the support of my weakness, my treasure in poverty, my remedy in sickness, my comfort in trouble, my refuge in misery, and the hope of my salvation: hear my supplications, have pity on me as becomes the Mother of so good a God, and obtain for me the favourable reception of all my petitions at the throne of mercy.
Short prayer, etc. — “ O merciful! O pious! O sweet Virgin Mary.”
(Conclude as on page 438.)
FOR WEDNESDAY.
ST. Bernard says, that Mary is that celestial ark which will surely save us from the wreck of eternal damnation, if we only take refuge there in time. The ark which saved Noe from the universal deluge was the type of Mary; but, says Hesychius, Mary is an ark more vast, more powerful, and more charitable. The ark of Noe could only receive the few men and animals who were saved in it, but Mary receives and saves with certainty all those who take refuge under her mantle. How unhappy should we be if we had not Mary; but, O my Queen, how many souls are lost? And why? Because they do not have recourse to thee. Who would ever be lost that had recourse to thee?
Prayer of St. Anselm.
HELP us, O Queen of mercy, without regarding the multitude of our sins. Remember that our Creator took of thee a human body, not to condemn, but to save sinners. Hadst thou been chosen to be the Mother of God for thy own benefit alone, thou
