from Saint Bernard
Mary is rightly shown forth to us clothed with the sun, for she, to a degree that is hardly credible, sounded the profoundest abyss of the wisdom of God, so much so, indeed, that, so far as the condition of a creature allows, and short of a union in personality, she seems to be immersed in that light inaccessible. That is the fire with which the lips of the Prophet were purified; that is the flame with which the Seraphim are on fire. But far otherwise did Mary merit; and she was not touched, as it were, on the surface, but was rather covered over by that fire and surrounded, and, as it were, shut in. In sooth, this woman's vesture is of great whiteness, but also of great heat, and everything in her is known to be so completely irradiated that there is nothing in her which can be even suspected to be, I do not say darkful, but even darksome or lacking in the least in light; neither is there anything lukewarm to be found in her, nor anything that is not most fervent.
'A woman clothed with the sun' - clothed, indeed, with the light for vesture. The carnal man perceives not this, perchance; for whatever is spiritual seems to him but foolishness. But the Apostle saw it otherwise, who said: 'Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ' (Romans 13:14). Lady, how familiar thou hast become with Him! How near, nay rather, how very intimate hast thou merited to become! How much grace hast thou found with Him! He abideth in thee, and thou in Him: thou art His vesture, and by Him thou art garmented. Thou dost clothe Him with the substance of flesh, and by Him thou art clad with the glory of His majesty. Thou dost clothe the sun with a cloud, and thou art thyself clothed with the sun. For 'the Lord hath created a new thing upon the earth - a woman shall compass a man' (Jeremiah 31:22).
Therefore, Mother of Mercy! we call upon thee, who hast been appointed our Mediatress with the Sun of righteousness - we call upon thee with devout supplication, that in thy light we may see light, and merit by thy care the favour of the Sun, for verily He loved thee above all others and adorned thee, robing thee with a robe of glory and setting a crown of beauty on thy brow. Thou art full of graces, full of heavenly dew, leaning upon thy beloved, and flowing with delights. O Lady! feed thou today thy poor; let even the whelps eat of the crumbs; give to drink, from thine overflowing pitcher, not only to Abraham's servant but to his camels also, for thou art truly the Maiden pre-elect, provided for the Son of. the Most High (Genesis 24).
Let us pray
O God! who didst vouchsafe to gladden the world by the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, by the help of His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may attain to the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. 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