_Novenas in Honour of the Blessed Virgin._
In the various tribulations of life, in great afflictions, dangers and
temptations, when we require special assistance from God, an almost
certain means to obtain it is to make a Novena in honour of the Most
Blessed Virgin Mary. How many souls have been heard by God, by having
had recourse to the Most Holy Virgin through a Novena!
The Children of Mary apply themselves with special devotion and
fervent piety to the celebration of her festivals, and, in return, the
Blessed Virgin obtains for them an abundance of heavenly blessings.
St. Gertrude saw one day a great number of souls under the mantle of
Mary, guarded by her with warm affection, and she understood that they
had prepared themselves, by devout exercises of piety, for celebrating
the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
_Prayer._--O Queen of Paradise! raised above all the heavenly choirs,
seated at the right hand of your Divine Son, I prostrate myself at
your feet, miserable sinner that I am, and conjure you to cast upon me
those eyes of mercy which bring grace and the friendship of Almighty
God wherever they are turned. Observe, O Most Holy Mary, in how many
dangers I am of losing my soul, and shall always be as long as I am on
earth; but I place all my hopes in you. I love you, my Mother, with
all my heart, and wish to love you for ever. Ah! pray to your Divine
Son for me; tell Him to protect me, and He will assuredly have
compassion on my poor soul. O my sweetest and most compassionate
Mother, in this hope do I rest, and wish also to live and die. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--O Mary! love gave you the Cross! May the Cross give us
love!
_Practice._--Examine what would give you most fear if you were going
to die now, and begin earnestly to amend.