In the hour of grief and sorrow, <br />When my heart is full of care, <br />Seeking sadly hope to borrow <br />From heaven’s promises and prayer; <br />When around me roll the waters <br />Of affliction’s stormy sea, <br />Mary, gentle Queen of Mercy, <br />In that hour, oh! pray for me! <br /> <br />When life’s pulses high are bounding <br />With the tide of earthly joy, <br />And when in mine ears are sounding <br />Strains of mirth without alloy; <br />When the whirl of giddy pleasure <br />Leaves no thought or feeling free, <br />And I slight my heavenly treasure, <br />Watchful Mother, pray for me! <br /> <br />When the soft voice of Temptation <br />Lures my listening soul to sin, <br />And, with baleful fascination, <br />Strives my vain, weak heart to win; <br />With the combat faint and weary, <br />If I call not then on thee— <br />In that time of peril dreary, <br />Tender Mother, pray for me! <br /> <br />If, in some unguarded hour <br />Of dark passion or of pride, <br />Evil thoughts, with serpent power <br />To my inmost bosom glide— <br />Ah! while I from bonds unholy, <br />Vainly seek myself to free— <br />Mary, pure and meek and lowly, <br />Pray, oh! Mary, pray for me! <br /> <br />When with Heaven high communing <br />In the solemn hour of prayer— <br />To its strains my soul attuning, <br />I forget all worldly care; <br />When earth’s voices for a season <br />My vex’d spirit have left free— <br />Still, dear Mother, near me hover! <br />Still, sweet Mary, pray for me! <br /> <br />And in that supremest hour, <br />When life’s end is drawing nigh— <br />When earth’s scenes and pomps and power <br />Fade before my tear-dimmed eye— <br />When I on the shore am lying <br />Of eternity’s wide sea— <br />Then, O Refuge of the dying, <br />Tender Mother, pray for me!<br /><br />Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mater-christianorum-ora-pro-nobis/
