Montfort’s direction for this phase
228. During the first week, they shall employ all their prayers and acts of piety in asking for knowledge of themselves and contrition for their sins, and they shall do everything in a spirit of humility. For this, they may, if they wish, meditate on what I have said of our evil depths, and regard themselves, during the six days of this week, only as snails, slugs, toads, swine, serpents, and goats; or else on these three sayings of Saint Bernard: Cogita quid fueris, semen putridum; quid sis vas stercorum; quid futurus sis, esca verminum [Consider what you were — putrid seed; what you are — a vessel of dung; what you will be — the food of worms]. They shall pray to Our Lord and his Holy Spirit to enlighten them, in these words: Domine, ut videam [Lord, that I may see]; or Noverim me [May I know myself]; or Veni, Sancte Spiritus [Come, Holy Spirit]; and they shall say every day the Litany of the Holy Spirit and the prayer that follows it, given in the first part of this work. They shall have recourse to the Most Blessed Virgin and shall ask her for this great grace, which must be the foundation of the others; and for this they shall say every day the Ave maris Stella and her litany.
St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary §228. Our complete English edition.
True Devotion to Mary, paragraphs 81–83
This optional reading accompanies the phase; Montfort’s preparation instructions above remain the guide.
81. Secondly, to empty ourselves of ourselves, we must die every day to ourselves: that is to say, we must renounce the operations of the powers of our soul and of the senses of the body; we must see as if we saw not, hear as if we heard not, use the things of this world as if we used them not — which is what Saint Paul calls dying every day: Quotidie morior! Unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground dies, it remains earth and produces no fruit that is good: Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram mortuum fuerit, ipsum solum manet. If we do not die to ourselves, and if our holiest devotions do not lead us to this necessary and fruitful death, we shall bear no fruit of any worth, and our devotions will become useless to us; all our righteous deeds will be soiled by our self-love and our self-will, and this will cause God to hold in abomination the greatest sacrifices and the best actions we can perform; and at our death we shall find our hands empty of virtues and merits, and we shall not have a single spark of that pure love which is communicated only to souls dead to themselves, whose life is hidden with Jesus Christ in God.
82. Thirdly, we must choose, among all the devotions to the Most Blessed Virgin, the one that leads us most to this death to ourselves, as being the best and the most sanctifying; for we must not believe that all that glitters is gold, that all that is sweet is honey, and that all that is easy to do and practiced by the greatest number is the most sanctifying. As there are secrets of nature for performing certain natural operations in little time, at little cost, and with ease, so there are secrets in the order of grace for performing supernatural operations in little time, with sweetness and ease: emptying oneself of oneself, filling oneself with God, and becoming perfect. The practice I wish to reveal is one of these secrets of grace, unknown to the great number of Christians, known to few devotees, and practiced and relished by a far smaller number. To begin to reveal this practice, here is a fourth truth, which is a consequence of the third.
We need a mediator with the Mediator himself.
83. Fourth truth. - It is more perfect, because it is more humble, not to approach God by ourselves without taking a mediator. Our depths, as I have just shown, being so corrupted, if we rely on our own labors, industry, and preparations to reach God and to please him, it is certain that all our righteous deeds will be soiled, or of little weight before God, to move him to unite himself to us and to grant our prayers. For it is not without reason that God has given us mediators with his Majesty: he saw our unworthiness and incapacity, he had pity on us, and, to give us access to his mercies, he provided us with powerful intercessors with his grandeur; so that to neglect these mediators, and to draw near directly to his holiness without any recommendation, is to lack humility, it is to lack respect toward a God so high and so holy; it is to make less account of this King of kings than one would of a king or a prince of the earth, whom one would not wish to approach without some friend to speak on one’s behalf.
St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary §§81–83. Our complete English edition.
The prayers for this phase
Days 13–19: ask for knowledge of yourself and true contrition, doing all in humility. Montfort appoints the Litany of the Holy Spirit with its following prayer, the Ave Maris Stella, and the Litany of Our Lady each day. Bring your sins to the light of Christ, and ask His Mother to obtain the grace of a sincere conversion.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Traditional Catholic prayer.
Litany of the Holy Spirit
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, 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 Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, Thou Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on us.
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on us.
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on us.
Spirit of faith and hope, have mercy on us.
Spirit of holy fear and love, have mercy on us.
Spirit of peace and joy, have mercy on us.
Spirit of patience, longanimity, and goodness, have mercy on us.
Spirit of continency and chastity, have mercy on us.
Spirit of humility and mortification, have mercy on us.
Spirit of life and salvation, have mercy on us.
Spirit of all virtues and graces, have mercy on us.
Spirit of the children of God, have mercy on us.
Teacher and Governor of the Catholic Church, have mercy on us.
Searcher of human hearts, have mercy on us.
Consoler of the afflicted, have mercy on us.
Strength of pious souls, have mercy on us.
Crown of all saints, have mercy on us.
Joy of the angels, have mercy on us.
Light of the patriarchs, have mercy on us.
Inspirer of the prophets, have mercy on us.
