For the Feast of the Annunciation

Normally the feast of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25, but since it fell on Palm Sunday this year, the feast was transferred to Monday, April 9.  There are a few common prayers to recite in our Lady's honor on this important feast, including the Litany of Loreto and the Ave Maria.  A lesser known devotion to pray on the feast of the Annunciation is the "Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary."  This prayer is a chaplet based on St. John's vision of our Lady in Revelations, honoring the 12 stars in our Lady's crown as they symbolize her motherhood and queenship.

The oldest form of praying the chaplet is simply the recitation of 1 Pater, 4 Aves, and 1 Glory Be, repeated three times to honor Mary's virtues of excellence, power and goodness.  Much loved by the holy St. Louis de Montfort, this saint included additional prayers to the chaplet.  He recommended its recitation to all who strove to serve Jesus through Mary.  The following form is that composed by St. Louis de Montfort.  

Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle winthin them the fire of Thy love!

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit dost instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us by this same Spirit to relish what is right and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

First Crown: The Crown of Excellence

To honor the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable Virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues:

**Recite one Pater; Recite One Ave
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who made thee, and remainest a Virgin forever. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very One Whom the Heavens cannot contain. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee.  Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.  Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
**Recite a Glory Be

Second Crown: The Crown of Power

To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation, and the strength of her rule:

**Recite one Pater; Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a share in thy riches. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man! Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
**Recite a Glory Be

Third Crown: The Crown of Goodness

To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just, and the dying:

**Recite one Pater; Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.  Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary;
Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee who are ever ready to assist us in life and death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven! Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
**Recite a Glory Be

**Concluding Prayer
Let Us Pray. Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost; Hail, Mary, Temple of the most Holy Trinity; Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope ---- yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+