O Mother of God, Mary most holy, how many times by my sins have I merited the pains of Hell! Even now the sentence might have been passed, perhaps on the occasion of my very first sin, hadst thou not in thy tender pity restrained the hand of Divine Justice: and then overcoming my hardness of heart, thou drewest me gently to place my confidence in thee. And oh, how very often should I have fallen in the dangers which beset my steps hadst not thou, loving Mother that thou art, preserved me by the graces thou didst obtain for me. But oh, my Queen, what will thy pity and thy favours avail me, if after all, I became the cause of my own condemnation. If there was once a time when I loved thee not, yet now, next to God, I love thee above all things. Ah, permit not that I should turn my back on thee and on my God Who, by means of thee, has granted me so many mercies. Wilt thou endure seeing one of thy servants who loves thee go down into Hell? O Mary, what sayest thou? Shall I bring about my own condemnation? I shall most surely do so, if I forsake thee. But who would henceforth have the heart to forsake thee? Who could ever forget the love thou hast borne toward me? No, he assuredly is not lost who faithfully commends himself to thee and has recourse to thee. Ah, my dear Mother, leave me not to my own devices for then I shall surely die. Grant that I may always seek thy protection.

Save me, for thou art my hope, save me from the pains of Hell, but especially from sin, which alone has power to condemn me to the flames of perdition.