Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!

O immaculate and entirely-pure Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Through you we have been reconciled with our God. You are the advocate of sinners, and the secure haven of those who are sailing on the sea of this life. You are the consolation of the world, the ransom of captives, the joy of the sick, the comfort of the afflicted, the refuge. O great Mother of God, cover us with the wings of your mercy, and pity us. We are given to you, and consecrated to your service. O immaculate Virgin, we are under your protection.

- Adapted from a prayer of Saint Ephrem (306-373)

O pure and immaculate and likewise blessed Virgin, who art the sinless Mother of thy Son, the mighty Lord of the universe, thou who art inviolate and altogether holy, the hope of the hopeless and sinful, we sing thy praises. We bless thee, as full of every grace, thou who didst bear the God-Man: we all bow low before thee; we invoke thee and implore thine aid. Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin from every necessity that presses upon us and from all the temptations of the devil. Be our intercessor and advocate at the hour of death and judgment; deliver us from the fire that is not extinguished and from the outer darkness; make us worthy of the glory of thy Son, O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother. Thou indeed art our only hope, most sure and sacred in God’s sight, to whom be honour and glory, majesty and dominion, for ever and ever, world without end. Amen.
- Saint Ephrem

Immaculate Heart, a Perfect Conformity with the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O God of goodness, Who hast filled the holy and immaculate Heart of Mary with the same sentiments of mercy and tenderness for us, with which the Heart of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, and her Son, was always overflowing: grant that all who honour this virginal Heart may preserve until death a perfect conformity of sentiments and inclination with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, lives and reigns. One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary



Heart of Mary, Mother of God, our Mother, Heart most like the Heart of Jesus, ever compassionate towards our miseries –
thaw our icy hearts, and change them to the likeness of the Heart of Jesus.
Be the road leading to Jesus; be the channel whereby we receive all graces needful for our salvation.

Be our help in need, our comfort in trouble, our strength in temptation, our refuge in persecution, our aid in dangers; but most in the last struggle of our life, at the moment of our death.

How great is the sweetness of your Mother’s Heart, and the power of your might with Jesus’ Heart, opening to us in the very fount of mercy itself a safe refuge, that so one day we too may join with you in paradise in praising Jesus’ Heart for ever and for ever. Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude (1256-1302) to the Sacred Heart of Mary

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, I have nothing in myself to offer thee that is worthy of thee; but what thanks ought I not to pay thee, for all the favours which thou hast obtained for me from the Heart of Jesus! What reparation ought I not to make thee for all my tepidity in thy service! I desire to return thee love for love; the only good that I possess is the sacred Heart of Jesus, which thou thyself hast given me. I offer thee this treasure of infinite price; I cannot do more, and thou dost not deserve less at my hands; but, receiving from me this gift most precious in thy sight, be pleased, I beseech thee, to accept my heart, which I here offer to thee, and I shall be for ever blessed. Amen.

An Aspiration to Mary's Immaculate Heart

O Mary! thou art light in our doubts, consolation in our sorrows, and protection in our dangers! After thy only Son, thou art the certain hope of faithful souls! Hail, hope of the desponding, and refuge of the destitute, to whom thy Son has given such power that whatever thou willest is immediately done.

- Franciscus Ludovicus Blosius, (1506-1566)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

By thine Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make my body pure and my spirit holy.

- Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori (1696-1787)