193. Prayer, O Excellentissima

i. 100 Days, once a day. ii. Plenary, once a month, on the last day, or one of eight succeeding days. I, II, III, IV. (See Instructions, p. 1.) MOST excellent, glorious, most holy and ever inviolate blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lonp Jesus Cunisr, Queen of the world, and Mis- tress of all creatures ! Thou who forsakest no one, despisest no one, who leavest in sadness none who seek help at thy hands with pure and lowly hearts; do not despise me because of the number and hatefulness of my sins, do not abandon me on ac- count of my grievous iniquities nor on account of the hardness and uncleanness of my heart. Do not refuse me, thy servant, a share in thy favour and thy love. Hear me, a wretched sinner, who trusts in thy mercy and pity. Help me, O most loving Virgin Mary, in all my perils and needs, and ob- 193 Leo XII, January 3o, 1828 172 MARY tain for me from thy beloved Son, Almighty Gop and our Lorp Jesus Curist, the forgiveness of all my sins, the grace of the fear and love of thee, health and chastity of body, and deliverance from all the dangers which beset both soul and body. In the last moments of my life be thou my kind helper, and save from eternal darkness, and from evil of every kind, my poor soul, and the souls of my parents, brothers, sisters, friends, relatives, and benefactors, together with the souls of all the faithful, both living and dead; through the grace of Him whom for nine months thou didst bear in thy most holy womb, and whom thou didst place with thy holy hands in the manger, JESUS CHRIST our Lorp, to whom be all honour given for endless ages. Amen