  pray  thee,  sweeten  mine;  give peace to  my  soul,  grant  me  all  that  thou  knowest  I  desire of thee;  obtain  for  me,  from  thy  divine  Son,  the  pardon of all  my  sins,  the  grace  to  sin  no  more,  the  blessedness to imitate  thy  virtues  all  the  rest  of  my  life,  and  finally a holy  and  a  happy  death. At that  tremendous hour,  be thou  my  protectress  and  my  consolation,  I  beseech  thee; O my  tender  Mother,  come  and  receive  my  soul,  to  present it  at  the  tribunal  of  the  sovereign  Judge,  and  to  obtain for  me  a  favourable  sentence. I deserve  not  this  at thy  hands;  but  I  am  thy  child. I love  thee,  and  I  desire to  make  thee  loved  by  all  hearts. Amen.

How great  is  my  grief,  O  most  holy  Virgin  Mary,  when I consider  the  injuries  which  thou  receivest every  day  on the  part  of  men! How can  there  be  found  hearts  so hard  and  impious  as  to  despise  thee,  who  art  worthy  of the  respect  and  love  of  angels  and  men ! And among  the very children  of  the  Church,  thine  own  children,  there  are some, alas,  who  feel  nothing  but  coldness  and  indifference for  thee;  who  take  no  pains  to  testify  their  gratitude and devotion  towards  thee;  who  never  honour  thee,  or invoke  thy  intercession,  or  seek  to  gain  thy  protection. And how  many  times  have  I  myself  plunged  into  thy heart the  two-edged  sword! O Mother of  mercy,  I  should never dare  to  lift  up  my eyes  to  thee,  wert  thou  not  the advocate of  sinners. Oppressed with  the  burden  of  my infidelities,  I  come  to  ask  forgiveness  at  thy  feet,  for  myself and  for  all  mankind. I acknowledge  thy  glory  to  be above  that  of  all  creatures;  I  honour,  with  the  Church, thy immaculate  Conception  and  thy  glorious  Assumption; I believe thy power and all they perfections to be