MARIAN PRAYER OF SAINT JOHN AUGUSTINE (Lived A.D. 354-430)

Blessed Virgin Mary,

who can worthily repay you

with praise and thanksgiving

for rescuing a fallen world

by your generous consent?

What songs of praise

can our weak human nature

offer in your honour,

since it was through you

that it has found the way to salvation?

Accept then such poor thanks

as we have to offer,

unequal though they be to your merits.

Receive our gratitude

and obtain by your prayers

the forgiveness of our sins.

Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven

and enable them to make our peace with God.

May the sins we repentantly bring

before Almighty God

through you be forgiven.

May what we beg with confidence

be granted through you.

Accept our offering

and grant our request;

obtain pardon for what we fear,

for you are the sole hope of sinners.

We hope to obtain the pardon of our sins through you.

Blessed Lady,

in you is our hope of reward.

Holy Mary, help those who are miserable,

strengthen those who are discouraged,

comfort those who are sorrowful,

pray for your people,

plead for the clergy,

intercede for all women consecrated to God.

May all who venerate you

experience your assistance and protection.

Be ready to aid us when we pray,

and bring back to us the answers to our prayers.

Make it your continual concern

to pray for the People of God,

for you were blessed by God

and were made worthy

to bear the Redeemer of the world,

who lives and reigns forever.

Amen.