Aug. 22, 2013 Thursday: Queenship of Mary
Mary, mother of God, ever-virgin;
chosen by the most holy Father in heaven,
consecrated by God
with his most holy and beloved Son
and the Holy Spirit, the comforter.
On you descended
and in you still remains
all the fullness of grace and every good.
Hail, his palace.
Hail, his tabernacle.
Hail, his robe.
Hail, his handmaid.
Hail, his mother.
And hail, all holy virtues,
who by the grace
and inspiration of the Holy Spirit
are poured into the hearts
of the faithful so that,
faithless no longer,
they may be faithful servants of God
through you. Amen.
— St. Francis of Assisi
Your servants' call has invited me, even me!, to the divine wedding prepared for you, O beloved Son, by the Father, that I may rejoice in ineffable joy here below in the mystery of the altar, and may rejoice in the heavenly city (Rv 21,2f.) in days to come in eternal, inexpressible and unchanging rejoicing. But because I no longer wear the splendid garment worthy of the wedding hall; because I have soiled by the dark sins of my soul the garment given at baptism's sacred fount O impenetrable Master..., clothe me again anew with your own self (cf. Gal 3,27) and restore to its former splendor my sullied original robe.
Since I do not hear your voice, Lord, speak the word “friend” with accents worthy of compassion and may I never be thrown down, as was that one, into the pit for ever.
Saint Nerses Chnorhali, Jesus, the Father's beloved Son, §683-687 ; SC 203
