May 5th
Chapter Two of The Imitation of Mary, by Thomas a Kempis
Duties Toward Mary

Choose before all things, Mary for mother, for advocate, and for model.  Greet her every day with the Angelic Salutation...

If you know how to think and act in this way, you will advance rapidly in perfection.  Mary will protect you with all her power, and Jesus will hear you in His gentle mercy.  What we do is very little.  It is nothing.  Nevertheless, if we do it with Mary, we shall rise little by little to God our Father.  We shall always find near Him consolation and joy.

Happy is he who knows how to keep always near him Jesus and Mary as hosts of his table, consolers in his troubles, help in his danger, counsel in his doubt, protectors at his death.  Happy is he who considering himself in this world as a wayfarer, and as a stranger, keeps Jesus for a companion and Mary for a hostess.

O Mother, I come to you filled with hope.  I come to you recalling the exultant joy which the Archangel Gabriel once brought to you when, falling on his knees before you, he saluted your virginity, saying respectfully:  Hail, Mary, the Lord is with thee.

This greeting I say to you again, O Mother, with the heart, and, if I could, with the voice of all the faithful, so that thus all creatures may sing with me from the depth of their souls and their being:  Ave Maria, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, thou art blessed, O Mother, among all women, and Jesus the fruit of thy womb, is blessed on earth and in heaven, today and always.