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The "Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin" is a chaplet
(a "crown" or "chaplet" is a string of beads, like the Rosary, or the
accompanying prayers) also known as the "Triple Crown of the Twelve
Stars of the Blessed Virgin".
St. Louis De Montfort, universally known for his True Devotion to Mary,
embellished the Little Crown by adding to each Hail Mary a distinctive
invocation in praise of the Blessed Virgin's excellence, power, and
goodness, ending with the joyful strain, "Rejoice, O Virgin Mary!
Rejoice a thousand times!"
St. De Montfort gave the Little Crown as a morning prayer to both his
religious families, the Montfort Fathers and the Daughter of Wisdom. He
heartily recommends it to all who embrace the holy and loving slavery to
Jesus through Mary. Thus the world over, from the lips of Mary's
favorite children the Little Crown rises like fragrant incense to our
Blessed Mother's throne in Heaven and returns to earth in showers of
Divine benediction. Since the Blessed Virgin is the Spouse of the Holy
Spirit, St. Louis prefaces the Little Crown with an invocation to the
Holy Spirit.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle
winthin them the fire of Thy love!
V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us Pray:
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit dost instruct the hearts of
the faithful, grant us by this same Spirit to relish what is right and
ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

(To honor the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable
Virginity,
her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues.)
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the
Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who
made thee, and remainest a Virgin forever.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what
praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very
One Whom the Heavens cannot contain.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

(To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her
universal mediation and the strength of her rule.)
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys
of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a
share in thy riches.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man!Through thee may the
Almighty be favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand
times!
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Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and
crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary;
Rejoice a thousand times! Glory be to the Father. |

(To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor,
the just and the dying.)
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to
us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of
Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee who are ever ready to assist us in lifeand death! Lead
us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven! Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a
thousand times!
Let Us Pray
Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mary, Mother of God the
Son; Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost; Hail, Mary, Temple of the
most Holy Trinity; Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen
of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope ---- yea,
my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O
Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the
Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful
Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be
found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom
thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest
as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly
consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through thee, His
faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of
the Father.
Amen. |