Wisdom of the apostles, have mercy on us.
Victory of martyrs and confessors, have mercy on us.
Purity of virgins, have mercy on us.
Be merciful: spare us, O Holy Spirit.
Be merciful: graciously hear us, O Holy Spirit.
From the spirit of heresy, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From the spirit of blasphemy, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From all sin and temptation, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From impugning the known truth, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From presumption of God’s mercy, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From despair, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From envy, malice, and ill-will, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From obstinacy in sin, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From all sloth and indifference in the service of God, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From all bad and impure thoughts and desires, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From a sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Holy Spirit.
We sinners, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst exalt the Catholic Church, enlighten her pastors, and sanctify her members, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst grant us the grace never to offend Thee, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst increase in us devotion and resignation to the will of God, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst infuse in us zeal, meekness, and love, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst sanctify all our thoughts, words, and actions, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst cleanse our hearts and make them Thy dwelling, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst preserve our body and soul, as Thy temple, from all stain, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst confirm us in Thy grace, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst enlighten the erring and bring them back to the true fold, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst take us all into the company of the elect, we beseech Thee to hear 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, O Lord.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Manual of Adoration (1897); English text with limited wording updates.
Prayer after the Litany of the Holy Spirit
Let us pray.
We beseech Thee, O Holy Spirit, descend with Thy light and consolation lovingly into our souls, enlighten our understanding, and consecrate the hearts which Thou hast sanctified as Thy temples. O Holy Spirit, come and bring us God’s blessing and peace; console us and all the afflicted, encourage and strengthen the weak; instruct and support the wavering; rouse the sinners to penance, and enkindle in their cold hearts the fire of divine love and a filial confidence in Thee, that all men, in peace and joy, may thankfully praise and adore Thee, together with the Father and the Son, one God, world without end. Amen.
Manual of Adoration (1897); prayer following the litany.
Ave Maris Stella · Hail, Star of the Sea
Hail, Star of the Sea, loving Mother of God, and ever Virgin, blessed gate of heaven.
Receiving that Ave from Gabriel’s mouth, establish us in peace, reversing the name of Eve.
Loosen the bonds of the guilty; bring light to the blind; drive away our evils; ask for us every good.
Show thyself a mother: through thee may He receive our prayers who, born for us, willed to be thy Son.
Virgin without equal, meek above all others, make us, freed from sin, meek and chaste.
Grant us a pure life; prepare a safe journey, that, seeing Jesus, we may rejoice together for ever.
Praise be to God the Father, glory to Christ Most High, and to the Holy Spirit: one honor to the Three. Amen.
Traditional Latin hymn; English rendering for The Marian Way.
Litany of Loreto
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, 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.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for 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, O Lord.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities; but deliver us always from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord! thy grace into our hearts; that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of the resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Traditional Litany of the Blessed Virgin · Manual of Adoration (1897), pp. 388–390.
Close in prayer.
Ah my most sweet Lady, you who were innocent suffered with such patience, and shall I, who deserve Hell, refuse to suffer? My Mother, this grace I ask of you today: not indeed to be delivered from crosses, but to bear them with patience. For the love of Jesus I beg you to obtain me this grace from God without fail; from you I hope for it.
St. Alphonsus de Liguori · The Glories of Mary · On the Patience of MaryPrayer sources and translation notes
Days 13–19: ask for knowledge of yourself and true contrition, doing all in humility. Montfort appoints the Litany of the Holy Spirit with its following prayer, the Ave Maris Stella, and the Litany of Our Lady each day. Bring your sins to the light of Christ, and ask His Mother to obtain the grace of a sincere conversion. Read Montfort’s direction.
The Sign of the Cross
Traditional formula; Holy Spirit matches the site’s prayer register.
Ave Maris Stella · Hail, Star of the Sea
Traditional Latin hymn; fresh English rendering for The Marian Way. All seven stanzas are included; Ave and Eva retain the hymn’s contrast between Mary’s welcome and Eve’s disobedience.
Litany of the Holy Spirit
Complete historical English text from Manual of Adoration (1897), pages 235–238. “Holy Ghost” is rendered “Holy Spirit”; capitalization, punctuation, and the spelling of counsel are regularized, and printed response abbreviations are expanded.
Prayer after the Litany of the Holy Spirit
Complete prayer printed immediately after this litany in Manual of Adoration (1897), pages 238–239, with the same limited spelling and register changes.
Litany of Loreto
Historical English Litany of the Blessed Virgin from Manual of Adoration (1897), pp. 388–390, with all 46 Marian invocations, its antiphon, versicle, and concluding prayer. Repeated responses and abbreviated Lamb of God petitions are written out; punctuation is normalized. This dated form is not presented as Montfort’s own surviving litany text.
An optional memory aid saved on this device. You may read any day at any time.
The preparation follows St. Louis de Montfort’s directions in True Devotion to Mary §§227–233. The readings are his words in our English translation. Their day-by-day selection and the first twelve days’ prayer selection are this companion’s arrangement; Montfort does not assign a separate reading for each day.