The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace!
The Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

About the Hail Mary

The Hail Mary is one of the Church’s most beloved prayers to Our Blessed Mother. It begins with the words of the Angel Gabriel and Saint Elizabeth in the Gospel, praising Mary and the blessed fruit of her womb, Jesus. Then, with the simple trust of children, we ask Mary, the Mother of God, to pray for us now and at the hour of our death.


About the Wall Scene

The beautiful scene on the wall is adapted from The Annunciation by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, painted in the mid-1600s. It shows the Angel Gabriel appearing to the Blessed Virgin Mary and offering her a lily, a symbol of her purity, while the Holy Spirit descends above and angels surround the scene in heavenly light.

In this Santa Fe setting, the Annunciation seems almost to open into Kathy’s little room, giving the feeling that Heaven has drawn very near as she prays.

The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

About the Our Father

The Our Father is the prayer Jesus Himself taught His disciples when they asked Him how to pray. It is simple, complete, and deeply trusting. In it, we honor God as our Father, ask that His will be done, place our daily needs in His hands, ask forgiveness, and beg Him to protect us from sin and evil. It is truly the prayer of a child speaking to a loving Father.


About the Painting

This image is a modern adaptation of an old Catholic devotional painting, artist unknown. At its center, Jesus reveals His Sacred Heart, radiant with divine love, while the crowned female figure and the Eucharistic imagery recall the Church’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. The angels and clouds give the scene a heavenly character, as though the mysteries of faith are opening before Kathy as she prays.

Evening Prayer

Dear Mother Mary, as the day comes to its quiet end, I come to you softly.
You are so gentle and full of love, a shining light when everything grows dim, and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.

When my heart feels tired, you draw me close and let me rest near you, as a child rests safely beside her mother.

You are so pure and so beautiful, living now with God in Heaven, high above the angels—and still you remember me.

Dear Mother,
please ask your Son Jesus to forgive me for anything I did wrong today, and make my heart clean and peaceful again.

Stay near me through the night. Watch over me while I sleep.
Keep me safe, and lead me always closer to Jesus.


And if I wake in the quiet darkness, help me remember that Heaven is near, and you are watching over me.

Help me to love God more tomorrow, and one day to praise Him with the angels, forever in Heaven.

Good night, dear Mother. Stay with me.


Amen.

Dear Jesus

 
Dear Jesus,

You know that I love You.

Dear Jesus,

You know that I love You.

Dear Jesus,

You know everything.

You know that I love You.

Amen.

This prayer comes from an old handwritten Catholic prayer book. It is a simple prayer of love for Jesus, trusting that He knows our hearts completely and knows how deeply we love Him.

The Longing Heart

 

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Dear Heavenly Father,

My heart longs for You and for the happiness of Heaven.

While I am here on earth, help me to love You faithfully and to follow Your holy will.

Teach me not to hold too tightly to the things of this world, but to keep my heart turned toward You.

Let everything I do bring me a little closer to Heaven.

And when my earthly life is finished, take me gently home, where, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and all the saints, I may see You, love You, and praise You forever.

Amen.

This prayer comes from an old handwritten Catholic prayer book. It is a gentle prayer of longing for Heaven and for the day when our souls may be at home with God forever.

The Power of Prayer

 
Our prayers are very precious to God.

When we speak to Him from our hearts, He listens.

The saints tell us that even the angels carry our prayers before God, almost like sweet incense rising up to Heaven.

I love thinking about that.

Even a little prayer, quietly whispered, is precious to Him. No prayer offered with love and trust is too small for God to hear.

The Bible tells us this again and again.

God says, “Call upon Me, and I will hear you.”

And Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”

These are such comforting words.

Jesus wants us to come to Him. He wants us to ask for His help and to trust Him with the things that are in our hearts.

He even tells us that our Father in Heaven gives good things to those who ask Him.

That does not mean that God will always give me exactly what I ask for, or in the way I expect.

God sees things that I cannot see, and He knows what is truly best for me.

But I can always be certain of this:

God hears me.

He knows what I need.

And when I pray with faith, my prayer is never forgotten.

So when I am worried, I can pray.

When I need help, I can pray.

