Category: Catholic Prayers

A Novena Prayer for the Nativity of Jesus

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Saint Andrew, who was Saint Peter’s brother, has the distinction of being the first Apostle called by Our Lord. And so it is fitting that today, on his feast day, we start a Novena to honor the coming of our Savior on Christmas Day.

The St. Andrew’s Novena for the Nativity of Jesus is unique among Novenas in that it lasts much longer than the accustomed nine days. If it lasted nine days, it would end on Our Lady’s feast day of her Immaculate Conception. And we already have that devotion covered! Thank you for working on your Consecrations and your Novena for the Immaculate Conception.

Now for this Novena, we pray just one prayer fifteen times each day, beginning today and continuing until Christmas Day:

“Hail and blessed be the hour and moment when the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe O Lord to hear my prayers and grant them through the infinite merits of our Savior Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother. Amen.”

I’m ashamed to admit that I have been just far too scatterbrained to do this simple Novena perfectly, in what is, for me at least, a very demanding time of the year. This year, however, I am determined to cast myself at Our Blessed Mother’s feet and beg her assistance in  completing this Novena. I hope you’ll also give it a try, for we have many souls to save – those “most in need of (God’s) mercy” !

Thank you for reading – and sharing these posts. God bless you always, evensong.

Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey:  First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering our daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners.

Open your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only: and He will free you from the hands of your enemies. With all your heart return to Him, and take away from your midst any strange gods” (I Kings 7:3)

✝︎  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.
✝︎  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!
✝︎  St. Joseph, protect us, protect our families, protect our priests.
✝︎  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Pray the Rosary for a Pope and Bishops who will obediently consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

~ by evensong for love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King.
Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin! Give me strength against thine enemies!

Prayers of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, 2023

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Today, we honor Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, beloved Spouse of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by sharing with you some of her own beautiful prayers and devotions, many of which originated in her colloquies with Our Lord Jesus Christ. By now, no doubt you have noticed that the common thread running throughout the lives of those privileged to converse intimately with Our Lord is their humility, obedience and generosity in carrying the Cross. These qualities shine through in St. Margaret Mary’s  prayers, simple, unpretentious and to the point.

Continue reading “Prayers of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, 2023” →

The Little Novena of Our Lady of Fatima, October 2023

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Today, we re-post this Novena to to remind us all (me included!) to prepare for Our Lady of Fatima’s 6th visit on October 13, 1917.  It is a very short and simple prayer, easy to add before your first Rosary each day.

 

Ideally, this Novena should begin tomorrow in order to be completed on October 12th, the Eve of the Sixth Visit of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima, October 13, 1917. We have been trying to offer this little Novena each year during the Fatima cycle (May-October) during this spiritual chastisement.

Suggested intentions:

  • Reparation for the outrages against the Immaculate Heart of Mary
  • Spread of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and her Message of Fatima
  • The grace of true repentance and conversion for the Pope and Church leaders
  • Bless and protect all priests especially those of tradition
  • Healing of our families and the salvation of their souls.
  • For a pope and hierarchy that will Consecrate Russia in true obedience

Thank you for participating!.

 Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima

Most Holy Virgin, who deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds and to all your children the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with a sincere love of this devotion, so that by meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in it, we may gather its fruits and obtain the conversion of sinners, the Consecration of Russia and the return of the Church to Christ Our Lord, and also the special favor I ask of you in this novena ______________ for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the salvation of souls, especially those most in need of mercy. Amen.

To be said before the daily Rosary.

This little Novena is all the more important because of the Synod on Synodality which is the latest – and most likely worst – of the assaults on the faith by the usurpers who now eclipse the true Church. Please pray!

Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey:  First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners.

Open your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only: and He will free you from the hands of your enemies. With all your heart return to Him, and take away from your midst any strange gods” (I Kings 7:3)

†  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.

A Novena to Saint Joseph

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Today we have our  Novena for Saint Joseph, to begin on March 10, and complete the Eve of his feast day. I’m trying to restore our many other posts on this great saint, favorite of readers and favorite of our family too.

