the-glories-of-mary

78 GLORIES OF MARY.
without even being allowed time for confes
sion. He commended himself to Mary. He
was hung upon the gallows, but the Virgin pre
vented his death.
She herself released him, and
said to him: "Return to the monastery; do pen
ance; and when you shall see in
my hand a pa
per containing the pardon of thy sins, then pre
pare to die. Ernest returned, and having relat
ed all to the abbot, did great penance. After
many years, he saw in the hand of Mary the
paper containing his pardon; he then prepared
for his last end, and died a holy death.
PRAYER.
Oh Mary, sovereign queen, and worthy mother
of my God, most holy Mary! Finding myself
so vile, so laden with sin, I dare not approach
thee and call thee mother. But I cannot let my
miseries deprive me of the consolation and con
fidence I feel in calling thee mother. I know
that I deserve to be rejected by thee, but I pray
thee to consider what thy son Jesus has done and
suffered for me; and then cast me from thee if
thou canst. I am a poor sinner, who, more than
others, have despised the divine Majesty; but the
evil is already done. To thee I have recourse:
thou canst help me; oh, my mother, help me.
Do not say that thou canst not aid me, for I
know that thou art omnipotent, and dost obtain
whatever thou desireth from thy God. If then
fthou eayest that thou canst not help me, at least