Ave Maria

Ave Maria! bright and pure,

Hear, oh hear me when I pray!

Pains and pleasures try the pilgrim

On his long and weary way;

Fears and perils are around me, —

Ora pro me.

Mary; see my heart is burdened,

Take, oh take the weight away,

Or help me, that I may not murmur

If it is a cross you lay

On my weak and trembling heart — but

Ora pro me.

Mary, Mary, Queen of Heaven!

Teach, oh! teach me to obey:

Lead me on, though fierce temptations

Stand and meet me in the way;

When I fail and faint, my mother,

Ora pro me.

Then shall I — if thou, O Mary,

Art my strong support and stay—

Fear nor feel the threefold danger

Standing forth in dread array;

Now and ever shield and guard me,

Ora pro me.

When my eyes are slowly closing,

And I fade from earth away,

And when Death, the stern destroyer,

Claims my body as his prey —

Claim my soul and then, sweet Mary,

Ora pro me.