# Praying the 26 Marian Prayers
*2015-08-22*

> Bill Young honors the Queenship of Mary by reciting his 26th Marian prayer and issuing a friendly challenge for listeners to compose their own set of at least 26 different Marian prayers.

## Honoring the Queenship of Mary

Good afternoon, this is Bill Young, welcome to the Prayer and Lunch podcast. Today we celebrate Mary’s Queenship. In keeping with that, I am praying a series of Marian prayers—my 26th prayer in the set.

## A Friendly Challenge

As St. Maximilian Kolbe once said, we are called to go beyond ourselves. I’d like to issue a friendly challenge: anyone who wishes to pray more than 26 Marian prayers on a feast day may submit them to the podcast. The prayers must be different from the ones I have used and must total at least 26 distinct prayers. One or two prayers won’t suffice—let’s be generous in our devotion.

## The 26th Marian Prayer

Sweet Virgin Mary, you are my mother and I am your child. You are most powerful, while I am poor, timid, and weak. I beseech you, most sweet Mother, to guide me in all my paths and actions. Though you are not obligated to intervene, you are the mother of all humanity and my own mother. If I were to doubt your love, I would make excuses, but you are indeed my mother, and your love is boundless.

Most sweet Virgin, you are the most powerful. How could I make excuses if you do not help me? You are obliged to hear all my prayers for the honor and glory of your Son, Jesus. Accept me as your child despite my misery and sins. Free my soul and body from every evil. Grant me all virtues, especially humility, and bestow upon me the gifts of blessings and graces that please the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

*Mary’s maternal intercession invites us to trust in her powerful love and to deepen our prayer life.*