Devotion to Mary: St. Bernard's speech on the holy name of the Madonna

SPEECH OF SAN BERNARDO

“Whoever you are who in the ebb and flow of the century has the impression of walking less on dry land than in the midst of the swirling storm, do not take your eyes off the splendid star if you do not want to be swallowed up by the hurricane. If the storm of temptations is aroused, if the rocks of tribulations erect, look at the star and invoke Mary. If you are at the mercy of the waves of pride or ambition, of slander or jealousy, look at the star and invoke Mary. If anger, avarice, attractions of the flesh, shake the ship of the soul, turn your eyes to Mary.

Troubled by the enormity of the crime, shameful of yourself, trembling at the approach of the terrible judgment, you feel the whirlpool of sadness or the abyss of despair open in your footsteps, think of Maria. In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, invoke Mary.
Always be Mary on your lips, always in your heart and try to imitate her to secure her help. By following her you will not deviate, by praying her you will not despair, thinking of her you will not be lost. Supported by her you will not fall, protected by her you will not be afraid, guided by her you will not feel tired: whoever is helped by her arrives safely at the goal. Thus experience in yourself the good established in this word, the Name of the Virgin was Mary ”.

THE 5 PSALMS OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY
The practice of reciting five psalms whose initial letters correspond to the five which make up the Name of Mary:

M: Magnificat (Luke 46-55);
A: Ad Dominum cum tribularer clamavi (Ps. 119);
R: Retribue servant your (Ps. 118, 17-32);
I: In convertendo (Ps. 125)
A: To you you raised animam meam (Ps. 122).

The recitation of the five psalms, with the antiphons that unite them, was indulgent by Pope Pius VII (1800-1823).

V. O God, come and save me.
R. Sir, come quickly to my aid.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and now and always, forever and ever. So be it.

Ant. Mary your name is the glory of all the churches, the Almighty did great things to you, and holy is your name.

My soul magnifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior,
because he looked at the humility of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me and Holy is his name:
from generation to generation his mercy extends to those who fear him.
He explained the power of his arm, he scattered the proud in the thoughts of their heart,
he overthrew the mighty from the thrones, he raised the humble;
he has filled the hungry with good things, has sent the rich away empty-handed.
He helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,
as he had promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants, forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and now and always, forever and ever. So be it.
Ant.Maria your name is the glory of all the churches, the Almighty did great things to you, and holy is your name.

Ant. From east to sunset the name of the Lord and his Mother Mary must be praised.

In my anguish I cried to the Lord and he answered me.
Lord, free my life from lying lips, from deceitful language.
What can I give you, how can I repay you, deceitful tongue?
Sharp arrows of a brave, with juniper coals.
Unhappy me: foreign dress in Mosoch, I live in Cedar's tents!
Too much have I lived with those who detest peace.
I am for peace, but when I talk about it, they want war.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and now and always, forever and ever. So be it.
Ant. From east to sunset the name of the Lord and his Mother Mary must be praised.

Ant. In tribulations the name of Mary is the refuge for all those who invoke him.

Be good to your servant and he will have life, I will keep your word.
Open my eyes for me to see the wonders of your law.
I am a stranger on earth, don't hide your commands from me.
I am consumed in the desire for your precepts at all times.
You threaten the proud; cursed those who deviate from your decrees.
Remove shame and contempt from me, because I have observed your laws.
The mighty sit, they slander me, but your servant ponders your decrees.
Your orders are also my joy, my advisers are your precepts.
I am prostrated in the dust; give me life according to your word.
I have shown you my ways and you have answered me; teach me your wishes.
Let me know the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wonders.
I cry in sadness; raise me according to your promise.
Keep the way of lies away from me, give me the gift of your law.
I chose the way of justice, I prostrated myself to your judgments.
I have adhered to your teachings, Lord, that I should not be confused.
I run in the way of your commandments, because you have dilated my heart.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and now and always, forever and ever. So be it.
Ant. In tribulations the name of Mary is the refuge for all those who invoke him.

Ant. Admirable all over the earth is your name, O Mary.

When the Lord brought back the prisoners of Zion,
we seemed to dream.
Then our mouth opened to the smile,
our language melted into songs of joy.
Then it was said among the peoples:
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
has filled us with joy.
Lord, bring our prisoners back,
like the streams of the Negheb.
Who sows in tears will reap with joy.
In going, he leaves and cries, carrying the seed to be thrown, but in returning, he comes with joy, bringing his sheaves.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and now and always, forever and ever. So be it.
Ant. Admirable all over the earth is your name, O Mary.

Ant. The heavens have announced the name of Mary and all peoples have seen her glory.

I raise my eyes to you, to you who live in the skies.
Behold, like the eyes of servants at the hand of their masters;
as the eyes of the slave in the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are turned to the Lord our God, as long as he has mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
they have already filled us with derision too much,
we are too satisfied with the ridicule of the delighted, with the contempt of the proud.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and now and always, forever and ever. So be it.
Ant. The heavens have announced the name of Mary and all peoples have seen her glory.

V. Blessed be the name of the Virgin Mary.
R. From this moment and over the centuries.

Let's pray. We pray you, Almighty God, that your faithful who rejoice in the name and protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, thanks to her compassionate intercession, will be freed from all evils on earth, and deserve to reach eternal joys in heaven. For Christ our Lord. So be it.

If you seek Heaven, soul,
invoke the name of Mary;
to whom invokes Mary
opens the doors of Heaven.
In the name of Mary the celestial
they rejoice, hell trembles;
the sky, the earth, the sea,
and the whole world rejoices.

The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and lead us to eternal life.
Amen.