Prayers for a New Chivalry

Behold us at your feet, O Mary, our Lady and Suzerain! Beneath the light of your pure look, we come to seek new strength for the combat.
O faithful Virgin, we have received the heavy and dangerous mission to enlarge the frontiers of God's Kingdom on earth; we have promised to fight for the triumph of Christ the King, your Son: keep us from perjury!
O Queen enthroned in sweet majesty, obtain for us the humility of children and the magnanimity of heroes; that no pride may sully the great working of divine grace, that no fear may compromise or delay our spiritual Quest.
O immaculate Virgin, the world is far from truth and peace! Everywhere the prince of this world has spread hatred and violence, lies and impurity. Justice and honour are scoffed at, the divine Name is blasphemed, and the Holy Church is sorely tested. In the face of the Powers of darkness, please send to our aid Saint Michael and his sacred legions, which are glorious and without number: that they may shed on us their dazzling light and the burning fire of their charity.
With their help and by your intercession, may we gain a firm heart, a clear judgement, an unswerving determination, and even the love of our enemies, so that we may deserve to fight for God alone, without ever being untrue to the laws of Honour.
We pray that by the working of divine Mercy, force may always be at the service of right, the rich at the service of the poor, the powerful at the service of the weak and disinherited.
Also we pray that the love of money may be held in contempt, and that Holy Poverty be admired, that our Lord God be served first in all things, that his Reign be sought first before all things, and that the promised increase in love be given us.
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, who crush the head of Satan under your feet, do not allow us ever to fall beneath his blows: grant that, having lived for the honour of God and the service of our brethren, we may know how to die for his Glory.
O Mary, our sweet Suzerain, at the end of the day, after the battle, be pleased to lead us to the heavenly Jerusalem, where you reign, sitting at your Son's right hand, over all the orders of Angels; you, the purest of God's creatures and the closest to his Divinity.
[Amen.]

Saint Joseph, defender of the Holy Family and of the Church of God, beloved of the Blessed Virgin, protect us in battle and in peace by your prayers, and guide us by your inspiration. Clothe us in the armour of your virtues, and arm us with discernment. Teach us to understand the meaning of the life we are living, and help us listen to the angels from heaven. Rise with the Child in your arms and take us along with him into a place of safety. Show us gentleness combined with strength, authority with humility, kindness with justice. Make us your servants, you who had no servants but your holy Son, and make us your knights, you who were descended from David, and whose Son is King for ages upon ages.
[Amen.]


Extracts from an Akathist [standing hymn] to the Mother of God, the Burning Bush, by Sandu Tudor

Who is this, pure and white as the dawn?
It is the Queen of prayer, and its incarnation,
Princess Porphyrogeneta* and Lady of the Morning,
Betrothed of the Consoler who transfigures life!
We run to thee, burning and consumed with longing.
Grant us access to the Holy Mount of Tabor,
Become for us also a shadow and a dew,
Thou whom divine grace overshadows,
So that our human nature in its turn
May be renewed by a rebirth through grace,
That we, together with all creation,
May cry to thee, bowing low:
Rejoice, O Bride, Mother of continual prayer!

O Virgin of the age without evening,
O holy Mother of the Light,
Hearken unto us, slaves of sin,
Unworthy offspring of the mire.
Most sweet and good, most holy Virgin,
The Key of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Release us from the curse's bolts,
Open for us the heavenward Way,
That having received the longed-for revelation,
The secret of the beloved Bridegroom,
We also may offer praises to thee,
Like Moses who, putting off his sandals,
And turning his face towards the flame
Of the Bush that burned with grace,
Cried in the dusk:
Rejoice, fulgent Flower of an unconsumed bush!
Rejoice, Christian Dew through which God spouts forth on earth!
Rejoice, burning Imprint of fire from heaven!
Rejoice, Tear which melts the interior frost!
Rejoice, budding Staff of the pilgrim to the heart!
Rejoice, Freshet brimming in the inner desert!
Rejoice, glowing Signet set in the soul's depths!
Rejoice, eighth Day of the kingdom within!
Rejoice, Tradition of the joy to come!
Rejoice, Wonder received in a marvelling spirit!
Rejoice, O Bride, Mother of continual prayer!