Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/557

 proportioned to  thy  dignity  of  Mother  of  God;  I  acknowledge thee  with  joy  as  my  advocate,  my  refuge,  and  my mother;  I  will  glory  all  my  life  in  being  of  the  number of thy  most  devoted  children,  and  it  shall  be  my  happiness to  win  all  hearts  to  thy  love. Vouchsafe, O  spotless Virgin,  to  obtain  for  me  grace  to  imitate  thy  virtues, and to  dwell  with  thee  hereafter  in  the  abode  of  glory. Amen.

O Holy  Mary,  Mother  of  God,  who,  from  the  first moment of  thy  conception,  wast  free  from  the  stain  of original  sin,  I  choose  thee  this  day  for  my  queen,  my patroness,  my  advocate  with  God,  and  my  glorious mother. I am  most  earnestly  resolved,  from  this  day,  to persevere  in  thy  worship,  and  in  promoting  thy  honour, during the  whole  course  of  my  life;  I  will  never  say  any thing, nor  do  any  thing,  nor  suffer  any  who  belong  to  me to  offer,  in  their  conversation  or  their  actions,  the  slightest injury  to  the  reverence  and  homage  which  are  due to thee  by  a  thousand  titles. Vouchsafe, then,  I  beseech thee, O  august  Queen  of  heaven  and  earth,  to  admit  me to-day  into  thy  service  for  ever,  and  to  grant  me  thy  holy protection every  moment  of  my  life. Above all,  O  most sacred Mother  of  my  Saviour,  I  beseech  thee  not  to abandon  me  at  the  hour  of  my  death. Amen.

O God,  who  hast  placed  us  under  the  patronage  of  the most holy  Mother  of  thy  Son  Jesus,  and  dost  excite  us  to strive  for  the  prize  of  our  high  calling;  come  into  our hearts, and  pour  down  upon  us  thy  purifying  grace, whereby we  may  persevere  in  thy  service,  and  in  the  service of  the  same  most  holy  Virgin  Mary;  so  that,  fortified by so  powerful  a  protection,  we  may  perform  those  good desires which  thou  hast  put  into  our  hearts,  and  having effectually accomplished  all  that  was  set  before  us  to  do, may attain  those  things  which  thou  hast  been  pleased  to promise  to  those  that  abide  in  thee. Through the  same  Jesus Christ our  Lord,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  thee,  in  the unity of  the  Holy  Spirit,  God,  for  ever  and  ever. Amen.