Meditations on the Life of Mary, Introduction (cont'd)

Devotions for the month of May
Meditations on the Life of Mary, Introduction

II. Our blessed Lady is able and willing to help us. But in order to secure her powerful and generous assistance we must have a sincere devotion to her.
     This devotion must be practical. It ought to consist not only in words, but also in action.

Found here

     A person truly devout to Mary will be enrolled in her Sodality; will celebrate her feasts very piously; will wear her scapular and medal; will venerate her images and visit her shrines; will love to read books on her life and virtues, and will endeavor throughout the year, but especially in May, to imitate her example. Certainly, a girl, a woman, cannot be said to have a true devotion to the Mother of God unless she honors and invokes her by frequent and fervent prayers.
     Of the various exercises in her honor, comes in the first place the Mass of our blessed Lady. Let us hear Mass in her honor on her feast-days, and on Saturdays. The Office of the Blessed Virgin, the Litany of Loretto, and the holy Rosary are singularly pleasing to her and enriched with indulgences.
     Other indulgenced prayers, acts of consecration, one of which might easily be said every day, the Salve Regina and other anthems, the Memorare and many short invocations, are to be found in this book.
     Let us not imagine, however, that, to secure the special protection of the Mother of God, our prayers must needs be very long. Much will depend upon our circumstances of life. But let us not forget the advice which Blessed John Berchmans gave to his companions at his death: "The least homage is sufficient, provided it be constant." Hence, what we have once resolved to do in honor of our blessed Lady must never be put aside or neglected, but must be faithfully persevered in, daily, until death.
     Father Bowden, of the Oratory, in his Miniature Life of Mary, suggests the following practices in honor of Mary. They may be drawn by lot, or otherwise chosen, at the beginning of a month.


1. Take a short time from your recreation to spend in solitude conversing with Mary, or in meditation on the mysteries of her life.
2. Rise punctually in the morning, invoking her as "the morning star".
3. Invoke her sixty-three times as "Virgin Mother" in honor of her sixty-three years.
4. Visit in spirit one of her great sanctuaries.
5. Mortify your will three times as an offering to Mary.
6. Say three Glorias in honor of the saints and Doctors who have explained and defended her prerogatives.
7. Gain indulgences for the soul in purgatory most devoted to the Blessed Virgin in life; offer Mass and communion for this purpose.
8. Ask Mary to be present with you during the day to drive away evil spirits.
9. Perform some act of kindness with inconvenience to yourself.
10. Say three Hail Marys in reparation for the blasphemies uttered against her.
11. Gives an alms in honor of her poverty.
12. Invoke the saints who were related to her - Saints Joseph, Joachim, Anne, etc.
13. Mortify your sight, once or more, in honor of Mary's modesty.
14. Burn a candle before her image or picture.
15. Recall with devotion her words recorded in the Gospel, remembering how many of your sins are committed in speech. Bear your sufferings and sorrows silently and patiently.
16. Say the litany for the conversion of a soul for Mary to offer to God.
17. Shun idleness during the day in imitation of Mary at Nazareth.
18. Say a Hail Mary in honor of St. Gabriel, who brought it to earth.
19. Practise some little mortification at meals.
20. Before going to sleep, place yourself with the infant Jesus in Mary's arms.
21. Say seven Glorias with extended arms, in honor of her seven dolors.
22. Make a spiritual communion in union with her dispositions at the Annunciation.
23. Say a Memorare to obtain Mary's help at the hour of death.
24. Keep silence for a short time, and with Mary ponder on God's words in your heart.
25. Say a Hail Mary before going to bed, to prevent one mortal sin during the night.
26. Visit her altar or image in atonement for the desecration of her sanctuaries.
27. Say nine Hail Marys in union with the nine choirs of angels who are ever praising her.
28. Say a Salve for the spread of devotion to her.
29. Say fifteen Glorias, in honor of the last fifteen years of Mary's life, for the grace of perseverance.
30. Kiss the ground, and say three Hail Marys for the virtue of holy purity.
31. Say a Hail Mary in reparation for your neglect of Mary's service during this month.
32. Distribute leaflets in praise of Mary, scapulars, medals, pictures, and beads, to promote devotion to the blessed Mother of God.

From the Catholic Girl's Guide, which I've written about here, and here.