Ave Maria Meditations
Part 1: Adoration. Starting at the beginning of the Gospel. Here is where you pay the first obligation: honor and praise the majesty of God Who is worthy of infinite honor and praise. Humble yourself with Jesus by plunging into the depths of your nothingness. This is a time to thoroughly humble yourself, internally and externally, before such an immense majesty.
Part 2. Atonement. After the Gospel until the Elevation. Glance over your sins and recognize your debts to Divine Justice. Repeat many acts of contrition.
Part 3. Thanksgiving. From the Elevation to Communion.
Stir your soul to wonder at the overflowing torrent of great and good gifts bestowed on you or designed for you by God. Here you can offer in return a gift of infinite value: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Invite all the angels and saints to thank God on your behalf. Offer sincere prayers of Thanksgiving.
Part 4. Petition. From Communion to the end of Mass.
Look upon the God who is within you… now is the time to summon up the holy courage to ask God for many graces. This courage comes from Jesus: He has united Himself to you in the Eucharist, He is praying with you on your behalf. Do not ask for small things – ask for great things! Do not ask with lukewarmness, ask with great confidence! If your prayers are united to those of Jesus, they will indeed be heard. Ask for help for all your needs, spiritual and temporal.
from the writings of St Leonard of Port Maurice