When someone I love needs God’s grace, I can pray for them.

And even when I do not know what to say, I can simply turn my heart toward God and ask Him to help me.

Then I can leave my prayer in His hands, trusting that my Father in Heaven has heard me.

And that is a very peaceful thing to know.

Amen.

A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

 
Dear Mother Mary,

God has given you such a beautiful place in Heaven, close to your Son, Jesus.

The saints pray for us, but your prayers are especially dear to God, because you are the Mother of Jesus.

Everything beautiful in you, dear Mother, comes from God and from your closeness to Jesus.

When I need help, when I am weak, or when I am afraid, I can come to you and ask you to pray for me.

You always lead me to Jesus. And Jesus leads me to our Father in Heaven.

Saint Bernard taught that God wants us to receive so many of His graces through your loving hands.

That makes me happy, dear Mother, because I know you will never forget me.

Please ask Jesus to give me the grace I need each day—the grace to be good, to resist temptation, to love God, and to remain close to Him.

God wants us to ask Him for His grace. He does not want us to try to make our way to Heaven all alone.

He wants us to pray, to trust Him, and to keep asking for His help.

Even when I have failed, even when I feel far away, help me never stop asking God for His grace.

So when I am discouraged, help me remember to pray.

When I have done something wrong, help me turn back to Jesus.

And when I feel that I am too weak to be good, pray for me, dear Mother.

Ask Jesus never to let me wander far from Him, and help me keep asking for His grace all the days of my life.

Dear Mother Mary, take my prayers to Jesus, and lead me safely home to Heaven.

Amen.

About This Prayer

This prayer was adapted for Kathy’s recording from The Prayer of Petition by St. Alphonsus Liguori. It is based on his teaching about the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our need to ask God faithfully for the graces necessary for salvation. The passage also draws upon the teaching of St. Bernard concerning the graces God gives us through Mary’s intercession.

 

Why We Need to Pray

 

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Why We Need to Pray

This reading comes from The Prayer of Petition by St. Alphonsus, a little book about how prayer helps us receive the graces we need from God.

We need prayer because we need God.

Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find.”

We cannot become good and holy by our own strength alone. Everything good within us begins with the grace of God.

And God wants us to ask Him for that grace.

Not because He does not know what we need—He already knows.

But when we pray, we remember that He is our Father, and that every good thing comes from Him.

Saint Augustine taught that God greatly desires to give us His graces, but He wants us to come to Him and ask.

And Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us that prayer gives us the help we need to resist temptation, to remain faithful, and to keep walking toward Heaven.

Just as the body needs food, the soul needs prayer.

Prayer keeps our hearts close to God. It gives us strength when we are weak, courage when we are afraid, and grace when we are tempted.

So we should never be afraid to ask God for help.

He is listening.

He loves us.

And He wants us to come to Him.

Dear God, teach me to pray, help me always to trust You, and give me the grace I need to stay close to You all the days of my life.

Amen. 

Prayer Before Confession

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Dear God, my loving Father,

I come before You with a humble and sorry heart.

I know that I have sinned. I have not always done what is right, and I have not always loved You as faithfully as I should.

Dear Father, I am truly sorry.

I am sorry because You have always been so good to me. You have loved me, cared for me, and given me everything I have.

And still, I have sometimes forgotten You and chosen what I wanted instead of what You wanted.

Please have mercy on me.

You know my whole heart, dear God. Nothing is hidden from You.

You know every wrong thing I have done, every unkind word I have spoken, and every good thing I should have done but did not do.

You even know the sins I have forgotten.

Please help me see myself truthfully, but do not let me be afraid.

You are my Father, and I know that You love me.

So I come back to You just as I am.

Please forgive me.

Dear Jesus,

You loved me so much that You suffered and died for me.

You shed Your Precious Blood so that my sins could be forgiven and I could belong to God forever.

Please let Your Precious Blood wash away everything in me that is sinful and make my heart clean again.

Give me true sorrow for my sins, not only because I am afraid of punishment, but because I am sorry that I have offended You, whom I love.

Help me now to make a good confession.

Give me courage to tell my sins simply, honestly, and completely.

