Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/705

 Mother, giving  me  to  her  as  a  son,  in  the  person  of  the beloved disciple. Let my  heart  ever  burn  with  love  for Thee, finding  in  Thy  sweetest  Heart  its  peace,  its  refuge, and its  happiness.

Indulgence of 300  days,  once  a  day. — Pius  IX,  Dec. 11, 1854.

MMACULATE Virgin! Mary, conceived  without sin! Remember, thou  wert  miraculously  preserved from even  the  shadow  of  sin,  because  thou  wert  destined to become  not  only  the  Mother  of  God,  but  also  the  mother, the refuge,  and  the  advocate  of  man;  penetrated,  therefore, with the  most  lively  confidence  in  thy  never-failing  intercession, we  most  humbly  implore  thee  to  look  with  favor upon the  intentions  of  this  novena,  and  to  obtain  for  us  the graces and  the  favors  we  request. Thou knowest,  O  Mary, how often  our  hearts  are  the  sanctuaries  of  God,  Who abhors iniquity. Obtain for  us,  then,  that  angelic  purity which was  thy  favorite  virtue,  that  purity  of  heart  which will attach  us  to  God  alone,  and  that  purity  of  intention which will  consecrate  every  thought,  word,  and  action  to His  greater  glory. Obtain also  for  us  a  constant  spirit of prayer  and  self-denial,  that  we  may  recover  by  penance that  innocence  which  we  have  lost  by  sin,  and  at length  attain  safely  to  that  blessed  abode  of  the  saints, where nothing  defiled  can  enter.

O Mary,  conceived  without  sin,  pray  for  us  who  have recourse to  thee.

Recite the  "Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,"  or  the  following Hymn.

V. Thou art all fair O Mary.

R. And the  original  stain is  not  in  thee.