A prayer to the infant Mary, Mary: Day 192

A prayer to the infant Mary

St. Alphonsus imagines himself speaking to the Blessed Virgin when she was just a baby, as he looks forward to the day when she will conceive the holy Son of God.

Holy and heavenly infant Mary, you who are the destined mother of my
Redeemer and the great mediatrix of miserable sinners: Pity me. Behold at your feet another ungrateful sinner who turns to you and asks your compassion.

It’s true that for my ingratitude to God and to you, I deserve that God and you should abandon me. But I’ve heard, and I believe it to be true—knowing the greatness of your mercy—that you don’t refuse to help anyone who entrusts himself to you with confidence.

Most exalted creature in the world! Since this is the case, and since there is no one but God above you—compared with you, the greatest saints of heaven are little—saint of saints, Mary, abyss of charity and full of grace: Help a miser- able creature who by his own fault has lost God’s favor.

I know that you are so dear to God that he denies you nothing. I know also that your pleasure is to use your greatness for the relief of miserable sinners. Show, then, how great is the favor that you enjoy with God, by obtaining for me a divine light and flame so powerful that I may be changed from a sinner into a saint.

In this way, detaching myself from every earthly affection, divine love may be enkindled in me. Do this, Lady, for you’re able do it. Do it for the love of God, who has made you so great, so powerful, and so compassionate. This is my hope. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
If you could hold the infant Mary in your arms and speak to her, what would you say?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a “Novena to Maria Bambina”: O powerful advocate, from your cradle stretch out your hand and support me on the path of life. Make me serve God with ardor and constancy until death, and so reach eternity with you.

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