If there is something I am ashamed to say, give me courage to say it anyway.

Do not let fear keep anything hidden in my heart.

And when I kneel before the priest, help me remember that I am really coming to You, dear Jesus.

You already know everything.

You are only waiting for me to come back.

Please receive me with mercy.

Forgive my sins, give peace to my heart, and help me begin again.

Dear Father,

I do not want to wander away from You.

When I am tempted, please stay close to me. Help me remember how much You love me and give me strength to choose what is good.

Make me kinder and more patient.

Help me to obey more willingly, forgive more quickly, speak more gently, and love You more each day.

And if I fall again, dear Father, please help me never to run away from You.

Teach me always to come home.

I place myself completely in Your loving hands.

I am sorry for my sins.

I trust in Your mercy.

I love You, dear God.

For the sake of Jesus and His Precious Blood, forgive me, make my heart clean, and keep me close to You all the days of my life.

Amen.

Morning Prayer to The Blessed Virgin mary

 

O dearest Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

This morning I come to you with love and trust.

I place myself in your motherly care, and I give you my whole self—my body and my soul, my thoughts and my heart, and everything I will do today.

Dear Mother Mary, stay close beside me. Watch over me wherever I go.

Keep me from sin and from anything that might lead me away from your dear Son, Jesus.

Help me to be good and gentle today. Guide my thoughts, my words, and everything I do, so that my life may be pleasing to God.

When something is difficult, help me to be patient. When I am afraid, help me to trust.

And when I forget to think of God, gently lead my heart back to Him.

Blessed Mother, keep me beneath your loving protection all through this day.

And when my life on earth is finished, please lead me safely home to Jesus, where I may be with Him forever.

Amen.

This beautiful Morning Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Written in the traditional script of an earlier time, it reflects a simple and deeply trusting devotion to Our Lady.

Guardian Angel Prayer

 

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O my dear Guardian Angel,

God has given you to me to stay beside me and watch over me.

Please be with me today, wherever I go. Protect me from everything that could hurt my soul or lead me away from God.

Keep me safe from evil, and help me when I am tempted to do something wrong.

Dear Angel, guide me in everything I do. Help me to be good, to obey God, and to choose what is right.

Stay close beside me in every danger. Help me when I am afraid, and do not let me wander away from Jesus.

Please pray for me, dear Guardian Angel, and help me live each day so that I may please God.

And when my life on earth is finished, stay close to me then, too. Lead me safely home to Heaven, where I may be with God forever.

Dear God, thank You for giving me my Guardian Angel to love me, guide me, and watch over me.

Amen.

________

This Prayer to My Guardian Angel comes from an old handwritten German Catholic prayer book. Its carefully written pages contain traditional prayers to Mary, the angels, and the saints, with an inscription dated 1848. This prayer has been gently translated into simple English while preserving the tender and trusting spirit of the original.

Evening Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

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Dear Mother Mary, as the day comes to its quiet end, I come to you softly.
You are so gentle and full of love, a shining light when everything grows dim, and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.

When my heart feels tired, you draw me close and let me rest near you, as a child rests safely beside her mother.

You are so pure and so beautiful, living now with God in Heaven, high above the angels—and still you remember me.

Dear Mother,
please ask your Son Jesus to forgive me for anything I did wrong today, and make my heart clean and peaceful again.

Stay near me through the night. Watch over me while I sleep.
Keep me safe, and lead me always closer to Jesus.


And if I wake in the quiet darkness, help me remember that Heaven is near, and you are watching over me.

Help me to love God more tomorrow, and one day to praise Him with the angels, forever in Heaven.

Good night, dear Mother. Stay with me.


Amen.

Prayer for The Feast of the Assumption

Dear Lord,

On this beautiful feast of Our Blessed Mother’s Assumption, I think of Mary with You in Heaven, exalted above the choirs of angels and close to her dear Son.

Dear Jesus, I know that I cannot always please You as I should. Please forgive me when I fail You, and through the prayers of Your Blessed Mother, help me always stay close to You.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, keep me close to Jesus.

And someday, when my life on earth is finished, please help me come safely home to Heaven, where you are with Him forever.

Dear Mother Mary, pray for me.

