_In concluding these pious exercises of the Month of Mary let us, in
the spirit of St. Francis of Sales, recite the following Act of
Consecration, which he often repeated to the Queen of Heaven, and in
which the beauty of his soul and the purity of his heart are well
depicted._
I salute you, most sweet Virgin Mary, Mother of God; you are my Mother
and my Mistress; and therefore, I entreat you to accept me as your son
and your servant; I wish to have no other Mother than you. I beg you,
then, my good, and gracious, and most sweet Mother, to deign to
console me in all my troubles and tribulations, both spiritual and
corporal. Remember, most sweet Virgin Mary, that you are my Mother,
and that I am your son. You all powerful, and I poor, weak and vile.
Nevertheless, I beseech you, O sweetest Mother, to keep me and defend
me in all my ways and in all my actions, for, alas! I am poor and
wretched, and in need of your most holy protection. Do, then, my
beloved Mother, preserve and deliver my soul and body from all dangers
and evils, and make me share in your blessings, your virtues, and, in
particular, in your holy humility, your surpassing purity and your
ardent charity.
Tell me not, gracious Virgin, that you cannot do so, because your Son
gave you all power in heaven and on earth. Neither tell me that you
ought not to hear me, for you are the common Mother of all poor
mortals, and of me in particular. If you could not grant my prayer,
then I should excuse you, saying: It is true that she is my Mother,
and that I am her son, but she is not able to help me. If you were not
my Mother, then, indeed, I should have patience, saying: She is rich
enough to be able to assist me, but, alas! not being my Mother, she
does not love me. But since, most sweet Virgin, you are not only my
Mother, but are also powerful, how can you be excused if you do not
console me, and come to my relief and assistance? You see, my Mother,
that it is difficult for you to reject any request that I may make
you.
Be, then, exalted in heaven and on earth, glorious Virgin and dear
Mother Mary, and, for the honour and glory of your Divine Son Jesus,
accept me for your son, without regard to my miseries and sins.
Deliver me from all evil of soul and body, obtain for me every virtue,
and first of all humility; and bestow upon me all the benefits and
graces necessary to make me pleasing to the Most Holy Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.