The Virgin Mary is watching over each of us just as any mother watches over her infant. If we ask her each night, the Queen of heaven is overjoyed to cover and protect us with her cloak, and to take upon herself all of our troubles, and rock us gently to sleep! Below are two very popular evening prayers addressed to Mary and the Holy Family.
“Night is falling dear Mother, the long day is o’er!
And before thy loved image I am kneeling once more
To thank thee for keeping me safe through the day
To ask thee this night to keep evil away.Many times have I fallen today, Mother Dear,
Many graces neglected, since last I knelt here;
Wilt thou not in pity, my own Mother mild,
Ask Jesus to pardon the sins of thy child?
I am going to rest, for the day’s work is done,
Its hours and its moments have passed one by one;
And the God who will judge me has noted them all,
He has numbered each grace, He has counted each fall.
In His book they are written against the last day,
O Mother, ask Jesus to wash them away;
For one drop of His blood which for sinners was spilt,
Is sufficient to cleanse the whole world of its guilt.
And if ere the dawn I should draw my last breath
And the sleep that I take be the long sleep of death,
Be near me, dear Mother, for dear Jesus’ sake
When my soul on Eternity’s shore shall awake. Amen.”
“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
Hozana has a multitude of spiritual propositions to help each Christian grow in faith. Many of the prayer communities are for Mary and can help you to get to know her better, especially during the months of May and October which are dedicated to her. You can pray a rosary everyday, a novena to Our Lady of Lourdes before a feast day, do an act of Consecration to Mary, or just read the Gospel to get to know the life of Jesus better. If you feel alone as a Christian, come join us!