Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/648

 Prevent our  actions,  we  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  by  thy  inspiration, and  further  them  by  thy  continual  help:  that  every prayer and  work  of  ours  may  begin  from  thee,  and  by  thee  be happily  ended,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  liveth  and reigneth with  thee  in  the  unity  of  the  same  spirit,  God,  world without end. Amen.

O most  pure  Virgin,  conceived  without  sin,  and  from  that very first  instant  entirely  beautiful  and  without  spot,  O  glorious Mary, full  of  grace,  and  Mother  of  my  God,  Queen  of  Angels and of  men,  I humbly  worship  thee  as  Mother  of  my  Saviour, inasmuch as  God  has  taught  me  by  the  esteem  he  has  for  thee, and by  his  respect  and  submission  towards  thee,  what honours and what  homage  I  ought  to  render  thee,  deign,  I  beseech  thee, to accept  this  Novena  which  I  consecrate  to  thee. Thou art the secure  refuge  of  penitent  sinners,  and  I  therefore  may rightly have  recourse  to  thee;  thou  art  the  Mother  of  Mercy, and therefore  thou  canst  not  but  be  melted  into  tenderness by my  miseries:  thou,  after  Jesus  Christ,  art  all  my  hope;  thou canst not,  then,  but  be  pleased  with  the  tender  confidence which I  have  in  thee. Make me  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son, that I  may  be  able  to  say  with  confidence,  Shew  thyself  to  be a  Mother.

Behold me  at  thy  most  holy  feet,  O  immaculate  Virgin. I rejoice with  thee  exceedingly  that  from  all  eternity  thou  hast been chosen  to  be  the  Mother  of  the  eternal  Word,  and  been preserved from  original  sin. I thank  and  bless  the  most  holy Trinity for  having  enriched  thee  With these  privileges  in  thy conception; and  I  humbly implore thee  to  obtain  for  me grace  to  overcome  those  sad  effects  which  original  sin  has wrought in me. Ah, do  thou  enable  me  to  conquer  them,  and never more  to  cease  to  love  my  God.