Mater Christianorum, Ora Pro Nobis!

In the hour of grief and sorrow,
    When my heart is full of care,
Seeking sadly hope to borrow
    From heaven's promises and prayer;
When around me roll the waters
    Of affliction's stormy sea,
Mary, gentle Queen of Mercy,
    In that hour, oh! pray for me!

When life's pulses high are bounding
    With the tide of earthly joy,
And when in mine ears are sounding
    Strains of mirth without alloy;
When the whirl of giddy pleasure
    Leaves no thought or feeling free,
And I slight my heavenly treasure,
    Watchful Mother, pray for me!

When the soft voice of Temptation
    Lures my listening soul to sin,
And, with baleful fascination,
    Strives my vain, weak heart to win;
With the combat faint and weary,
    If I call not then on thee -
In that time of peril dreary,
    Tender Mother, pray for me!

If, in some unguarded hour
    Of dark passion or of pride,
Evil thoughts, with serpent power
    To my inmost bosom glide -
Ah! while I from bonds unholy,
    Vainly seek myself to free -
Mary, pure and meek and lowly,
    Pray, oh! Mary, pray for me!

When with Heaven high communing
    In the solemn hour of prayer -
To its strains my soul attuning,
    I forget all worldly care;
When earth's voices for a season
    My vex'd spirit have left free -
Still, dear Mother, near me hover!
    Still, sweet Mary, pray for me!

And in that supremest hour,
    When life's end is drawing nigh -
When earth's scenes and pomps and power
    Fade before my tear-dimmed eye -
When I on the shore am lying
    Of eternity's wide sea -
Then, O Refuge of the dying,
    Tender Mother, pray for me!