QUEEN OF VIRGINS

(1) MARY, you are the Queen of Virgins because you were the first among all the daughters of Eve to make the Lord the solemn promise of perpetual chastity. Other holy Jewish virgins dedicated themselves to the service of the temple for a few years; after that they returned into the world and married, because a large number of children was considered a blessing of heaven, and virginity not an honorable state, and barrenness a curse. The Holy Spirit, who dwelt in you, urged you by the gentle influence of His grace to devote yourself without reserve to God and to unite yourself to Him forever in the purest love by a vow of perpetual chastity. You are truly the honor of virgins and the Mother of virginity.

(2) MARY, you are the Queen of Virgins because by the splendor of your purity you far surpass all the virgins that have ever lived or shall live in ages to come. No greater purity in a creature can be imagined than yours. You are compared by Holy Scripture to myrrh, which preserves things perfect and spotless. Your angelic purity was such as to prevent the least breath of impurity from poisoning the hearts of those who looked upon you, for which reason the words of the Holy Spirit are applied to you: "As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters" (Canticle 2,2). The virgins of all ages come in triumph to offer you the lily of their purity and the palm of their victory.

Queen of Virgins, sweet Mother of that divine Lamb who is the leader and guide of virginity, how joyfully do we glorify you for having, by your example, given us a cause to develop so many wonderful virtues upon the earth. Increase more and more the number of your cherished daughters who adorn the Church like blooming flowers and fill it with a fragrance so rare that it can only come from heaven.

(3) MARY, you are the Queen of Virgins because you infuse love for chastity into the hearts of Christians. You assist them in their struggles and temptations, and by your prayers you obtain for them from God the grace of preserving this holy virtue spotless throughout their whole life. Knowing the great value of virginal purity, you esteem and love it above all things. You look upon virginal souls with particular favor and love, and you spread over them the mantle of your protection that they may suffer no harm.

Queen of Virgins, teach me that there is no virtue more noble and lovable than virginal purity, for it raises me above the weaknesses of nature, unites me most intimately to God and purifies my entire being. Help me to live a pure life that I may imitate the life of the angels. Guard me from violating in any way this holy virtue. If an impure temptation arises in my heart, give me strength to reject it immediately and direct my thoughts to God by considering the truths of religion and especially death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Never allow an improper word to escape my lips. Keep me from the company of persons who may be an occasion of sin. Through the frequent reception of the sacraments, through prayer and vigilance, let me overcome temptation and live a virtuous life in imitation of you that I may be blessed with the pure of heart who shall see God.

O God, since You stoop to the humble and dislike the proud, help Your servants to imitate with a pure heart the humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was pleasing to You in her virginity, and because of her humility conceived our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You forever. Amen. (Feast of the Humility of Mary, July 17)