A beggar before the Queen, Mary: Day 108

A beggar before the Queen

St. Alphonsus confesses his own spiritual poverty, yet looks to Mary as the queen who can relieve him of his miserable condition.

Mother of my God, and my Lady, Mary: As a beggar, all wounded and sore, presents himself before a great queen, so I present myself before you, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. From the lofty throne on which you are seated, do not disdain, I implore you, to cast your eyes on me, a poor sinner.

God has made you so rich so that you might assist the poor, and he has appointed you Queen of Mercy so that you might relieve the miserable. Behold me, then, and pity me; behold me, and do not abandon me, until you see me changed from a sinner into a saint. I know well that I merit nothing; worse than that, I deserve, on account of my ingratitude, to be deprived of the graces that I have already received from God through your help. But you, who are the Queen of Mercy, do not seek out merits, but rather miseries, to help the needy. And who is more needy than I am?

Exalted Virgin, well do I know that you, the Queen of the Universe, are already my queen. Yet I am determined to dedicate myself more especially to your service, so that you may make use of me as you please. As St. Bernard said, “Govern me, my Queen, and don’t leave me to myself.”

Command me! Employ me as you wish, and chastise me when I don’t obey. For the chastisements that come from your hands will be to me pledges of sal- vation. It’s worth more to me to be your servant than to be ruler of the earth. Accept me, Mary, for your own, and as your own, take charge of my salvation. I will no longer be mine; to you I give myself. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Am I willing to admit my spiritual poverty when I come to Mary for assis- tance? What kinds of spiritual poverty do I need to confess?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Alphonsus: My Queen, even if in times past I have served you poorly, and lost so many occasions to honor you, in the future I will be one of your most loving and faithful servants. I am determined that from this day forward no one shall surpass me in honoring and loving you, my most amiable Queen.

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