from Saint Bernard
It is said: 'And the Virgin's name was Mary' (Luke 1:27). Let us say a few words about this name, which is interpreted to mean 'star of the sea,' and is most aptly applied to the Virgin-Mother, for she is very properly compared to a star. For as the star sends forth its rays without any loss to its purity, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without any detriment to her virginity. 'The ray does not lessen the brightness of the star, nor her Son the Virgin's purity. She is, then, that noble star which arose out of Jacob, whose beams illumine the whole world, whose brightness shines out in heaven and penetrates even unto hell, lighting up every land, and which, warming souls rather than bodies, cherishes virtue and makes vice wither away. She is, I say, that bright especial star necessarily set above the wide, wide sea, shining by her merits and enlightening by her example.
O thou! whosoever thou art, who knowest that thou art not walking on dry land, but art tossed to and fro by storms and tempests on the ocean of this world, turn not away thine eyes from the shining of this star, if in this tempest thou wouldst not be a castaway. If the loud winds of temptation rise against thee, if thou art running on the rocks of tribulation, look up to this star - call upon Mary. If thou art tossed about on the waves of pride, or ambition, or slander, or. envy, look up to this star - call upon Mary. If anger, or avarice, or allurement of the flesh beat down upon the shallop of thy spirit, look up to Mary. If, disturbed by the enormity of thy crimes, confounded by the foulness of thy conscience, and terrified by fear of the judgment, thou art about to be swallowed up in the depths of despondency, in the abyss of despair, call upon Mary. In dangers, in difficulties, or in doubts, think upon Mary, call upon Mary. Let her not leave thy lips, nor leave thy heart, and, that thou mayest obtain the patronage of her prayers, fail not to imitate the example of her life. Following her, thou wilt not go astray; praying to her, thou wilt not despair; keeping her in mind, thou wilt not err. If. she holds thee, thou wilt not fall; if she protects thee, thou wilt not fear; if she leads thee, thou wilt not tire; if she be propitious, thou wilt attain; and so, in thine own proper person, thou wilt prove with what good reason it was said: 'And the Virgin's name was Mary.'
Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God! that Thy faithful, who rejoice under the name and protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, may, by her merciful intercession, be delivered from all evils upon earth, and may merit. to attain unto everlasting joy in heaven. 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