Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/457

 power to  make  others  love  thee  also. I place in  thee, after God,  all  my  hopes. I confide my  salvation  to thy  care. Accept me  for  thy  servant,  and  receive me under  thy  mantle,  O mother  of  mercy,  and  since thou art  so  powerful  with  God,  deliver  me  from  all temptations, or  at  least  obtain  for  me  the  strength to triumph  over  them  until  death. Obtain for  me. I beseech thee,  a perfect  love  for  Jesus  Christ. To thee I look  for  grace  to  make  a good  death. O my Mother, by  the  love  which  thou  bearest  to  God,  I beseech  thee  to  help  me  at  all  times,  and  particularly at the  decisive  moment  of  death. Do not  leave  me until  thou  seest  me  safe  in  heaven,  occupied  in blessing  thee,  and  singing  thy  mercies  throughout eternity. Amen.

HOSOEVER is  a little  one,  let  him  come  to me.”  ( Prov . ix.)  Mary  engages  all  those children who  have  need  of  a mother  to  come  to  her,  as to  the  most  tender  of  all  mothers. The love  of  all the mothers  in  the  world,  says  the  pious  Nieremberg, is no  more  than  a shadow  compared  with  that  love which Mary  bears  to  each  one  of  us. My mother! mother of  my  soul! thou who,  after  God,  lovest  me and  desirest  my  salvation  more  than  all  the  world beside: O my  Mother! show thyself  to  be  indeed  a mother.

OST sweet  and  amiable  Mary,  no  one  can  pronounce thy  name  without  feeling  the  greatest desire to  love  thee; and  those  who  do  love  thee, cannot call  thee  to  mind  without  being  animated  to love  thee  more. Pray for  us  to  thy  divine  Son,  that