Chorus

O Mary, Loving Mary,
Our joy and our delight.

1

Joy of the Father,
Love of the Son,
Delight of the Holy Ghost,
Delight of the Most High God.
Thou who knew not man,
Mother of the Holy One,
Mother of Him Who was never made.
He drank life from thy breasts.
Before Adam He knew thee.

To Adam He told of thee.

2

Eve's weakness is thy strength.
Angels are enraptured before thee.
The Blessed bow down before thee.
Michael is thy captain.
Gabriel thy messenger.
Raphael thy healer.
Angels and saints feast on thy beauty.
Delight of God.
Peerless Mary,
Thy face is heavenly beauty.

3

Straight lily without spot,
Beautiful flower of every perfume,
Heavenly rose, whose beauty draws all.
Choicest and rarest flower of the Father's
    Garden;
Tended by His angels.
Gentle Mary, loving Mary.
Heavenly wind, spring rain,
Blinding Light that overcasts the sun.
Mightier than the mountains.

4

Greater than the seas.
The sun is thy chariot,
The moon and stars thy playthings,
The clouds skip like lambs around
   thy feet.
The works of His hands are subject  
    to thee;
For thou are His Beloved
Who rulest from the Trinity.
Beauty that captivates all hearts.
Light that dispels all darkness,
Mary, whiter than the snows.

5

Envy of the fallen prince.
Satan fears thee and awaits thy heel;
He alone fears thee, for he never 
   knew thee.    
Thy name is a scourge that sears him 
    more than fire.
The lost one in the pit groans;
His throne rocked at thy coming.
The beauty of thy countenance fills
    him with terror.
He flies before thee; he fears the Light.
Mary, thou art terrible in battle.
Hell trembles at thy name.

6

Thunder and Lightning to the
    bottomless pit.
Destroyer of the Evil One's kingdom.
Angels waited on thy word.
The heavens were hushed.
At thy consent angels sang hymns of
    great joy.
The Father Eternal smiled on thee.
The Son became thy own.
The Divine Spirit took thee unto Himself.
Silent Mary, the Holy Spirit spoke
    through thee.
Elisabeth proclaimed thee.

7

All men claim thee.
All peoples bless thy name.
Broken-hearted Mary at the Cross.
You saw the rabble mock thy Son.
You saw the lance open His side.
You saw them cast dice for
    His garments.
You who care for all, could not give
    Him to drink when He cried,
    I thirst.
He gave thee to us as our Mother.
You saw Him die.
You knew He was God.

8

Crimson rose of heavenly fragrance.
Our birthright; lost through Eve's
   disobedience was restored
   through thee.
From thy pure blood a stream has
   arisen that pours over the earth,
Cleansing and healing our sin-stained
   souls and paying our ransom.
From thy pure flesh was made Food
   for us who know thy Son.
Beautiful Mary, you raised women
   to a new dignity.
Adam's Fall did not stain thee.
Thy body did not know corruption.
Peaceful sleep fell upon thee.
Thy feet rested on the wings of angels.

9

In their hands they carried thee.
The heavens opened to thee.
You reign with thy Son.
He placed the Sceptre in thy hands.
The world He made thy footstool,
Who rulest with love.
The thrones of the great shall fall
   before thee.
Woe to them that shall raise themselves
   against thee, to mock thee.
He Who made thee, and came from thee,
   shall meet them as the bear robbed
   of her young.
Woe to them in that day, when he comes:
   for He guards thee as the apple of
   His eye.

10

Thou, His creature; in thee He
   saw Perfection.
He glories in thee; the work
   of His hands.
As the Faithful Bridegroom, He is
   jealous if they hurt thee.
Spotless Maid of Nazareth, humble
   unknown;
The humble and the little ones know
   thee and bless thee.
The angels in choir sing thy praises
   at God's Throne.
We thy children, poor, weak and
   sinful, sing thy praises.
All men shall call thee blessed.
Peoples of many colors shall sing
   thy praises.
In strange tongues they shall call thee:
   Light of Dawn.

11

For thy Son is at hand.
Strange men, who live not as men,
   shall know thee;
And find shelter beneath thy mantle.
Fierce warriors shall become as little
   children, and grasp thy girdle.
Their daughters shall cover their
   heads with thy veil,
And live by thy example.
From the high mountain and from
   valleys they shall follow thee,
   from the plains and from deserts.
You come, not as the triumphant
   warrior in terrible array,
But as the gentle Mother calling,
   calling thy children to thee.
He has filled thee with wisdom.

12

You speak in divers tongues.
All thy children know thy voice.
Love of God: Thy voice is sweeter
   than the thrush and the lark.
Angels stay their journey to hear thee.
Your words are sweeter than honey.
Your eyes are beautiful and gentle.
We have no fear of thee. We love thee,
Mary, we love thee,
   we love thee.
O Mary, beautiful, life-giving Mary.
Our Joy, our Hope in our sorrows.

13

Our eyes and hearts are lifted to thee.
Hear us, thy children, who cry to thee.
You hear the cry of your children;
You, their Mother, will hasten to help.
You gladden the hearts that mourn.
You dry the eyes that weep.
Mother of the widow and orphan.
Safe home to the outcast.
The mighty and lowly find peace
   before thee.
Thy smile is peace.

14

Medicine and healing herbs to the sick. Sweetness in the bitterness of life.
Light to those who travel by land and sea. Virtue to the innocent.
Flame to kindle the clean of heart.
Faithful Shepherdess, who guards the
   sheep and lambs.
The Promised Land, overflowing with
   milk and honey.
Sweet spices and heavenly perfumes
   that purify.
Sweeter than the honeycomb.
Glory of women.

15

Healer of men.
Sight to the blind.
Hearing to the deaf.
Speech to the dumb.
Cool, life-giving waters to the thirsty.
Food and drink to the weary.
Whose breast feeds all men.
Thy children call to thee.
Heavenly Guide to the traveller,
O Mary, our Mother, lead us home.

O MARY, when our eyes close in our last sleep, and open to behold thy Son, the
Just Judge, and the Angel opens the Book
and the Enemy accuses us; in that terrible
hour, come to our aid. Be with us. When
death came to Joseph, you and your Son
were with him: Thy Son to judge; thou to
console. O Happy Joseph! When death
comes for us, be near us.

O Mary, when we are held captive in
the place of atonement; plead for us, and
visit us, that we may find consolation in
thy presence. Stretch forth thy hand to
help us; deliver us from our bondage. We
are thy children: Thou art our Mother. As little children we come to thee; we know
no fear.

O Mary, He changed water into wine for thee, even as He said: My hour has not yet come. Now He will not refuse thee, when you plead for us thy children.