Little Crown of Mary

JMJ+D

Today is this year's last day of May. I invite you to recite the Little Crown of Mary in honor of the Queenship of Mary.

The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The beloved disciple Saint John the Evangelist was granted the blessing of the vision of a woman crowned with twelve stars, clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. According to expert commentators, most specifically the Haydock Commentary in the Douay-Rheims version, this woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary,
with her virtues and her privileges, especially that of her divine maternity.

Thus originated the Little Crown of the Twelve Stars of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
which Saint John Calasanctius, Saint John Berchmans and many other saints made
it a practice to recite frequently, especially during Mary's Month of May.

In order to make this prayer more attractive, Saint Louis Marie de Montfort added to each Hail Mary one of the praises of the Blessed Virgin, with the invocation: "Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times."

It is this prayer which St. Louis gave to his religious families (The Montfort Fathers and the Daughters of Wisdom) as their morning prayer. He also recommends it to all those who embrace the devotion of the holy and loving slavery of Jesus through Mary. We combine with this beautiful prayer at the very beginning the designated flower and virtue for the day throughout Mary's month for she is the Queen of the May.

I. Crown of Excellence
(To honor the divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues.)

1. Our Father, Hail Mary

Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who made thee, and remainest a virgin forever.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

2. Hail Mary

O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what praise to extoll thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very One Whom the Heavens cannot contain.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

3. Hail Mary

Thou art all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

4. Hail Mary

Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!


II. Crown of Power
(To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation and the strength of her rule as Queen of Heaven and earth.)

5. Our Father, Hail Mary

Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

6. Hail Mary

Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a share in thy riches.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

7. Hail Mary

Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man! Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

8. Hail Mary

Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!


III. Crown of Goodness
(To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin towards sinners, the poor, the just, and the dying.)

9. Our Father, Hail Mary

Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

10. Hail Mary

Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

11. Hail Mary

Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!

12. Hail Mary

Glory be to thee who art ever ready to assist us in life and in death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven!

Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father


LET US PRAY

Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father;

Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son;

Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost;

Hail, Mary, Temple of the most Holy Trinity;

Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope - yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O Virgin blessed above all things!

Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children.

Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through the Holy Ghost, thy faithful Spouse, and through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father.
Amen.

Daily Catholic