Salve Regina

This blessed Marian month of May...

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Christ, hear us.
R/ Christ, graciously hear us.

V/ God, the Father of Heaven,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Holy Spirit,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ Holy Trinity, One God,
R/ have mercy on us.

R/ for ff: pray for us.

Holy Mary,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Heath of the Sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of Peace,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ spare us, O Lord,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R/ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech you, O Lord God, that we your servants, may enjoy lasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. 

Through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

It is the beautiful month of May; summer showers, sunshine and Mary. 

I love the Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I used to recite it from memory during our family rosary. In fact, I love all litanies, particularly this one. Its lyrical prose paints a beautiful picture of our Lady, of whom so little is written in the Bible. She is mentioned in the Book of Revelations, Old Testament and in the synoptic Gospels, but so little. Why? 

Mary wished to be hidden, lowly and poor. God was pleased to grant her her request. He hid his greatest masterpiece from every creation so much so her own parents did not really know her; even the angels used to asked one another, "Who is she?" 

So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God.

Such indeed is the will of God, who has decreed that we should have all things through Mary, so that, making herself poor and lowly, and hiding herself in the depths of nothingness during her whole life, she might be enriched, exalted and honored by almighty God. Such are the views of the Church and the early Fathers.

                                                                                  - St. Louis Marie Demontfort


The rest of the beautiful Marian discourse by St. Louis Maria Demontfort can be found here

By the way, my name, Remedia is also derived from a Marian title. It is not enumerated in the Litany as such. My grandfather on my mother's side named me after Our Lady of Remedies. It is also happens to be the name of the parish in my father's ancestral village.