Special Devotions to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, During the Time of Advent
The devotion of the forty Hail Marys, which St. Catharine of Bologna introduced, has been enriched by Pope Pius VII. An indulgence of forty days is granted to the faithful who recite it during the month of December.
Daily Prayer.
O Mary, great Mother of Our God, and merciful intercessor for us poor sinners! we throw ourselves humbly at thy feet, and we beg thee by the sacred blood of Thy divine Son, which He has shed for us, and by the prayers of St. Catharine of Bologna, that thou wilt infuse into our hearts the true spirit of devotion in this little exercise and give us the grace to imitate the virtues of that saint, under whose protection we say this prayer. Think not of our unworthiness and our ingratitude, but let us feel the depth of thy great love for us; and in the contemplation of the love with which thou didst consider thy servant Catharine, obtain for us from God the remission of our sins, that we have a cause to expect the grace of God for our salvation. Amen.
Prayer For Each Day.
Let us now take this devotion of this saint of God, Catharine, and every day during this month before Christmas, say a prayer in preparation for the coming of Christ, by reciting forty Hail Marys in honor of the great Mother of God, who was so well prepared to receive the Lord at His birth. We will have sorrow for our sins, for that will purify our souls, which is a necessary quality for the reception of the Lord at His coming.
The First Ten Hail Marys.
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou becamest the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.”
Then consider the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, the greatest miracle of God’s mercy, also the great dignity of Mary in the Christian world and in heaven, because she became the Mother of God and yet remained a Virgin.
The Second Ten Hail Marys.
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou didst give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.”
Then consider the humility of Mary, the Queen of heaven, who was content with the will of God and became the Mother of God in a lowly stable.
The Third Ten Hail Marys.
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou didst nourish and care for the Child Jesus.”
Then consider the solicitude of Mary, with which she looked after the Child Jesus in all the temporal necessities of a newly born infant, when, according to His own will, He was not able to help Himself. She loved that Child, and spent upon it her tenderest care.
The Fourth Ten Hail Marys.
After each Hail Mary say:
“Blessed be the hour, O Mary, in which thou didst screen Jesus, the Son of God, from the persecution of Herod.”
Consider here that as soon as Jesus was born He became the object of the persecution of men. Herod sought to murder Him, and Mary had to take the Child and flee into Egypt.
Daily Prayer After These Devotions.
Praised be God, that we have undertaken this devotion according to the instruction of St. Catharine. We beg of thee, Mary, Mother of the expected Child, and Queen of angels, that thou deignest to obtain for us especially two graces. First, to really bewail our sins and our past infidelities, and second to attain after our death eternal salvation. We will cry out from the bottom of our heart according to the example of Catharine: “Turn then, Mary, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O blessed, O pious, O sweet Virgin Mary!”
Then recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.1
V. Make us worthy to praise thee, O Blessed Virgin, Mother of my God.
R. That I may have power against my enemies.
Let Us Pray.
O God, Who, after the announcement of the angel, didst create a body for Thy divine Son in the bosom of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant us the grace that we, who acknowledge her great privilege, may be assisted by her intercession. We pray Thee, O God almighty, that Thou mayest purify our hearts and consciences by Thy heavenly visitation, that Thy divine Son Jesus Christ, when He shall come with all the saints, may find a fitting habitation prepared for Him. Who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.