15. Prayer on the Day of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.

Gracious God, heavenly Father, how great is Thy grace, how unsearchable Thy mercy toward me, a poor sinner! Thou didst send Thy only Son and permit Him to become a true man, in order that I might, through the blessed fruit of the womb of a virgin, receive the divine blessing, and be and remain one of the blessed of the Lord. For such Thy great kindness I give Thee hearty thanks, and humbly beseech Thee at the same time, that Thou wouldst be pleased to enkindle my heart with the fire of the Holy Spirit, in order that my soul may also magnify Thee, and my spirit rejoice at all times in my Saviour. O why should I not magnify Thee with due praise, how could my spirit refrain from rejoicing? Thou, kind God, hast done great things for me, not only in my creation and preservation, but also in the salvation of my soul, which Thy dearest Son Jesus Christ snatched from death, with which He united Himself, and which He has promised to love eternally. 152 O Lord, continue to look upon me with the eyes of Thy mercy, as Thou didst look upon the Virgin Mary, and permit Thy grace to be ever with me, and I shall glorify and praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.