Amen.

________________

About This Prayer

This little prayer for the Feast of the Assumption comes from an old German Catholic Marian prayer book, Omni die: Vollständiges Marien-Buch. On its well-worn pages is a special prayer appointed for August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

God Loved The World

God loved the world so very much that He gave us His only dear Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not be lost, but will have everlasting life with Him.

Dear Jesus, please help me believe in You and stay close to You always.

Amen.

Morning Prayer to Jesus

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the gift of a new day.

Thank You for watching over me through the night and for giving me another chance to know You, to love You, and to serve You today.

Please fill my heart with Your light. Take away my pride, my selfishness, and my fears. Help me to be gentle, honest, and kind in everything I do.

Guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions today. May everything I do bring honor to You and kindness to others.

Stay close to me throughout this day. Keep me away from sin. Give me strength when I am tempted, courage when I am afraid, and peace when my heart is troubled.

Bless my family, my friends, and everyone who needs Your love today. May those who are lonely know that You are near, and may those who are suffering find comfort in Your care.

Dear Jesus, I place this whole day into Your hands. Walk beside me, and help me remember that You are always with me.

May everything I think, say, and do draw me a little closer to Your Sacred Heart.

Amen.

Prayer to The Mother of Divine Grace by Saint Francis of Assisi

 

O my Lady, most Blessed Virgin Mary, Into your blessed faithfulness… your special protection… and the shelter of your mercy… I commend myself today, as I do every day…

But most especially… at the hour of my death… I place into your care… my body… and my soul.

Into your holy hands I place all my hope… and all my consolation…

All my sorrows… and all my afflictions…

All my labors…

My whole life…

And the end of my life.

Through your loving intercession… and through your merits…

May all my thoughts…

All my words…

And all my works…

Be guided… and ordered… according to your will…

And the holy will… of your Divine Son.

Amen.

My Greeting to Mary by Saint Gertrude

 

Dear Blessed Mother Mary,

I love you very much, and I want my heart to be pure and good like yours.

Please stay close to me and help me always choose what is right.

Take me gently by the hand and lead me closer to Jesus.

Help me never to do anything that would hurt His Sacred Heart.

And when I make a mistake, help me quickly turn back to Him and try again with all my heart.

Dear Mother Mary, keep me always under your loving care.

Amen.

The Predestination of Mary

God prepared Our Lady from all eternity to be the Mother of Jesus.

No one was ever as close to Him as Mary. He received His human life from her and lived beneath her heart.

Mary was not chosen by accident. She belonged to God’s plan of Redemption.

The prophets spoke of her, and the holy women of the Old Testament pointed toward her.

God honored Mary more than any other creature.

So we should honor her too, and ask her to help us belong faithfully to Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Amen.

Morning Hymn to Our Blessed Mother

Dear Mother Mary,

each morning I turn my thoughts to you.

Queen of Heaven,

into your loving hands I place all my cares—

everything I have,

and everything I am.

When I lift my eyes toward Heaven,

I think of you.

You are the bright Star who guides me,

the one I trust,

even when life seems dark around me.

How peaceful my heart becomes

whenever I remember you.

In every sorrow,

you bring me comfort,

and remind me of the joy of Heaven.

Whenever I come to you in prayer,

I can feel your gentle care.

Wherever I go,

wherever I stand,

I know you are watching over me

and leading me safely to your Son.

Dear Mother,

I want to remember you every day.

With all my heart,

I give myself to God.

Help me live

with love,

faithfulness,

and virtue.

Help me follow your example.

Help me always choose what is right,

do my daily duties with love,

and live each day

as you would want me to live,

until the day God calls me home.

Then,

dear Mother,

remember me before Jesus,

your beloved Son.

Through His mercy,

may He welcome me

into His everlasting Kingdom,

where I may see Him,

and you,

forever.

There,

free from every sorrow,

I will stand with joy

before His throne,

and praise Him forever.

Amen. 

Sunday Morning Offering

Dear God,

Today is Sunday, Your holy day, and I want to give it all to You.

I offer You all my prayers, my little works, my joys, and even anything hard that comes today. I join them to the merits of Jesus, to the prayers of dear Mother Mary, and to all the Saints in Heaven.

