# Prayer #13 to the Blessed Virgin Mary
*2015-08-22*

> Bill Young offers a heartfelt prayer to Mary on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, asking for humility, patience, charity, and the grace to receive her intercession.

## Opening and Context

Good afternoon. This is Bill Young, and welcome to the Prayer and Lunch podcast. Today is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, August 22nd. I’m continuing a series of prayers I call my “Marathon of Prayers to Mary.” This is prayer number 13, a particularly strong petition.

## Petition for Grace and Virtues

Mother of Mercy, you are so merciful. You have great desire to provide for the needs of us miserable creatures and to satisfy our requests. I, the most wretched of all people, appeal to your mercy so that you may grant me what I ask of you. I will also bring before you the requests of others—health of body, worldly gains, or earthly benefits—while I ask you, Mother, to grant me those things that you desire for me and that conform to your most holy heart.

You were so humble; grant me, therefore, the humility and the joy of being despised. You were patient in the difficulties of life; grant me patience amid adversity. You were filled with love toward God; grant me the holy gift of pure love. You showed perfect charity toward your neighbor; help me be charitable to all people, especially my enemies. You displayed perfect humility before the will of God; grant that I may conform wholly to what God wishes of me.

## A Request for Holiness

You are the most holy among all creatures. I beg you, Mary, to make me holy. You are never lacking in love, and you already wish to grant me all that I have asked. Only my failure to trust in you or my lack of confidence in your intercession can hinder me from receiving your graces. Obtain for me the desire to turn to you, that my prayers may be answered.

## Concluding Prayer and Hail Mary

O Mary, my mother, my hope, my love, my life, my refuge, my help, and my consolation, hear my prayer. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

*May Mary’s intercession lead us to humility, patience, charity, and the holiness we seek.*