O Mother of Perpetual Succour, behold at your feet, your weak, wayward child. I come to implore your assistance. My body is the dwelling-place of the Most Holy Trinity. Jesus has said so: “If anyone loves Me, My Father will love him, and we will come to Him, and will make our abode with Him.” Yes, truly is my body the Temple of God. The Holy Ghost dwelleth in me.
Now, I understand why Jesus dearly loves those who preserve their innocence, those who keep holy the temple of God. Now I also understand the terrible words uttered by Jesus against the scandal-giver: “It were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck and that he should be drowned in the depths of the sea.” – No unclean person hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. O loving, Heavenly Mother, I am in the midst of the greatest danger. The evil, corrupt world with its thousands of temptations endeavours to lead me into sin. My own wicked inclinations draw me into these seductive temptations.
Do you, O Mother, strengthen me in this struggle; obtain for me the grace to guard myself most carefully, sanctify my mind, that no unchaste thought, no impure imagination, may sully my soul in the sight of Jesus. Obtain for me purity of heart glowing with the love of God, so that no desire, no temptation against chastity may be harboured therein. Obtain for me the power to rule over my thoughts. Guard my eyes that they may avoid dangerous objects and dangerous reading. Strengthen me that I may not listen to any words that could make an evil impression on my soul. Keep me far from all worldly pleasures dangerous to holy purity, give me the strength to avoid the danger. And should the occasion of sin become as dear to me as my right eye or my right hand, I will nevertheless avoid them. Should this be as painful as the cutting off of my right hand, nevertheless, I will, with God’s grace, break away from the chains of the devil.
O dear Mother, remember that you are the perpetual succour of our souls, I implore you to strengthen me; be my Perpetual Succour, let my evil inclinations be subdued by the fear of the just punishments of God. Give me a vivid remembrance of the consuming flames of hell which shall punish the impure sinner for ever.
Grant that I may not be so unspeakably blind as to draw upon myself for a moment of empty pleasure, everlasting torments. O Mary, inspire me with a profound horror for the vice of impurity. Pour into my heart a great love for the virtue of holy purity.
You must surely hear me, O loving Mother Mary! I will then be a true child of Jesus, your Divine Son; He will dwell with delight in my heart. And when one day I shall pass to the eternal shore, Heaven will be mine for ever. And, oh, how happy I shall be there, to be allowed to rest near you, O loving Mother of Perpetual Succour. So do I hope, so may it be. Amen.