I praise You, dear God, because You are my almighty Creator. You made me, and You made everything that lives. I honor Jesus, who came down from Heaven and became Man for us, and I love Him for being born so poor and gentle in Bethlehem.

I thank You for my holy Guardian Angel, and for all the Angels and Saints who help us and pray for us.

Thank You for creating me, dear Lord. Thank You for watching over me, even when I do not notice it. Thank You for keeping me safe from many sins, dangers, temptations, and troubles.

Please give me a strong and faithful heart. Help me want what You want. Bless and protect Your Holy Catholic Church. And when my life is finished someday, please bring me safely home to Heaven.

I am sorry for all my sins, especially for anything I have done that hurt the Faith or made me less loving toward You. I also pray for the souls of my departed friends and benefactors, especially the ones who are forgotten and have no one to pray for them.

Please take this Sunday, dear God, and make it a little offering of praise, thanksgiving, sorrow, and love.  

Amen.

Daily Prayers
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
Holy Communion

Mary's Little Office
Prayer Before Mary's Little Office
Matins 6 A.M.
Prime 7 A.M.
Terce 9 A.M.
Sext 12 Noon
None 3 P.M.
Vespers 6 P.M.
Compline 10 P.M.

Our Links
Our Lady of Lourdes
On The Way Back Home
My Mothers Rosary

Stay With Me

Dear Mother Mary, as the day comes to its quiet end, I come to you softly.

You are so gentle and full of love, a shining light when everything grows dim, and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.

When my heart feels tired, you draw me close and let me rest near you, as a child rests safely beside her mother.

You are so pure and so beautiful, living now with God in Heaven, high above the angels—and still you remember me.

Dear Mother, 

please ask your Son Jesus to forgive me for anything I did wrong today, and make my heart clean and peaceful again.

Stay near me through the night. Watch over me while I sleep.
Keep me safe, and lead me always closer to Jesus.

And if I wake in the quiet darkness, help me remember that Heaven is near, and you are watching over me.

Help me to love God more tomorrow, and one day to praise Him with the angels, forever in Heaven.

Good night, dear Mother. Stay with me.

Amen.

Mother Mary, Full of Grace for the Whole World

The saints teach us that Mother Mary was not filled with grace only for herself, but for all people. Many holy souls have received special graces from God to help and guide others, but Mother Mary was given a fullness of grace unlike anyone else because she was chosen to help bring salvation to the whole world through her Son, Jesus Christ.

God filled her heart with heavenly gifts so completely that she became a loving channel through which His mercy and blessings could flow to His children. Because she belonged so perfectly to God, she was made ready to carry Jesus into the world and to lead souls gently toward Him.

The holy writers also tell us that God has entrusted many treasures of grace to Mother Mary’s care. In His goodness, He often chooses to let His blessings come to us through her loving hands, because she is the Mother closest to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

During this beautiful Month of Mary, let us remember that our heavenly Mother desires to help every soul draw nearer to God. When we pray to her with trust and simplicity, she gently brings our needs before her divine Son and watches over us with tender care.

Translated and prepared in gentle modern English by Sister Mary Claire from a treasured old German Marian devotional book, likely printed in the late 19th century and carefully preserved at Camp Littlemore Farm during the Month of Mary.

Mother Mary, the Sea of Grace

The saints tell us that Mother Mary gave herself completely to God with a heart full of love. She kept nothing for herself, but offered her whole soul and life entirely to Him. Like a beautiful offering rising to Heaven, her love belonged fully to God alone.

The holy writers also say that the name “Mary” can mean “sea.” This is a beautiful thought, because Mother Mary truly is like a great sea filled with God’s graces. God poured His heavenly gifts into her in wonderful fullness, and through her loving hands those graces flow out to His children.

Mother Mary received a very special grace unlike anyone else. She alone was chosen to become the Mother of Jesus, and because of this she was filled with extraordinary holiness and love. Yet the gifts she received were not meant for herself alone. God filled her heart so that His grace could gently reach the whole world through her.

