SHELTER ME UNDER YOUR MANTLE
Marian Prayer of Saint Alphonsus Ligouri
(A.D. 1696-1787)
Most holy Virgin Immaculate,
my Mother Mary,
to you who are the Mother of my Lord,
the Queen of the Universe,
the Advocate,
the hope,
the refuge of sinners,
I who am the most miserable of all sinners,
have recourse this day.
I venerate you,
great queen,
and I thank you for the many graces
you have bestowed upon me
even unto this day;
in particular for having delivered me
from the hell
which I have so often served by my sins.
I love you, my dearest Lady;
and because of that love,
I promise to serve you willingly for ever
and to do what I can
to make you loved by others also.
I place in you all my hopes for salvation;
accept me as your servant
and shelter me under your mantle,
you who are the Mother of Mercy.
And since you are so powerful with God,
deliver me from all temptations,
or at least obtain for me
the strength to overcome them until death.
From you I implore a true love for Jesus Christ.
Through you I hope to die a holy death.
My dear Mother,
by your love for Almighty God,
I pray you to assist me always,
but most of all at the last moment of my life.
Forsake me not then,
until you shall see me safe in heaven,
there to bless you
and sing of your mercies through all eternity.
Such is my hope.
Amen.
