Psychological Healing
in the Roman Catholic Mystic Tradition

The Little Crown
of the Blessed Virgin

 
Originally called the Little Crown of the Twelve Stars of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after the vision by Saint John the Evangelist (Revelation 12:1), many saints such as Saint Joseph Calasanctius and Saint John Berchmans prayed it frequently. Saint Louis Marie de Montfort created his own revision and used it as a morning prayer. Today it is still an excellent prayer to follow the morning prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. You may find Montfort’s text on pp. 176–179 of True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The text that follows is faithful to Montfort’s, although, in the spirit of Saint Louis himself, I have modernized a few phrases.

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I. CROWN OF EXCELLENCE   Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, for you bore the Lord, the Creator of the world. You gave birth to Him who made you, yet remained a virgin after as before. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . O holy and immaculate Virgin, no tongue can praise you worthily, for you bore within you the Very One whom the heavens cannot enclose. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . You are all beautiful, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in you. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Your virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in splendor. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Glory to the Father . . .   II. CROWN OF POWER   Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you, O Queen of Peace! Bring us with you to the joys of heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you, O treasury of all God’s graces! Grant us a share in your riches. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you, O mediator between God and mankind! Lead us to the depths of The Divine Mercy. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you who destroy heresies and crush demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Glory to the Father . . .   III. CROWN OF GOODNESS   Our Father . . . Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you, O joy of the just! Lead us with you to the joys of heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Hail Mary . . . Glory be to you who are ever ready to assist us in life and in death! Lead us with you to the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary! We rejoice with you in the Lord always!   Glory to the Father . . .   CONCLUDING PRAYER   Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Temple of the Blessed Trinity. Hail Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother and my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope, my very heart and soul.   I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O Virgin blessed above all things!   May your soul be in me to magnify the Lord; may your spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set yourself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart  that in you and through you I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom you love and instruct, whom you guide, cherish, and protect as your children.   I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O Virgin blessed above all things!   Grant that for love of you I may turn from all worldly consolations and ever cling to those of heaven, until through the Holy Spirit—your faithful Spouse—and through you—His faithful Spouse—Jesus Christ your Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father.   Amen.