During this blessed Month of Mary, let us draw close to our heavenly Mother with trust and confidence. The more we come to her with childlike hearts, the more she leads us lovingly toward Jesus, from whose Sacred Heart every grace first comes.

Translated and prepared in gentle modern English by Sister Mary Claire from a treasured old German Marian devotional book, likely printed in the late 19th century and lovingly preserved at Camp Littlemore Farm during the Month of Mary.

Night Prayer

Dear Mother Mary,

as the day comes to its quiet end,

I come to you softly.


You are so gentle and full of love,

a shining light when everything grows dim,

and a sweet comfort in the stillness of night.


When my heart feels tired,

you draw me close

and let me rest near you,

as a child rests safely beside her mother.


You are so pure and so beautiful,

living now with God in Heaven,

high above the angels—

and still you remember me.


Dear Mother,

please ask your Son Jesus

to forgive me for anything I did wrong today,

and make my heart clean and peaceful again.


Stay near me through the night.

Watch over me while I sleep.

Keep me safe,

and lead me always closer to Jesus.


And if I wake in the quiet darkness,

help me remember

that Heaven is near,

and you are watching over me.


Help me to love God more tomorrow,

and one day to praise Him with the angels,

forever in Heaven.


Good night, dear Mother.

Stay with me.


Amen.


Good night, dear Jesus…

Good night, dear Mother…

The Loving Sorrow of Mother Mary

Mother Mary loved her divine Son with a love deeper than we can fully understand. The holy saints tell us that every wound Our Lord suffered upon the Cross was also felt in her own heart. As Jesus carried His sorrows in His sacred body, Mother Mary carried them within her soul with a mother’s tender love and suffering.

So great was her love for Jesus that, if it had been possible, she would gladly have suffered every pain again and again for Him. Her whole heart belonged to her Son, and she never turned away from Him, even at the foot of the Cross.

Just as we thank Our Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts for willingly suffering and dying to save us, we should also give loving thanks to His holy Mother. She stood beside Him in sorrow and willingly shared in His suffering out of love for us and for Him.

During this beautiful month of May, let us stay close to Mother Mary and remember how faithfully she loved Jesus through every joy and every sorrow. A mother who loved so deeply will surely care gently for her children too.

Translated and gently adapted by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book Omni Dei: St. Marien-Buch,featuring meditations drawn from the writings of St. Peter Damian, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and St. Bonaventure. Published in Breslau, Germany by Carl König in the late 19th century.

The Twelfth Day of Mary’s Month — May 12

The Apostles Creed

 

The Holy Spirit filled Mother Mary with every grace and virtue that belongs to God’s own goodness. From the very beginning, she was surrounded by His light and love. When the angel told her, “The power of the Most High will overshadow thee,” it meant that God Himself would dwell very closely with her in a beautiful and lasting way.

This was not just a grace given for a single moment. The Holy Spirit remained with Mother Mary throughout her whole life, guiding her, strengthening her, and filling her heart with heavenly peace. Because she stayed so near to God, she became truly “full of grace,” always shining with His goodness.

The saints tell us that it was fitting for God to give such wonderful graces to the one chosen to receive and carry His Divine Son. Since Jesus is the source of all grace and holiness, it was only right that His Blessed Mother would be filled with special grace beyond all others.
And so during this lovely month of May, we look to Mother Mary with confidence and love. She teaches us to open our hearts quietly to the Holy Spirit, just as she did, so that God’s grace may grow gently within us too.

 

Translated and gently adapted by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book Omni Dei: St. Marien-Buch,featuring meditations drawn from the writings of St. Peter Damian, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and St. Bonaventure. Published in Breslau, Germany by Carl König in the late 19th century.

The Sunday Sermon

Who wants to close the books and listen to the Sunday Sermon???

 

The Eleventh Day of Mary’s Month

 
Mother Mary loves us with a love deeper and more tender than any earthly mother could ever give. The saints tell us that her kindness is beyond compare because she carried the Son of God beneath her heart, and her whole soul was filled with His holy love. Because of this, she understands our weakness and our struggles with a mother’s gentle compassion.

