Prayer for

Mary’s Nearness

O Mary, Mother given me by Christ,

be near to me in every moment.

When bitterness rises, soften me with your humility.

When impatience burns, still me with your gentleness.

When pride whispers, clothe me in your obedience.

Mother most pure, keep me under your mantle;

Mother most faithful, lead me to your Son.

Let my heart not wander where you are not,

for where you are, there too is Jesus.

O Jesus, Son of Mary,

through her hands I give You all that I am.

Through her heart I seek to love You more.

Grant me the grace to be ever present

to her presence, and in her presence

to be ever present to You.

Amen.

ORATIO AD MARIAM

PRO ASSIDVA PRAESENTIA

O Maria Mater a Christo mihi data

esto mihi propinqua omni momento

cum amaritudo surgit, emolla me humilate tua

cum impatientia ardet, compone me mansuetudine tua

cum superbia susurrat, indue me obedientia tua

Mater purissima, sub pallio tuo me conserva

Mater fidelissima, ad filium tuum me duc

non sinas cor meum vagari ubi tu non es,

nam ubi tu es, ibi est etiam Iesus

O Domine mi Iesu, Fili Mariae

per manus eius tibi trado quidquid sum

per cor eius te amplius diligere desidero

praesta mihi gratiam

ut semper praesens sim praesentiae eius

et in praesentia eius

semper praesen sim tibi

Amen

Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God (cf. Luke i. 43) and Mother of the Church (cf. John xix. 27), shines forth as the Arx of the faithful. The stronghold raised by the hand of the Almighty, against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail. Conceived without sin (cf. Genesis iii. 15, absolute enmity between [serpent] and the woman), she is the impregnable fortress where the Word took flesh, the dwelling in which the enemy found no breach.

As Judith once guarded Israel with her courage (cf. Judith xiii. 20), and as the Ark of the Covenant bore within it the law, the manna, and the rod (cf. Hebrews ix. 4), so Mary bears in her very being the New Covenant, the true Bread from Heaven, and the eternal Priesthood of Christ. In her Magnificat she declares the Lord’s triumph over the proud and the mighty (cf. Luke i. 51–52), and thus she stands as a rampart for the humble, a citadel of refuge for sinners who take shelter within her intercession.

As Saint Bernard teaches, “In dangers, in perplexities, in doubtful cases, think of Mary, call on Mary,” (cf. Bernardus, Homilia II, De laudibus Virginis Matris, 17) for to hide within this fortress is to be secured in the protection of Christ Himself, who made her the chosen stronghold of His Incarnation.

Here, in this space, one can find all sorts of devotionals, prayers and the like, that show Our Lady as the merciful and ever watchful Mother of all of her children, both inside and outside of the Church, to whom she beckons on behalf of the Lord, to join with Him before His final judgment and pray penance on behalf of those who can not yet glimpse His glory.

This is a place of pure inspiration and filial devotion towards the Holy Queen of Heaven and Our Blessed Mother whom likewise points our eyes to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and His Great Work of Redemption for all men who believe on Him in Faith, Hope and Charity.