DAY 8
Act of Contrition
I believe in Thee, my God; strengthen, O Lord, my faith!
I hope in Thee, my God; affirm, O Lord, my hope!
I love Thee, my God; ignite, O Lord, my love!
I repent of having offended Thee, O my God! increase, O Lord, my repentance!
and I promise, with the help of Thy Grace,
and the powerful Patronage of our Most Holy Mother, Mary of Good Success,
to never sin again.
Lord, have pity and mercy on me! Amen.
O Most Excellent and Immaculate Queen of Heaven, Most Holy Mary of Good Success. Chosen daughter of the Eternal Father, most loving Mother of the Divine Son, beloved Spouse of the Holy Spirit, exalted throne of the Divine Majesty, Majestic Temple of the Most Holy Trinity, in whom the Three Divine Persons have poured out the Treasures of their power, wisdom, and love!
Remember, Virgin Mary of Good Success, that God has made Thee so great so that Thou canst help poor sinners. Remember that Thou hast promised us many times to show Thyself the Merciful Mother of those who have recourse to Thee. I seek my refuge in Thee, Mother Most Merciful, and I beg Thee, for the love that the Most High God had for Thee, to obtain for me from God the Father a faith so lively, so as to never lose sight of the eternal truths of the Son; a hope so firm, so as to always hope to enjoy that heavenly bliss that He purchased for me with His Blood; and from the Holy Ghost, a charity so inflamed, so as to make me live always loving the Highest Good and Thee, Virgin Most Holy, until, through Thy intercession, I will be able to go to love and possess Him eternally in Heaven. Amen.
R: WE SALUTE THEE, MARY
V: As the favoured Daughter of God the Father.
Hail Mary, etc.
R: WE SALUTE THEE, MARY
V: As the chosen Mother of God the Son.
Hail Mary, etc.
R: WE SALUTE THEE, MARY
V: As the singular Spouse of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, etc.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, etc.
MEDITATION
Consider that, in appearing to a religious, it was not to favour her alone with a singular and transitory grace; since those special gifts of God are not lavished except with providential plans to foment piety, excite moral progress and religious discipline overall among the members of a religious Community, of a
population or the whole Church. And toward this end, Most Holy Mary of Good Success, in the apparition to this religious, told her that “it was the Will of God that a statue be commissioned to be made to look like the apparition in every detail, so as to place it in the choir where all the religious pray and above the back of the Abbess’ chair, in order for them to consider the memorable Statue as a singular prodigy, as the main Prelate;” and to be a stimulus for perpetual thanksgiving, special attention in prayer, perfection in obedience, strength in the Faith, confident hope and ardent love for Mary Most Holy who, in this way, was living to rule this Monastery.
Ah, if we had a living faith! How much veneration and respect would we have when before this Statue! How we would remember Her promises and favours given from this most kind apparition! How confident our pleas would be, how attentive our petitions, how fervent our prayer, how spontaneous our obedience, how regular our observance of the Rule and of the duties of our state!
Enliven, my soul, your faith if you are lacking, ask of God and Mary of Good Success so that, enjoying the special gift and singular privilege made to this Monastery, we do not become responsible for waste and contempt for the graces with which Divine Providence has wanted to increase our piety and exercise our virtues of faith, confidence, charity, obedience, and observance of all our obligations.
PRAYER
Oh God! careful Lover of the pious Communities who gather around Thee and which, with special prodigies, Thou watches for their regular observance and shows Thy powerful providence in marvels of marked protection, hear now our pleas, be present to our wails, set afire the light of our faith in Thy powerful protection, so as not to fear our enemies; because if Thou protects us, no one will harm us. Give us, through Most Holy Mary of Good Success, a confidence without limit and the grace that through obedience and in compliance to our Rule we may not despise this singular magnificence of a prelate so Holy, and of protection so powerful, so that we may always be grateful, submissive, respectful, and observant subjects. In this way, we will be able one day to sing with glory Her favours and praises in Heaven in the presence of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost who favoured Mary as Daughter, Mother, and Spouse of the Most Holy Trinity, one God who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
ACT OF THANKSGIVING
TO THE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN
O Virgin blessed among all women! We lack voices to thank Thee for the countless benefits that we receive from Thy hand. The day that Thou were born into the world can be called a day of grace, of health, and of consolation. Thou art the honour of humanity, the joy of Paradise, the beloved gift of God, and the health of our people. O Most Holy Virgin of Good Success, what merits can we claim that make Thee to be known as our Mother? May God be infinitely blessed who wanted it so! May Thou be equally blessed, Virgin Mary since, despite our ingratitude, Thou show Thyself so propitiously in our favour! Therefore, most clement Mother, have Thy image be our consolation on earth, being our refuge, our help and protection, both in our public and private needs. Keep from us wars, plagues, illness, hunger, lightning, earthquakes and all scourges that we merit due to our faults. Pray for Holy Church and for Her visible Head. Hear the supplications of those who invocate Thee, remember that Thou art our Advocate, our Mother; because as such we put in Thee our confidence. We resort to Thee, and hope that Thou will obtain from Thy Son the pardon of our faults and perseverance in a life of grace until death. Amen.
Now, raising your heart to the Heart of God, ask for what you want to obtain through the intercession of Most Holy Mary of Good Success.
Virgin Mother Mary, Who by Thy superiority has always captivated the whole earth.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Singular, without equal, Thou gave pleasure to the Word of the Father, Who does great things to have Thee honoured.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Thou art the most worthy temple of the Most Holy Trinity in Whom Thou art enraptured.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
In Thee is found the same purity the Angels enjoy; Thou art a mercy for the sorrowing.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
The Christian world cries out to Thee as Queen; the King of kings keeps Thee at His Right Hand.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
O Mother of Grace! O our Hope! Port for the shipwrecked and Star of the Sea.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Gate of Heaven, Health of the sick, Light in the darkness.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Through Thee we will attain to see God in that Heavenly Court of the Saints, where He lives and reigns.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Guide our steps and tenderly assist us, O sweet Mary! in the final hour.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Permit praise from an affectionate tongue which is unable to express Thy rare magnificence.
Response: Protect us, O Pious! because Thou art our Mother.
Antiphon
Holy Mary, save the wretched, help the weak, strengthen the afflicted, plead for the people, intercede for the clergy, petition for the faithful. Our Lady, oblige all those who celebrate Thy most holy memory with Thy favour and protection.
V: Plead for us, O Virgin of Good Success!
R: That we may be made worthy to obtain the promises of Christ.
FINAL PRAYER
We beg Thee, Our Lord and God, to grant us health of soul and body through the intercession of the glorious Virgin Mary; by whose merits and by those of Her sovereign Son Jesus, we hope to be freed from present evils, and obtain eternal blessings. Amen.