Mary is called the Queen of Heaven, yet her greatness shines most brightly in her mercy. She does not turn away from sinners who truly wish to leave their sins behind. Even the most forgotten or troubled soul is precious to her. She gathers the hurting close to her heart and prays for them with great tenderness.

No one who sincerely seeks God is abandoned by Our Blessed Mother. She stays beside her children, helping them return to Jesus with trust and peace. Her love is patient, faithful, and full of hope.

During this beautiful month of May, let us remember that Mother Mary is not far away from us. She is our heavenly Mother, always ready to listen to our prayers and lead us gently to her Son.

Little Prayer:
Dear Mother Mary, stay close to us today. Help us to love Jesus more and never be afraid to return to Him when we fall. Amen.

Translated and gently adapted by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book Omni Dei: St. Marien-Buch,featuring meditations drawn from the writings of St. Peter Damian, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and St. Bonaventure. Published in Breslau, Germany by Carl König in the late 19th century.

The 10th Day of May

 
The saints tell us that our Blessed Mother Mary never lacks the power or the desire to help her children. Only a person who forgets how dearly Jesus loves His Mother could ever doubt her loving care. The love that filled the Heart of Jesus was also poured into the heart of Mary, and because of this, she watches over us with tenderness beyond our understanding.

Even while Our Lady still walked this earth, she was gentle and merciful toward those who suffered. How much more now, from Heaven, where she reigns beside her Son in glory, does she listen to the cries of her children! She sees every sorrow, every burden, and every hidden tear. Because she knows the troubles of mankind so well, she gives her kindness freely and never grows tired of helping those who call upon her.

Mary is truly our Mother. And what loving mother could ever forget her children?

During this beautiful month of May, let us remember that no prayer whispered to Our Lady is too small for her loving heart to hear.

Little Prayer:

Dear Mother Mary, stay close to us today. Help us to trust your gentle care and lead us always closer to Jesus. Amen.

Translated and adapted by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book St. Marien-Buch, published in Breslau, Germany by Carl König in the late 19th century.

The Ninth Day of May

(From St. Clement of Alexandria and St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori)

Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, is like a beautiful and holy tabernacle made by the Holy Spirit Himself.
God filled her with His grace and holiness because Jesus, the King of Heaven and Lord of all glory, chose to dwell within her in a pure and untouched way.

How powerful must Our Blessed Mother’s prayers be before God!
If the prayers of the saints are already so strong and precious, then how much more powerful are the prayers of Mary, who is not only a servant of God, but the very Mother of Jesus Himself, the Queen of Heaven.

When the saints pray for us, they pray as faithful servants of God.
But when Mary prays for us, she prays as a loving Mother close to the heart of her Son.

Translated and adapted by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book St. Marien-Buch, published in Breslau, Germany by Carl König in the late 19th century.

I See You in a Thousand Pictures

“I see you in a thousand lovely pictures, dear Mother,
yet none of them can fully show how beautiful you truly are to my heart.

All I really know is this:
the noise of the world fades away when I think of you,
and a quiet, heavenly peace remains deep within my soul forever.”

From the 19th century German Marian prayer book Omni Dei (“All for God through Mary”).
Translated and prepared by Sister Mary Claire, and recorded by her younger sister Kathy at Camp Littlemore Farm in Iowa.

Morning Song to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear Blessed Mother, every morning I think of you.
You are the beautiful Queen of Heaven, and I place all my worries into your hands.
Everything I have, and everything I am, I give to you with love.

When I look up toward Heaven, I remember that you are the bright star I can trust, even when life feels dark or lonely around me.

Oh, how happy my heart feels when I think about you!
You bring sweet comfort when troubles come, and you help make hard things easier to carry.
Whenever I quietly pray to you, I can feel your gentle care watching over me wherever I go.

Dearest Mother Mary, I want to remember you always.
I want to belong to you with all my heart and try every day to do what is right and good.
I want to follow in your footsteps and live kindly, faithfully, and close to Jesus all the days of my life.

And one day, dear Mother, please remember me too before your Son, Jesus.
Pray that He will welcome me into the joy of Heaven, where I may see both Him and you forever, free from every sorrow, and stand happily before His throne.

