AVE Maria ! bright and pure,
Hear, O 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, O 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, O teach me to obey:
Lead me on, though fierce temptations
Stand and meet me in the way;
When I fall 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,