NOVENA TO SAINT JOSEPH

The feast day of our favorite saint, dear Saint Joseph is coming up soon and in preparation we have a Novena for St. Joseph from two of Father Lasance’s Prayer Books. First, Father Lasance’s “Prayer Book for Religious: A Complete Manual of Prayers and Devotions for the Use of the Members of All Religious Communities” from 1904. The second book is “With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections” from 1911. In the latter book, we note,

“The Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IX, by a rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, Nov. 28, 1876, granted to all the faithful who, with contrite heart, devoutly make at any time during the year the novena in honor of St. Joseph, spouse of Mary most holy, with any formula of prayer, provided it be approved by competent ecclesiastical authority, an indulgence of 300 days, once a day; a plenary indulgence, during the course of the novena, if, being truly penitent, having confessed and communicated, they pray for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.”

Thus, we may use any approved prayer to St. Joseph for our novena and this is usually coupled with the Litany to Saint Joseph, as Father Lasance does. And so we offer several prayers to St. Joseph for you to choose from followed by St. Joseph’s Litany. In our own family, we pray a perpetual Novena to St. Joseph for the spiritual healing of our family, our parish and the Church, which consists of the Litany followed by the Memorare to St. Joseph. But in March, his month, we also include more prayers and devotions such as the ones we offer today. If you begin St. Joseph’s Novena on March 10, it will conclude on March 18, the Eve of his feast day, which is a good time to renew your Consecration also. An excellent practice is to begin each day with the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and then follow with St. Joseph’s brief Consecration (as in the sidebar on right). When combined with Spiritual Communion (for the many of us who are not able to attend Mass daily), you have a great way to start each day.

NOTE: This year, St. Joseph’s feast day is observed the following day, due to falling on a Sunday, however, I am keeping the Novena as always, so that we can conclude it with Holy Mass and confession and Holy Communion.
Continue reading “A Novena to Saint Joseph” →

The Mystery of La Salette, 2022

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previously posted September 19, 2020

“Well now, my children, you will pass this along to all my children.”

With those words, on September 19,  1846, Our Lady of La Salette concluded her message to the little cowherds, Melanie Calvat and Maximin Giraud. What an intriguing statement this is as we look back over the many decades since Our Lady of La Salette left us.  She does not ask the children to pass her message along, she simply states that they will.

In “Beyond Politics“, Solange Hertz wrote of the strident resistance to the message of La Salette which arose not so much from outside the Church as from within the Church herself, “despite the fact that the apparition enjoyed almost immediately the full approbation of the Church with rich indulgences granted to pilgrims and canonically approved miracles…”

THE BISHOPS RESIST

Why this resistance?
Continue reading “The Mystery of La Salette, 2022” →

Prayers of St Margaret Mary Alacoque

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Today, we honor Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, beloved Spouse of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by sharing with you some of her own beautiful prayers and devotions, many of which originated in her colloquies with Our Lord Jesus Christ. By now, no doubt you have noticed that the common thread running throughout the lives of those privileged to converse intimately with Our Lord is their humility, obedience and generosity in carrying the Cross. These qualities shine through in St. Margaret Mary’s  prayers, simple, unpretentious and to the point.

PRAYER OF ST. MARGARET MARY

My God, I offer Thee Thy well-beloved Son, in thanksgiving for all the benefits I have received from Thee. I offer Him as my adoration, my petition, my oblation and my resolutions; I offer Him as my love and my all. Receive, O Eternal Father, this offering for whatever Thou willest of me, since I have nothing to offer which is not unworthy of Thee, except Jesus, my Saviour, Whom Thou hast given me with so much love. Amen.

Note the similarity to this prayer from Saint Bridget who was also devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

Evening Offering of the Sacred Heart

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with His love, His sufferings and His merits; first, in reparation for all the sins I have committed during this day, and during all my life. Second, to purify the good I have done badly this day and during all my life. Third, to supply for the good which I ought to have done this day and during all my life, and which I have neglected. Amen.

 

CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
(Composed by St. Margaret Mary.)