From the 19th century German Marian prayer book Omni Dei (“All for God through Mary”).
Translated and prepared by Sister Mary Claire, and recorded by her younger sister Kathy at Camp Littlemore Farm in Iowa.

The Eighth Day of Mary's Month

The Blessed Virgin Mary received a glory greater than any earthly triumph when she gave the world her Divine Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, the whole Christian family received new life. Because Our Lord came from her loving heart, all who belong to Christ may also look upon Mary as their Mother.

The saints remind us that when we call Mary the “Mother of God,” we speak of a dignity so high and beautiful that no earthly honor can compare to it. Yet Mary does not keep this closeness to God for herself alone. She lovingly shares her care with all the faithful who are united to Christ.

What comfort this gives to the soul! The Mother of Jesus is also our Mother. We may go to her with confidence, knowing she watches over her children with tenderness and mercy.

And so, during these gentle days of May, let us thank Our Blessed Mother for leading us always closer to her Son. The more we belong to Jesus, the more surely we may rest beneath the loving mantle of Mary.

“The Mother of my God is also my Mother.”

Translated and adapted by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book St. Marien-Buch, published in Breslau, Germany by Carl König in the late 19th century.

The Seventh Day of Mary’s Month

 
Today, on the seventh day of beautiful May, we stop and quietly think about the greatness of Our Blessed Mother. The saints loved to speak of her because they knew that no creature has ever been so close to Jesus as Mary.

Saint Bernard and Saint Bonaventure tell us to consider the dignity of the Mother of God. Mary was chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of Our Lord Himself. Because of this, her greatness is beyond anything we can fully understand. We may admire the mountains, the stars, or the beauty of the whole world, yet the soul of Mary is more wonderful still, because God filled her with His grace in such a perfect way.

The saints even say that while God could create a larger world or a greater heaven above us, He could not create a greater Mother than the Mother of God. Such words help us understand how precious Mary is in the sight of Heaven.

And yet, for all her greatness, Our Lady remained gentle and humble. She did not seek honor for herself, but gave all glory to God. That is why we love her so dearly in this month of May. She is not far away from us. She is a true mother who watches over her children with tenderness and care.

May this seventh day of Mary’s month remind us to honor her with simple prayers, little sacrifices, and loving hearts. The more we come close to Mary, the closer she will lead us to Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, help us to love your Son with faithful and humble hearts. Amen.

These May meditations were translated by Sister Mary Claire from the old German devotional book “Omni die” — Vollständiges St. Marien-Buch (“Every Day” — Complete Saint Mary’s Book), edited by Fr. St. M. N. Franke and likely published in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

The Holy Name of Mary - May 6

The beautiful and exalted name “Mary,” which was given to the holy Mother of God, was not invented by men, nor chosen by human preference as names usually are. This name did not come from the earth—it came from heaven. It was given to the most blessed Virgin by God Himself.
The name “Mary” is so sweet and so lovely that one cannot speak it without feeling a stirring of love—love for the Blessed Virgin, and love for God, who gave her this holy name.

A Quiet Confidence in Our Blessed Mother

There is something deeply consoling for us to remember as we go about our days, especially when we feel weak or unsure of ourselves. Holy Mother Mary is never far away. She does not forget us, nor does she grow distant. Rather, she stands always before her divine Son, looking upon Him with love, and gently presenting our needs to Him.

The saints remind us of this beautiful truth with great clarity. They tell us that whoever does not recognize Mary as the Mother of God does not yet fully share in the life God desires to give. For she is not only His Mother, but also a motherly refuge for us. She remains always in His presence, never ceasing to pray for those who are burdened by sin or sorrow.

And so we are encouraged with simple and childlike trust: take your refuge in the glorious Virgin Mary, and do so without any doubt. For it is certain—most certain—that the Son listens to His Mother. When she speaks, He hears her with love.

This is the gentle confidence we are invited to carry in our hearts. No prayer is too small when placed in her hands. No burden is too heavy when entrusted to her care. She gathers our needs quietly and brings them before Jesus, not with urgency or fear, but with a calm and perfect love.

And so, as we begin this reflection, let us rest in that peace: we are not alone. We are remembered, we are loved, and we are always being led—softly and surely—closer to her Son.