Turn to us, Mother of God!, Mary: Day 118

Turn to us, Mother of God!

In making an urgent appeal to the Blessed Virgin, St. Peter Damian focuses on her great power and love for us.

Holy Virgin, Mother of God, help those who ask for your aid. Turn toward us! Have you forgotten us, perhaps, because you have been raised to so close a union with God? Most certainly not! You know well in what danger you left us when you ascended to heaven, and the miserable condition of your ser- vants. No, it wouldn’t be fitting for so great a mercy as yours to forget such great misery as ours.

Turn toward us, then, with your power. For he who is powerful has made you sovereign in heaven and on earth. Nothing is impossible to you, for you can raise even those who are in despair to the hope of salvation. The more powerful you are, the greater is your mercy.

Turn also to us in your love. I know, my Lady, that you are all kind, and that you love us with a love that can be surpassed by no other love. How often you appease the wrath of our Judge, when he is on the point of chastising us!

All the treasures of the mercies of God are in your hands. Never cease to benefit us. You seek only an opportunity to save all the miserable, and to shower your mercies upon them. For your glory is increased when, by your means, peni- tents are forgiven and thus reach heaven.

Turn, then, toward us, so that we also may be able to go and see you in heaven. For the greatest glory we can have will be, after seeing God, to see you, to love you, and to be under your protection. Be pleased, then, to grant our prayer; for your beloved Son desires to honor you by denying you nothing that you ask. —St. Peter Damian

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Have I ever felt that Mary has forgotten me, because she doesn’t seem to be answering my prayers? Do I ever doubt her power to help me, or her willingness to do so? How does this prayer encourage me to trust in her faithfulness to me?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Alphonsus: Lady, protect me; this is all that I ask of you. If you protect me, I fear nothing. I don’t fear the evil spirits; for you are more powerful than all of them. I don’t fear my sins; for you, by one word, can obtain their full pardon from God.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.