May 30th
Chapter Twenty-Seven of the Imitation of Mary, by Thomas a Kempis
Frequent Invocation of Mary

Like to the fragrant myrrh, I give and I have given the sweetness of perfumes.  Reflect, O my son, reflect carefully on the example and the actions of Mary.  She is that myrrh, fragrant and choice which produced a perfume and a fruit, Jesus.  She is the one who carries to earth and to men the abundance of sweet consolations.

Guard in the depth of your heart the name of Mary and you will be consoled.  To be loved by Mary is to possess a treasure.  The love of Mary extinguishes the fire of the passions and brings to the soul the freshness of the virtues.  The love of Mary teaches you to scorn the world and to serve God in humility.  The love of Mary ever leads you away from evil and ever guides you to practice good.

Therefore love Mary with a special love, and you will receive from her special graces.  Invoke Mary, and you will be victorious.  Honor Mary, and you will have happiness.  Two particular graces are the fruit of devotion to the Virgin Mary.  The first is to know how to praise God in prosperity; the second is to be able to be patient in adversity.

It is thus that Mary always glorified the Lord for the generous benefits she received from His hand while on earth.  It is thus that she showed herself in trials, always sweet and always ready to choose abasement rather than exaltation.

O Virgin most holy, O glorious Mary, O Mother, you are the gate of paradise, the source of life, the temple of the Lord, the beloved sanctuary of the Holy Ghost.  Whatever I can see of grace and beauty in human creatures; whatever I find of the sublime and great in the saints united to God in heaven; all this can I apply without error to your excellence and to your dignity.  It is very just and suitable that I apply myself, and with me all creatures, to praise unceasingly her whom I have chosen for advocate and mother, not only here below but in heaven beyond life, so as to merit through her eternal glory.  The glory of Jesus, Her Son, thrice holy!