O Sacred Heart of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O most merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited.

I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee. I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite goodness, grant that my name be engraved on Thee, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen

PRAYER TO ST. MARGARET MARY

O St. Margaret Mary, permitted by the Sacred Heart of Jesus to become partaker of Its divine treasures, obtain for us, we beseech thee, from that adorable Heart, the graces that we need. We ask for them with boundless confidence; may the divine Heart be willing to grant them to us through thine intercession, so that once again It may, through thee, be glorified and loved. Amen.

 

THIRTY-THREE VISITS TO OUR LORD ON THE CROSS
(To be made on Fridays.)

This devotion was taught by our Saviour Himself to St. Margaret Mary, with a view to the conversion of sinners and was to be made on Fridays.

This is what the saint wrote about it:

“One Friday, during holy Mass, I felt a great desire to honor the sufferings of my crucified Spouse. He told me lovingly that He desired me, every Friday, to adore Him thirty-three times upon the Cross, the throne of His mercy.

“I was to prostrate myself humbly at His feet, and try to remain there in the dispositions of the Blessed Virgin during His Passion. I was to offer these acts of adoration to the Eternal Father together with the sufferings of her divine Son, to beg of Him the conversion of all hardened and faithless hearts who resist the impulse of His grace. He told me, moreover, that at the hour of death He will be favorable to those who have been faithful to this practice.

“These thirty-three acts of adoration of our Lord on the Cross may be made anywhere on Fridays, and even while attending to one’s ordinary work. They require no special attitude, formula or vocal prayer. A simple look of love and contrition, coming from the depths of our heart and sent up to our crucified Lord is sufficient to express our adoration and our gratitude to Him. It is also an appeal to the Blessed Virgin to intercede with the Heavenly Father for the conversion of sinners.”

The efficacy of this devotion is proved by the consoling conversions which it obtains and by the holy deaths which are its fruit. We venture to say that it becomes a source of graces to all those who practice it, for never in vain does one approach Jesus Christ Crucified.

NOTE: For those of us who are unable to visit the most Blessed Sacrament on most Fridays, the saint advises that this visit may be made anywhere, even while we are working. I have always taken this to mean that the prostrations may be interior, as most of us work in circumstances that do not allow us much privacy. Even for those retirees like myself, it is often impossible to have much truly private time, but I have found that it is still possible to count off my acts of adoration on my Rosary, by simply using a brass safety pin to mark off 33 beads.

I have also found it helpful to simply recite the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, making an act of adoration with each petition to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – did you know there just happens to be 33 of them?!

LITANY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS
(For public or private use.)

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mother, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Substantially united to the Word of God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Of Infinite Majesty, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Holy Temple of God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Burning Furnace of charity, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Vessel of Justice and love, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Full of goodness and love, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all virtues, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Most worthy of all praises, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, In Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, In Whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Divinity, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in Whom the Father is well pleased, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Of Whose fullness we have all received, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Desire of the everlasting hills, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Patient and abounding in mercy, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Rich unto all who call upon Thee, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of life and holiness, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Atonement for our sins, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Filled with reproaches, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Bruised for our offenses, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Made obedient unto death, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Pierced with a lance, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Source of all consolation, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Our Life and Resurrection, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Our Peace and Reconciliation, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Victim for our sins, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Salvation of those who hope in Thee, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Hope of those who die in Thee, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Delight of all the Saints, Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy most-beloved Son, and upon the praises and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and appeased by worthy homage, pardon those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy Great Goodness in the name of the same Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

From: Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. “The Autobiography of Saint Margaret Mary”, TAN Books.

For another on this saint: “The Heart of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque“

Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey:  First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners.

†  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.
†  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!
†  St. Joseph, protect us, protect our families, protect our priests.
†  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

~ by evensong for love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King.
Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin! Give me strength against thine enemies!

Prayer of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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Today is First Friday for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and it is also the vigil of the fine old feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Whether you are completing your Novena for Our Lady of Good Success or the little Novena of the Purification, I trust you are well prepared and ready for tomorrow’s renewal of Consecration.

