Catholic Prayer: Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Description:

This prayer is from the lovely prayerbook The Rural Life Prayerbook, written and compiled by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J. and printed by the National Catholic Rural Life Conference in 1956 (and recently reprinted by TAN Books).

The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary falls the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, or August 22 in the Extraordinary Form calendar.

Prayer:

HEART of Mary ever Virgin, you are full of grace. You are the dearest daughter of the heavenly Father, the tabernacle of the Word made Flesh, and the beloved home of the Holy Spirit. You are the wonder and delight of angels, of saints, and of men. I offer you my deepest reverence. With great love and thanksgiving I consecrate myself, body and soul, to you this day, and will never take back my word.

You are the marvel of God's creation; a Virgin's heart, yet a Mother's too, with a mother's love of Jesus and of men. Dear Mother, fashion in my heart a child's true love of you. Fill me with your own bright virtues: simplicity and innocence, meekness and courage, and unfailing devotedness to Jesus Christ.

Since I belong to you then, holy Mother, save me from my enemies, from the world, from Satan, from myself. Keep me always in your sinless Heart to make my poor heart more and more like your Heart and the Heart of Jesus.

Dear, merciful Mother, look with a mother's love and pity on the poor, sinful, suffering children of the whole human family. Our Holy Father Pius XII has consecrated them to your Immaculate Heart. Do not turn them away. Remember the cruel pain your heart suffered for their salvation with Jesus Christ on Calvary. Save them by His precious Blood. Draw them out of the darkness and despair of their sin and misery into the light, peace, and holiness of the Church.

Then with the angels and saints, may they join us in singing the everlasting Magnificat of praise, gratitude, and love to your tender and Immaculate Heart, and to the adorable and merciful Heart of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer Source: Rural Life Prayerbook by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J., National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 ncrlc.com, 1956