Nine Days' Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

Having, out of devotion, lighted a wax candle, either in your private oratory, or in the Church, recite each day the following prayer. The intent is for obtaining some particular favor.

INCOMPARABLE Virgin, chosen by the ever adorable Trinity, from all eternity, to be the most pure Mother of Jesus, allow thy servant to remind thee of the joy thou receivedst in the instant of the most sacred Incarnation of our divine Lord, and during the nine months thou carriedst him in thy most chaste womb. Oh! that I could but renew, or, if possible, increase this thy joy by the fervor of my prayers. Most tender Mother of the afflicted! grant me, in my present necessities, those maternal consolations, and that peculiar protection, thou hast promised to those who shall devoutly commemorate this ineffable joy. Relying on thy sacred word, and trusting in thy promise, I humbly entreat thee to obtain from Jesus Christ, thy dearly beloved Son, my request. Having specified it, say: May this light I burn before thy image, stand as a memorial of the lively confidence I repose in thy bounty. May it be consumed in honor of that inflamed and supernatural love and joy, with which thy sacred heart was replenished during the abode of thy blessed Son in thy womb, in veneration of which I offer to thee the sentiments of my heart, and the following salutations.

PRAYER.

MOTHER of my God! to thee I offer these Hail Marys: they are so many brilliant jewels in the diadem of thy accidental glory, which will remain increasing to the end of the world. I beseech thee, comfort of the afflicted, by the joy thou receivedst in the submission and obedience of thy Son, to comfort my afflicted heart, and to obtain of him for me a favorable answer to the petition I make to thy compassionate mercy and benevolence. To this effect I offer to thee all the good works that have ever been performed in the confraternities of thy sacred heart, and other associations in thy honor. I most humbly entreat thee, on this consideration, and for the love of the sacred Heart of Jesus, with which thy own was ever so inflamed, to hear my humble suit, and grant my request. Amen.

THE REPARATION OF HONOR.

MOTHER of God, whose sanctity and sublime merits surpass the comprehension even of the Angels themselves, how great is the maternal tenderness of thy Heart towards mankind! How great thy favors! How unworthy our acknowledgment, our gratitude, our return! My very soul is penetrated with grief at the consideration of the many injuries thou receivest from infidels and wicked Christians, by the execrable blasphemies vomited out against thy maternal virginity, sanctity and integrity, but especially at the anguish with which those sinners load thee, who, heaping sin upon sin against thy divine Son, draw down vengeance and damnation on their own souls; all which stand in direct opposition to thy tender love and compassion. Thus affected, and upon this consideration, I throw myself at thy feet, and though the greatest of sinners, most unworthy of and least corresponding with the graces I have received, I here enter my protest against such unwarrantable proceedings, and beseech thee, O Virgin more than martyr! to accept the same, as a reparation of honor. Obtain pardon for my past offences and indignities, and those of all mankind. May we, sinners that we are, become sensible of the favors thou hast obtained for us; and being truly contrite for the past, may we, by thy aid and assistance, breaking the chains of our former thraldom and slavery, live henceforward in thy favor, and in the happy liberty of the children of God. May this our act and deed, O Saviour of the world! as we can do nothing more agreeable to thee than to testify our love and gratitude to thy blessed Mother, be approved and confirmed by thy blessing and authority. Amen.