Joy of my heart! oh let me pay To thee thine own sweet month of May. Mary! one gift I beg of thee,-- My soul from sin and sorrow free.
| We love thee, light of sinners' eyes! Oh let thy prayer for sinners rise. Look at us, Mother Mary! see How piteously we look to thee.
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Direct my wandering feet aright, And be thyself mine own true light. Be love of thee the purging fire, To cleanse for God my heart's desire.
| I am thy slave, nor would I be For worlds from this sweet bondage free. O Jesus, Joseph, Mary, deign My soul in heavenly ways to train.
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Mother! be love of thee a ray From heaven, to show the heavenward way. Mary! make haste thy child to win From sin, and from the love of sin.
| Sweet Stewardess of God, thy prayers We beg, who are God's ransomed heirs. O Virgin-born! O Flesh Divine! Cleanse us, and make us wholly thine.
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Mother of God! let my poor love A mother's prayers and pity move. O Mary! when I come to die, Be thou, thy spouse, and Jesus nigh.
| Mary, dear Mistress of my heart, What thou wouldst have me do, impart. Thou, who wert pure as driven snow, Make me as thou wert here below.
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When mute before the Judge I stand, My holy shield be Mary's hand. O Mary ! let no child of thine In hell's eternal exile pine.
| O Queen of Heaven! obtain for me Thy glory there one day to see. Oh then and there, on that bright day, To me thy womb's chaste Fruit display.
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If time for penance still be mine. Mother, the precious gift is thine. Thou, Mary, art my hope and life, The starlight of this earthly strife.
| Mother of God! to me no less, Vouchsafe a mother's sweet caress. Be love of thee, my whole life long, A seal upon my wayward tongue.
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Oh, for my own and others' sin, Do thou, who canst, free pardon win. To sinners all, to me the chief, Send, Mother, send thy kind relief.
| Write on my heart's most secret core, The five dear Wounds that Jesus bore. Oh give me tears to shed with thee Beneath the Cross of Calvary.
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To thee our love and troth are given. Pray for us, pray, bright Gate of Heaven. Sweet Day-Star! let thy beauty be A light to draw my soul to thee.
| One more request and I have done With love of thee and thy dear Son; More let me burn, and more each day, Till love of self is burned away.
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