MARY IMMACULATE, STAR OF THE MORNING

Mary immaculate, star of the morning,\nChosen before the creation began,\nChosen to bring, for thy bridal adorning,\nWoe to the serpent and rescue to man.\n2. Here, in an orbit of shadow and sadness,\nVeiling thy splendour, thy course thou has run;\nNow thou art throned in all glory and gladness,\nCrowned by the hand of Saviour and Son.\n3. Sinners, we worship thy sinless perfection;\nFallen and weak, for thy pity we plead;\nGrant us the shield of thy sovereign protection,\nMeasure thine aid by the depth of our need.\n4. Frail is our nature, and strict our probation,\nWatchful the foe that would lure us to wrong;\nSuccour our souls in the hour of temptation;\nMary immaculate, tender and strong.\n5. See how the wiles of the serpent assail us,\nSee how we waver and flinch in the fight;\nLet thine immaculate merit avail us,\nMake of our weakness a proof of thy might.\n6. Bend from thy throne at the voice of our crying,\nBend to this earth which thy footsteps have trod;\n91\nStretch out thine arms to us living and dying,\nMary immaculate, mother of God.