The Virgin with a Starry Crown, engraving by Albrecht Dürer — Albrecht Dürer, The Virgin with a Starry Crown, 1508. Cleveland Museum of Art.

Exercise of Devotion to the Holy Delivery of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From The Manual of Indulgences, compiled by the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, no. 116

AN EXERCISE OF DEVOTION IN HONOR OF THE HOLY DELIVERY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN, COMPOSED BY S. CATHARINE OF BOLOGNA.—PRAYER AND PROTESTATIONS

Source

Printed in	The Manual of Indulgences
Imprint	London, Burns & Oates
Number	116
Scan	the Internet Archive copy
Approval	APPROVED AND COMMENDED. * JOHN CARD. McCLOSKEY, Archbishop of New York. New York, Sept. 5th, 1878. Imprimatur: * JACOBUS, ARCHIEP. BALTIMORENSIS. Die xxii Sept. 1878. Declaration of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Holy Relics, given at Rome, from the Office of the Secretary, June 17, 1878; signed AL. CARD. ORECLIA, a S. Stephano, Prefect, and A. PANICI, Secretary. It guarantees the fidelity of the translation; it is not worded as an imprimatur or nihil obstat.
Indulgence	The Sovereign Pontiff, Pius VII., by a rescript of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, Nov. 14, 1815, granted to all the faithful who, with at least contrite heart and devotion, shall perform this pious devotion, in preparation for the feast of Christmas: AN INDULGENCE OF ONE HUNDRED DAYS, every time. A PLENARY INDULGENCE to all those who shall perform it for at least twenty days, if, being truly penitent, after confession and communion, they shall visit a church and pray there, for some time, for the intention of his Holiness.
Transcription	Transcribed from the scan.
Rights	Public domain in the United States.

Christmas next falls on Friday 25 December 2026.

Feasts: Christmas
Prayers for: a happy death, contrition, forgiveness of sins, mercy, salvation, holiness, strength

Albrecht Dürer, The Virgin with a Starry Crown, 1508. Cleveland Museum of Art.

116.

AN EXERCISE OF DEVOTION IN HONOR OF THE HOLY DELIVERY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN, COMPOSED BY S. CATHARINE OF BOLOGNA.—PRAYER AND PROTESTATIONS.

To be said every day.

With lowly reverence we kneel at thy feet, O powerful queen of heaven! We humbly beseech thee, advocate of sinners, through the precious blood of thy divine Son, poured out for us, wretched sinners, and through the intercession of thy beloved servant, S. Catharine, that thou wouldst obtain for us the true spirit of devotion in this holy exercise; that thou wouldst enable us to imitate thy virtues and those of this saint, to the honor and glory of thine only Son Jesus. Deign to forget our offences, think not of our monstrous ingratitude, but bury us in the depths of thy pity. For the sake of the love which thou bearest thy dear S. Catharine, procure for us the remission of our sins; so that we may hope to obtain what our spiritual good requires. Amen.

On the first day.

In imitation of S. Catharine, we will begin by praising the holy mother of God, saying the Hail Mary forty times, and as often, “Blessed be the hour,” etc., in honor of her holy delivery, that, enjoying her protection at the hour of death, and being truly sorry for our sins, we may pass from this earthly pilgrimage to the eternal delights of heaven.

On the other days.

We will continue to praise the great mother of God, saying the Hail Mary forty times, and as often, “Blessed be the hour,” etc., in honor of her holy delivery, that, enjoying her protection at the hour of death, and being truly sorry for our sins, we may pass from this earthly pilgrimage to the eternal delights of heaven.

On the last day.

We will finish this devotion by praising the great mother of God, saying the Hail Mary forty times, and as often, “Blessed be the hour,” etc., in honor of her holy delivery, that, enjoying her protection at the hour of death, and being truly sorry for our sins, we may pass from this earthly pilgrimage to the eternal delights of heaven.

THE FIRST DECADE.

Whilst saying the Hail Mary and “Blessed be the hour,” etc., ten times, we will consider the unspeakable mystery of the Incarnation of the Word, and the great dignity of the blessed Virgin in having been chosen mother of the Most High.

Hail Mary.

Say at the end of each Hail Mary: Blessed be the hour, O Mary! in which thou didst become the mother of Jesus, Son of God.

SECOND DECADE.

Whilst saying the Hail Mary and “Blessed be the hour,” etc. ten times, we will meditate on the humility of the King of heaven, who chose to be born in a wretched hovel, and the joy Mary had in seeing the only-begotten of the Father born of her.

Hail Mary.

Say at the end of each Hail Mary: Blessed be the hour, O Mary! in which thou didst become the mother of Jesus, Son of God.

THIRD DECADE.

Whilst saying the Hail Mary and “Blessed be the hour,” etc., ten times, we will contemplate with attention the exact diligence of the blessed Virgin, when she fulfilled so perfectly the duties of Mary and Martha, meditating upon her Son and Redeemer, and caring for him in his childhood.

Hail Mary.

Say at the end of each Hail Mary: Blessed be the hour, O Mary! in which thou didst become the mother of Jesus, Son of God.

FOURTH DECADE.

Whilst saying the Hail Mary and “Blessed be the hour,” etc., ten times, we will reflect upon the great reverence with which Mary pressed him to her heart rather than to her bosom, embraced and kissed him, adoring him as her God and ours, become man for love of us; wherefore, with devout respect and affection, we will say:

Hail Mary.

Say at the end of each Hail Mary: Blessed be the hour, O Mary! in which thou didst become the mother of Jesus, Son of God.

Then is said:

Praise be to God, that, in imitation of S. Catharine, we have begun (on the first day)—we have continued (on the other days)—we have ended (on the last day) this pious exercise.

It remains for us only to beg the queen of angels, that, in return for the Hail Mary and “Blessed be the hour,” etc., which we have said so often, she would deign, as mother of the child Jesus, to obtain for us these two graces: first that we may be truly penitent for our sins secondly, that at our death we may be surely saved. Hence, let every one, in imitation of S. Catharine, invoke her, saying:

Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui nobis post hoc exilium ostende, O clemens, O pia, O dulcis virgo Maria. Turn, then, our advocate, thine eyes of mercy upon us. And, after this our exile is over, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O pious, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Then say the Litany, and afterward:

V. Dignare me laudare te, virgo sacrata. V. Deign that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin!

R. Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos. R. Give me strength against thine enemies.

OREMUS. LET US PRAY. Deus, qui de beatæ Mariæ virginis utero Verbum tuum angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: præsta supplicibus tuis, ut qui vere eam genetricem Dei credimus, ejus apud te intercessionibus adjuvemur. O God, who wast pleased that thy Word, at the message of an angel, should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary! grant to us, thy suppliants, that we, who believe her to be truly the mother of God, may be assisted by her intercession with thee.

Conscientias nostras, quæsumus Domine, visitando purifica, ut veniens Jesus Christus Filius tuus Dominus noster cum omnibus sanctis, paratam sibi in nobis inveniat mansionem. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculorum. Purify, O Lord! our consciences by thy holy visitations, that thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, coming with all the saints, may find in us a dwelling prepared for him. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, forever and ever.

R. Amen. R. Amen.

The Sovereign Pontiff, Pius VII., by a rescript of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, Nov. 14, 1815, granted to all the faithful who, with at least contrite heart and devotion, shall perform this pious devotion, in preparation for the feast of Christmas:

AN INDULGENCE OF ONE HUNDRED DAYS, every time.

A PLENARY INDULGENCE to all those who shall perform it for at least twenty days, if, being truly penitent, after confession and communion, they shall visit a church and pray there, for some time, for the intention of his Holiness.

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