Friday, September 12, 2014

The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
By St. Louis Mary De Montfort
Preface
St. Louis De Montfort, universally known for his True Devotion to Mary, embellished the Little Crown by adding to each Hail Mary a distinctive invocation in praise of the Blessed Virgin's excellence, power, and goodness, ending with the joyful strain, "Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! Rejoice a thousand times!"
St. De Montfort gave the Little Crown as a morning prayer to both his religious families, the Montfort Fathers and the Daughter of Wisdom. He heartily recommends it to all who embrace the holy and loving slavery to Jesus through Mary. Thus the world over, from the lips of Mary's favorite children the Little Crown rises like fragrant incense to our Blessed Mother's throne in Heaven and returns to earth in showers of Divine benediction. Since the Blessed Virgin is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, St. Louis prefaces the Little Crown with an invocation to the Holy Spirit.
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
I. CROWN OF EXCELLENCE
II. CROWN OF POWER
III. CROWN OF GOODNESS
CONCLUDING PRAYER
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle
winthin them the fire of Thy love!
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit dost instruct the hearts of
the faithful, grant us by this same Spirit to relish what is right and
ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
 I. CROWN OF EXCELLENCE
[To honor the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable Virginity,
her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues.]
1. Our Father, Hail Mary.
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the
Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who
made thee, and remainest a Virgin forever.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
2. Hail Mary.
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what
praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very
One Whom the Heavens cannot contain.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
3. Hail Mary.
Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
4. Hail Mary.
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
II. CROWN OF POWER
[To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her
universal mediation and the strength of her rule.]
5.  Our Father, Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
6. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a share in thy riches.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
7. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man! Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
8. Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times! Glory be to the Father.
Glory be to the Father.
III. CROWN OF GOODNESS
[To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just and the dying.]
9.  Our Father, Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
10. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
11. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
12. Hail Mary.
Glory be to thee who are ever ready to assist us in life and death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven! Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.

CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let Us Pray.

Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost; Hail, Mary, Temple of the most Holy Trinity; Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope ---- yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father.  Amen.

Litany of the Holy Ghost

 Litany of the Holy Ghost 
 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
(For private use only) 
 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. 
Lord, have mercy on us. 
 
Father all powerful, have mercy on us 
Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, save us. 
Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us. 
Holy Trinity, hear us 
 
Holy Ghost, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son, enter our hearts. 
Holy Ghost, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts. 
 
Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us. 
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on us 
Author of all good, have mercy on us 
Source of heavenly water, have mercy on us 
Consuming fire, have mercy on us 
Ardent charity, have mercy on us 
Spiritual unction, have mercy on us 
Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on us 
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on us 
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on us 
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on us 
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on us 
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on us 
Spirit of peace and meekness, have mercy on us 
Spirit of modesty and innocence, have mercy on us 
Holy Ghost, the Comforter, have mercy on us 
Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier, have mercy on us 
Holy Ghost, Who governest the Church, have mercy on us 
Gift of God, the Most High, have mercy on us 
Spirit Who fillest the universe, have mercy on us 
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, have mercy on us 
 
Holy Ghost, inspire us with horror of sin. 
Holy Ghost, come and renew the face of the earth. 
Holy Ghost, shed Thy light in our souls. 
Holy Ghost, engrave Thy law in our hearts 
Holy Ghost, inflame us with the flame of Thy love. 
Holy Ghost, open to us the treasures of Thy graces 
Holy Ghost, teach us to pray well. 
Holy Ghost, enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations. 
Holy Ghost, lead us in the way of salvation 
Holy Ghost, grant us the only necessary knowledge. 
Holy Ghost, inspire in us the practice of good. 
Holy Ghost, grant us the merits of all virtues. 
Holy Ghost, make us persevere in justice. 
Holy Ghost, be Thou our everlasting reward. 
 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Send us Thy Holy Ghost. 
 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, pour down into our 
souls the gifts of the Holy Ghost. 
 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant us the Spirit of 
wisdom and piety. 
 
V. Come, Holy Ghost! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful, 
R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love. 
 
Let Us Pray 
Grant, 0 merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and 
purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make us 
fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with 
Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth forever and 
ever. R. Amen.