Preparing for Consecration
The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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 PrayerCome Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle within them the fire of Thy love! 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. Grant that I may praise the holy Virgin; give me strength against thy enemies. The Creed. I believe in God… I. Crown Of ExcellenceWe honor the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable Virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues. 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. 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. Hail Mary. Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee. Hail Mary. Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number. Glory be to the Father. II. Crown Of PowerWe honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation and the strength of her rule. Our Father, Hail Mary. Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven. Hail Mary. Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a share in thy riches. 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! Hail Mary. Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Glory be to the Father. III. Crown Of GoodnessWe honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just and the dying. Our Father, Hail Mary. Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God. Hail Mary. Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us. Hail Mary. Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven. 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! Glory be to the Father. Concluding PrayerLet 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. 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. |
Supplemental Prayer
Mary,
Burn your image upon my soul, in my heart and on my mind; that I may always know who I serve.
Let your eyes be mine that I might see the Truth.
Let your ears be mine that I might hear the Truth.
Let your mind be mine that I might know the Truth.
Let your lips be mine that I might speak the Truth.
Let your hands be mine that I might continue your work on this earth.
Knit your heart with mine that I might share in the covenant of love God has for his people, that I might bear the light of Gods’ Truth to our family and friends and to all with whom I interact this day.
Grant me the grace to make this offering, poor though it may be, completely and without reservation. Lead me to defer to you in all things. May I grow ever smaller as you increase within me. Possess me so completely that it is no longer my will but yours which is lived out through my life.
Identify my spirit with every movement of your own. May all I do be done through your Immaculate Heart, drawing me ever closer to your precious Son, Jesus Christ, and be for the glory of God our Father for all time and for all eternity.
Amen.
by Bernadette Harmon
2008-February
May Our Lady grant you your very own personalized consecration prayer as you journey with her.