1. Most holy Virgin, who, in order to prepare thyself for a holy death, didst live in continual desire after the beatific vision; oh, take from us all vain desires for the frail things of earth. Three Hail Marys.
2. Most holy Virgin, who, in order to prepare thyself holily to die, didst in life ever sigh to be united to thy Son Jesus; obtain for us fidelity to Jesus, even unto death. Three Hail Marys.
3. Most Holy Virgin, who, in order that thou mightest die holily, didst attain an unapproachable height of merit and of virtue; intercede for us, that we may know that virtue alone, and the grace of God, will lead us to salvation. Three Hail Marys.
R. Into the heavenly kingdom above the angelic choirs.
We beseech thee, Lord, pardon the shortcomings of thy servants ; that we who by our works are not able to please thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, graciously look down upon thy servant Leo, whom thou hast chosen to be the pastor of thy Church ; and grant him, we beseech thee, both by word and example, so to direct those over whom thou hast placed him, that, together with the flock intrusted to his care, he may attain eternal life.
She died in the midst of the Apostles, her Son Jesus assisting.
1. Glorious Virgin, who for thy consolation didst merit to die in the blessed company of apostles and of saints; obtain for us, that when we breathe forth our souls we may feel thy presence, and that of our holy patrons, assisting us. Three Hail Marys.
2. Glorious Virgin, who at the moment of thy death wast comforted by the sight of thy dear Son Jesus; oh, pray for us, that at that awful moment we too may be comforted by receiving Jesus in the most holy Viaticum. Three Hail Marys.
3. Glorious Virgin, who didst deposit thy spirit into the arms of Jesus; assist us, that we may deposit our souls also into the arms of Jesus, always desirous that his most holy will be done. Three Hail Marys.
The hymn Tota Pulchra, or the Litany of Loretto; then, V. and R., and prayer as before.
She died in an ecstasy of love.
1. Mary, most happy Virgin, who didst die of the vehemence of thy love of God; make it thy care that in our hearts, as God doth will, there be lit up this living fire of his love. Three Hail Marys.
2. Mary, most happy Virgin, who dying of divine love didst teach what our love of God ought to be; pray for us, that we may never leave our God in life or death. Three Hail Marys.
3. Mary, most happy Virgin, who, in leaving this mortal life, by force of an ecstasy of love didst make known the fire which ever burnt within thy heart; obtain for us, at least, a spark of that same fire, to give us true sorrow for our sins. Three Hail Marys.
Let us with the third choir of angels now exalt the ineffable glory of Mary, inflamed with the love of her God.
1. O Lady most pure, who, by reason of thy virginal purity, didst merit the glory to be so bright and so majestic in thy body after death; obtain for us the strength to detach ourselves from every foul spirit of impurity. Three Hail Marys.
2. O Lady most pure, who, by reason of thy rare virtue didst from thy dead body spread around the sweetness of Paradise; make it thy care that we may edify our neighbour by our life, and never more by our bad example become a stumbling-block to others. Three Hail Marys.
3. O Lady most pure, at the sight of whose body numberless bodily maladies were cured; intercede for us, that by thy prayers all our spiritual ills may be healed. Three Hail Marys.
Come, let us rejoice for the glory given to the dead body of Mary, magnifying her with the fourth choir of the angels.
In the restoration of life to her body.
1. Lady exalted, who wast so gloriously raised again to life by thy God; help us so to live on earth that we also may rise again like thee in the last judgment-day. Three Hail Marys.
2. O Lady exalted, to whose risen body were given the gifts of brightness and of subtilty, by reason of the bright example and the humility of thy life on earth ; pray for us, that all contemptuous affectation may be removed from us, that so our souls, being freed from all self-love, may be adorned with humility. Three Hail Marys.
3. O Lady exalted, by the gifts of agility and impassibility with which thy risen body was glorified, by reason of thy spiritual zeal and patience while on earth; obtain for us courage valiantly to mortify our bodies, and patiently to curb all our inordinate inclinations. Three Hail Marys.
Then let us render due praise to Mary, and magnify the glory which adorned her risen body, while with the fifth choir we exalt her.
1. Great Queen, who wast assumed so royally into the kingdom of eternal peace; obtain for us that all sordid earthly thoughts be taken away from us, and that our hearts may be fixed upon the contemplation of the unchangeable happiness of heaven. Three Hail Marys.
2. Great Queen, who wast assumed into heaven amidst a company of the Angelic Hierarchy; obtain for us strength to overcome the wiles of’ all our enemies, and that we may lend a docile ear to the counsels of that good angel who continually assists and governs us. Three Hail Marys.
3. Great Queen, who wast assumed into heaven most gloriously, in the company of souls drawn by thy prayers out of Purgatory: free us from the slavery of sin, and make us worthy to praise thee for all eternity. Three Hail Marys.
She is enthroned in heaven.
1. Sovereign Queen of the universe, who for thy incomparable merit art raised to such high glory in the heavens; in thy pity look upon our miseries, and rule us by the gentle sway of thy protection. Three Hail Marys.
2. Sovereign Queen of the universe, who art ever receiving honour and homage from all the heavenly hosts; accept, we pray thee, these our invocations, offered with such reverence as befits thy dignity and greatness. Three Hail Marys.
3. Sovereign Queen of the universe; by that glory which thou hast by reason of thy high place in heaven, vouchsafe to take us into the number of thy servants, and obtain for us grace that, with quick and ready will, we may faithfully keep the precepts of our God and Lord. Three Hail Marys.
For the crown which decks her brow.
1. Queen unrivalled, who in heaven on high dost enjoy the high glory of having been crowned by thy divine Son with a royal diadem; help us to shave thy matchless virtues, and ask for us that, purified in heart, we may be made worthy to wear a crown with thee in Paradise. Three Hail Marys.
2. Queen unrivalled in the full knowledge granted thee of all things upon earth; for thy glory’s sake obtain pardon for our past evil deeds, that we may never offend again by froward tongue or wanton thought. Three Hail Marys.
3. Queen unrivalled, whose desire it is to see men pure and clean of heart, that so they may be made worthy of thy God; obtain for us forgiveness of our sins, and help us, that all our looks, words, and deeds may please his heavenly majesty. Three Hail Marys.
In her patronage of man.
1. Mary, our most powerful patroness, whose glory it is in heaven to be the advocate of men; oh, preserve us thy children from the touch of the enemy of man, and place us safe in the arms of our God and our Creator. Three Hail Marys.
2. Mary, our most powerful patroness, who, being in heaven the advocate of man, wouldst that all men should be saved; make it thy care that none of us be driven to despair at the sight of our past relapses into sin. Three Hail Marys.
3. Mary, our most powerful Patroness, who fulfilling thine office, dost love to be continually invoked by men; obtain for us the spirit of true devotion, and that we may ever call upon thee in life, and above all at the awful moment of our death. Three Hail Marys.
Novena Source: “Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations” Published in 1883, Dublin.
Gregorian chant notation from the Liber Usualis. Latin lyrics sung by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos.
Tota Pulchra is an old Catholic prayer, written in the fourth century. It is one of the five antiphons for the psalms of Second Vespers for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The title means “You are completely beautiful” (referring to the Virgin Mary). It speaks of her immaculate conception. It takes some text from the book of Judith, and other text from Song of Songs, 4:7.