From time to time, a reader will let me know of their progress and it is always so good to hear, especially when you have grown in your devotion to reparation to Our Lady for the horrendous insults to her that seem to flood from the Vatican of Pope Francis. We could do as so many others and spend our time reading all of the endless discussions about what could – or should – be done about this shameful situation; but we know that making reparation to Our Mother’s Immaculate Heart is a far better plan! Here’s a little prayer that seems apt right now, I hope you like it.

Prayer of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, living tabernacle of the Divinity, most Sorrowful Mother, I offer you my love and fidelity and my firm desire to make reparation for the blasphemies and offenses which are unceasingly offered to you and which so offend your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

† The more your Immaculate Conception is blasphemed, the more firmly I will proclaim it, most pure Mother of God.
† The more that enemies within the Church despise and ignore your loving mercy, the more I will love You, most Blessed Mother.
† The more your perpetual virginity is attacked, the more I will honor you, ever-virgin Mother of our Savior.
† The more your Rosary is denigrated and blasphemed, the more I will recite it with love and reverence, most generous Heart of Mary.
† The more your message of Fatima is ignored and lied about, the more I will take care to observe it and spread its truth, dear Lady of the Rosary.
† The more that you are blasphemed and scorned by the enemies within the Church, the more ardently I will make reparation, O Mother of Mercy.
† The more the imitation of your purity and humility is scorned and forgotten, the more I will endeavor to imitate you, most Sorrowful Mother.
† The more the devil strives to destroy devotion to you and your message, the more I will be inflamed to devotion to the prayers and  penances you request, O Mother of Divine Grace.
† The more that sin and impurity deface and destroy your divine Son’s image in man, the more I shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, most pure and holy Mother of God.
† The more your Holy Church is scorned and compromised, the more I will endeavor to be her faithful child, O Holy Mother of the Church.
† The more that hubris, heresy and apostasy threaten our Holy Church, the more I will turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to your Immaculate Heart to save us, most beloved Mother.
† The more the Sacred Heart of Jesus is blasphemed through false devotions, the more I will increase my fervent devotions to Him, most faithful Mother of our Savior.
† The more the Church is persecuted, the more I will pray and sacrifice for for her triumph and exaltation, Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Let us pray: most Immaculate Heart of Mary, always obedient to the Eternal Father, teach us to be ever obedient and humble in the face of the diabolical disorientation that has sown such chaos in the Church and disheartened so many. Suffer us not to be scandalized by this long, dark night of the soul of our Church, but to persevere in loving obedience trusting always in your Immaculate Heart and in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen.

The above prayer is one that I composed for my own use from other prayers of reparation, and I offer it for those who might find it useful; you are welcome to modify it as may seem helpful to your devotions. Of course, it is good to check with your priest!

But the best possible reparation for Our Lady is the First Saturdays of Reparation which she asked for so many years ago. Tomorrow is a great time to start!

Thank you for reading!

†  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.

†  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!

†  St. Joseph, protect us, protect our families, protect our priests.

†  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Please pray for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

~ by evensong for love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King.

Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin! Give me strength against thine enemies!

Act of Reparation for Blasphemy to Immaculata

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previously posted on March 21, 2015 by evensong

For the irreverence and impurity, for the apostasy and the heresy, for the indifference and relativism, for all the offenses to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ our King, we pray this Lent!

Reparation for Blasphemy Against the Blessed Virgin Mary

Most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn thine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; we are sorely afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but especially do we feel our hearts break within us upon hearing the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate.

O how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ! How they provoke His indignation and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives might avail to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; were it so, how gladly we should make it; for we desire, O most holy Mother, to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, since this is the will of God. And because we love thee, we will do all that is in our power to make thee honored and loved by all men.

In the meantime do thou, our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, not knowing what they say. Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Amen.

Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey:  First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners.

Open your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only: and He will free you from the hands of your enemies. With all your heart return to Him, and take away from your midst any strange gods” (I Kings 7:3)

✝︎  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.