1. O Mary, Mother of God, may all generations sing of the great things that God has done for you. You are the Virgin, the one full of grace, the Mother of the Good Shepherd. You raised him, loved him, listened to him, followed him, contemplated him as he died on the cross for us. Everything comes to us from him and from you: the Church, the Gospel, the Sacraments, the religious life, eternal life. You are the joy of the Church in heaven, the hope and the refuge of the pilgrim Church. I too want to be yours as Jesus was. I offer you myself and everything I have. Enlighten me; make me docile and faithful.
Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us.
2. O Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd and my Mother, I contemplate you in sorrow on Calvary. There your Son gave his life for the sheep. There he placed his flock in your hands and recommended to you the pastors of the Church. Your heart was opened
p. 168to receive all the faithful, all priests. You sustained the newborn Church, you raised it with prayer and the word, you fortified it with your example. From heaven you have always assisted the people of God: through you the faith has been kept pure, many saints have arisen, the forces of evil have been conquered. Mother of the Church, make us more docile, devoted, and stronger members. Through your powerful intercession, hasten the unity of the one fold under one shepherd. Comfort the Supreme Pontiff, inspire the teachers of the faith, guide all pastors.
Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us.
3. O Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, behold before you one of the flock that belongs to Jesus and to you. I am a wandering sheep. Save me, Refuge of sinners. I am searching for the way to heaven. Enlighten me, Mother of Good Counsel. I am weak and timid; carry me in your arms, powerful Virgin. I am a sheep threatened by wolves; defend me, Mother of the Savior. Heal my wounds. Nourish me with the fruit of your womb, the Eucharistic Jesus. I am a sheep who loves Jesus the Shepherd and you, O Mary. Grant that I may love you always more. Do not permit me to separate myself from you. Receive me in the hour of my death and number me among the sheep who were docile and faithful.
Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us.
p. 1694. O Mother of the Good Shepherd, multiply the number of religious; may they be light for the world, teachers of true piety, and intercessors with God. In penance, in prayer, in apostolic and charitable activity, may they be the salt of the earth, help for the poor, guides for their brothers and sisters. Obtain for them the faithful practice of their vows and daily progress. O Mother of saints and Queen of religious, pray for us and for our sanctification. Grant that we may one day be your joy in heaven.
Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us.
5. O Mother of the Good Shepherd, have pity on your scattered children, on so many who are still straying like sheep without a shepherd. Save the innocent, convert sinners, strengthen the weak, sustain the wavering, comfort the troubled, assist the sorrowful, form many saints, give us apostles and good pastors. You know, O Mother, what a valley of tears we live in, how we walk in the midst of so many enemies, of what fragile clay we are made. Turn your merciful gaze toward us. Humanity has no other hope than you! May you lead us to Jesus Way, Truth, and Life, to the eternal Shepherd of all, to the joy of heaven.
Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us.
p. 170