Catholic Spiritual Living Journal

Prayer to our Lady of the Assumption
By Pope Pius XII. Nov. /. 1950. address in st. Peter's Square

O Immaculate Virgin. Mother of God and Mother of men, we believe with all the fervor of our faith in Thy triumphal Assumption both in body and in soul into heaven where Thou are acclaimed as Queen by all the choirs of angels and all the legions of saints; we unite with them to praise and bless the Lord who has exalted Thee above all other pure creatures and to offer Thee the tribute of our devotion and our love.

We know that Thy gaze, which on earth watched over the humble and suffering humanity of Jesus, in heaven is filled with the vision of that humanity glorified and with the vision of uncreated Wisdom, and that the joy of Thy soul in the direct contemplation of the adorable Trinity causes Thy heart to throb with overwhelming tenderness; and we, poor sinners whose body weighs down the flight of the soul, beg Thee to purify our hearts so that while we remain below, we may learn to see God and God alone in the beauties of His creatures.

We trust that Thy merciful eyes may deign to gaze down upon our miseries and anguish, upon our struggles and our weaknesses; that Thy countenance may smile upon our joys and our victories; that Thou may hear the voice of Jesus saying to Thee of each one of us, as He once said to Thee of His Beloved Disciple: "Behold Thy son," and we who call upon Thee as our Mother, we, like John, take Thee as the guide, strength and consolation of our mortal life.

We are inspired by the certainty that Thy eyes, which wept over the earth crimsoned by the blood of Jesus, are yet turned toward this world racked by wars and persecutions, the oppression of the just and the weak. From the shadows of this vale of tears, we seek in Thee heavenly assistance, tender mercy, comfort for our aching hearts, and help in the trials of Church and country.

We believe finally that in the glory where Thou reign, clothed with the sun and crowned with stars, Thou are, after Jesus, the joy and gladness of all the angels and the saints, and from this earth, over which we tread as pilgrims, comforted by our faith in the future resurrection, we look to Thee our life, our sweetness, our hope; draw us onward with the sweetness of Thy voice, so that one day, after our exile, Thou may show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of Thy womb.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary .

Amen