Beginning the New Year with Mary, Mother of God

Below is the sublime prayer St Francis penned called the ‘Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary’. On this Solemnity let us take courage as we being a new year and ask Mary to accompany us as we walk forward in faith, hope and love.

Hail, O Lady, Holy Queen,

Mary, holy Mother of God:

you are the virgin made church

and the one chosen by the most holy Father in heaven

whom He consecrated with His most holy beloved Son

and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,

in whom there was and is

all the fullness of grace and every good.

Hail, His Palace!

Hail, His Tabernacle!

Hail, His Home!

Hail, His Robe!

Hail, His Servant!

Hail, His Mother!

And, hail all you holy virtues

which through the grace and light of the Holy Spirit

are poured into the hearts of the faithful

so that from their faithless state

you may make them faithful to God.