thy power and all thy perfections to be proportioned to thy dignity of Mother of God; I acknowledge thee with joy as my advocate, my refuge, and my Mother; I will glory all my life in being of the number of thy most devoted children, and it shall be my happiness to win all hearts to thy love. Vouchsafe, O spotless Virgin, to obtain for me grace to imitate thy virtues, and to dwell with thee hereafter in the abode of glory. Amen.
AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY VIRGIN.
O HOLY Mary, Mother of God, who, from the first moment of thy conception, wast free from the stain of original sin, I choose thee this day for my queen, my patroness, my advocate with God. and my glorious Mother. I am most earnestly resolved, from this day, to persevere in thy service, and in promoting thy honor, during the whole course of my lif ; I will never say anything, nor do anything, nor suffer any who belong to me to offer, in their conversation or their actions, the slightest injury to the reverence and homage which are due to thee by a thousand titles. Vouchsafe, then. I beseech thee, O august Queen of heaven and earth, to admit me today into thy service forever, and to grant me thy holy protection every moment of my life. Above all, O most sacred Mother of my Saviour, I beseech thee not to abandon me at the hour of my death. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR PERSEVERANCE IN DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
O GOD, who hast placed us under the patronage of the most holy Mother of thy Son Jesus, and dost excite us to strive for the prize of our high calling, come into our hearts, and pour down upon us thy purifying grace, whereby we may persevere in thy
