from Saint German
'Hail, Mary, full of grace!' holier than the saints and higher than the heavens, more glorious than the Cherubim, more honourable than the Seraphim, more venerable than any other creature whatsoever. Hail, O Dove! who dost bear unto us both the fruit of the olive and Him who will save us from the spiritual deluge, and dost announce unto us the harbour of salvation, whose 'wings are covered with silver, and the hinder parts of the back with the paleness of gold (Psalm 67:14), beneath the bright beams of the most holy and illuminating Spirit. Hail, most pleasant human Paradise of God! now planted towards the Orient by His most bountiful and omnipotent right hand, and bringing forth unto Him the sweet-smelling Lily and the never-fading Rose, for the healing of them who in the Occident had imbibed the pestilential bitterness of death, which is mortal to the soul - Paradise in which, unto the knowledge of the truth, the tree of life has bourgeoned, of which if any man taste he shall attain to everlasting life. Hail, most holily built, and spotless, and most pure Palace of the King, God Most High! adorned with all His high and royal magnificence, hospitably open to all, and refreshing them with mystical delights - Palace in which is set that spiritual bridal-chamber, bright with various beauty, that is not made with hands; in which the Word, willing to call back to Him the wandering human race, wedded flesh unto Himself, that He might reconcile to the Father those who by their own will were castaways.
Hail, O rich and shady mountain of God! where was the pasture of the true Lamb who bore our sins and our infirmities - mountain from which hath rolled down that Stone not hewn with hands, which has broken the altars of the idols, and has become the main corner-stone, marvellous in our eyes. Hail! thou holy throne of God, thou divine storehouse, thou temple of glory, thou beauteous ornament, thou choice treasure, thou mercy-seat of all the world, thou heaven which dost declare the glory of God. Hail, O thou urn fashioned of pure gold! that containest that most delightful sweetness of our souls - I mean, that manna which is Christ. O most pure Virgin, most worthy of all praise and all homage! O treasury, dedicate to God, responding to all the needs of men! thou art an untilled earth, an unploughed field; thou art a vine in full flower, an overflowing fountain of waters, a Virgin bringing forth; thou art the Mother that knew not man, a hidden treasure of innocence, and the glory of holiness.
By the most acceptable prayers, potent with thy maternal power, which thou addressest to the Lord God, the Creator of all things, thy Son, who had on earth no father, and was of thee alone begotten, guide, as with a hand on the helm, all the orders of the Church, and pilot her unto the port of peace. Clothe most gloriously her priests with righteousness, and with the exulting gladness of spotless faith - a faith that is tried and true. Rule thou, in prosperity and peace, the sceptres of orthodox princes who, far beyond all the splendours of their purple and their gold, and more precious far than pearls and precious stones, take thee for their diadem and royal robe, nay, for the most enduring glory of their realm. Subject to these the infidel nations who blaspheme against thee and against the God who was born of thee, and strew them under their feet; and strengthen the people who are subject to them to continue, according to the commandment of God, in the homage of their meek obedience. [Crown this thy city, which has thee for tower and for foundation - crown her with the crown of victory, and, girding it round about with might, ever guard the temple of God, and keep inviolate the beauty of His dwelling-place]. Deliver from all difficulty and anguish of mind all them that praise thee; give liberty to the captive; to the wanderer, the homeless, and all who are destitute, be thou a consolation. Stretch out thy helping hand to the whole world, that with joy and gladness we may celebrate thy solemn feasts as this which now we keep unto its close with such festive splendour], Through Christ Jesus, the Ruler of all things, and our true God, to whom, together with the Father, who is the holy fountain of life, and the co-ruling, consubstantial, and co-eternal Spirit, be glory and power, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us pray
O God! who, with unspeakable providence, dost rule and govern the whole world, grant to us, thy servants, that, by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, who pastureth us with watchful care, we may be protected from our enemies, satiated with the sweetness of Thy fruit, and led securely to the heavenly fatherland. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is, from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers - to Abraham and to His seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Salve Regina!
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate! thine eyes of mercy towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Petition
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin!
- from The May-Book of the Breviary, by Father John Fitzpatrick