Prayer of Refuge

(By St. Alphonsus Liguori.)

Behold, O Mother of my God,

my only hope, Mary,

behold at thy feet a miserable sinner,

who asks thee for mercy.

Thou art proclaimed and called by the whole Church,

and by all the faithful,

the refuge of sinners.

Thou art consequently my refuge;

thou hast to save me.

I will say with William of Paris:

Thou knowest, most sweet Mother of God,

how much thy blessed Son desires our salvation.

Thou knowest all that Jesus Christ endured for this end.

I present thee, O my Mother, the sufferings of Jesus:

the cold that He endured in the stable,

His journey into Egypt,

His toils, His sweat, the Blood that He shed;

the anguish which caused His death on the Cross,

and of which thou wast thyself a witness.

Oh, show that thou lovest thy beloved Son,

and by this love I implore thee to assist me.

Extend thy hand to a poor creature who has fallen

and asks thy help.

Were I a Saint I would not need seek thy mercy;

but because I am a sinner I fly to thee,

who art the Mother of mercies.

I know that thy compassionate heart

finds it a consolation in assisting the miserable,

when thou canst do so,

and dost not find them obstinate.

Console, then, thy compassionate heart,

and console me this day;

for now thou hast the opportunity

of saving a poor creature condemned to Hell;

and thou canst do so,

for I will not be obstinate.

I abandon myself into thy hands,

only tell me what thou wouldst have me do,

and obtain for me strength to execute it,

for I am resolved to do all

that depends on me to recover the Divine grace.

I take refuge under thy mantle.

Jesus wills that I should have recourse to thee,

in order not only that His Blood may save me,

but also that thy prayers may assist me in this great work;

for thy glory. and for His Own,

since thou art His Mother.

He sends me to thee, that thou mayest help me.

O Mary, see, I have recourse to thee;

in thee do I confide.

Thou prayest for so many others,

pray also for me; say only a word.

Tell Our Lord that thou willest my salvation,

and God will certainly save me.

Say that I am thine,

and then I have obtained all that I ask,

all that I desire.