Novena
in preparation for the feast of The
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Day Four
Meditation
When the holy company had arrived at the temple, the eager child turned
to her parents, kneeling kissed their hands, and asked for their benediction;
and then, without turning back, she ascended the fifteen steps of the temple,
as Ariaa Montanus relates upon the authority of Josephus, the Jewish historian,
and presented herself to the priest, who, according to St. Germanus, was
Zachary; then, taking leave of the world, and renouncing all the goods which it
promises to its followers, she offered and consecrated herself to her Creator.
At the time of the deluge, the raven which was sent by Noe from the ark remained
to feed upon the bodies of the dead, but the dove without stopping to rest her
foot, returned quickly to the ark: She returned to him into the ark: Reversa
est ad eum in arcam. Many who are sent by God into this world, unhappily stop
to feed on earthly things. Not so Mary, our celestial dove; she knew that God
should be our only good, our only hope, our only love; she knew that the world
is full of dangers, and that he who the soonest leaves it, is freest from its
snares; therefore she sought promptly to flee from it in her tenderest years,
and seclude herself in the sacred retirement of the temple, where she could
better hear the voice of God, and better honor and love him. And thus the holy
Virgin, from the beginning of her life, rendered herself dear and acceptable to
her Lord, as the holy Church makes her say: Rejoice with me, all ye who love
the Lord, for when I was little I pleased the Most High. For this reason she
was compared to the moon; for as the moon completes her course more quickly
than the other planets, so Mary attained perfection sooner than all the saints,
by giving herself promptly to God without delay; and entirely without reserve.
****
Novena Prayer
Gracious
and lovable art thou in thy splendor, O holy Mother of God! Show me thy
countenance. Let thy words sound in my ears, for thy voice is sweet and thy
countenance is beautiful. Turn to us in thy beauty and loveliness! Come forth
in majesty and reign!
Hail
Mary
Hail
Mary, full of grace; The Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women, And
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
O
blessed Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, Temple of the Lord, sanctuary of the
Holy Ghost, thou alone, without an equal, hast pleased our Lord Jesus Christ!
Hail
Mary
Hail
Mary, full of grace; The Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women, And
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Blessed
indeed art thou, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for from
thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord. Draw us, O Immaculate Virgin;
we shall come after thee, breathing the sweet fragrance of thy virtues!
Hail
Mary
Hail
Mary, full of grace; The Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou amongst women, And
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
[Here state your petition.]
Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to
thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother!
To thee to do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of
the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer
me. Amen.
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