Month of May in honor of Mary (Day 4)
May 04, 2026
Day 4
A reading from the Book of Esther (8:3-8,16-17)
In another audience with the king,
Esther fell at his feet and tearfully implored him to revoke the harm done by
Haman the Agagite,
and the plan he had devised against the Jews.
The king stretched forth the golden scepter to Esther.
So she rose and, standing in his presence, said:
“If it pleases your majesty and seems proper to you,
and if I have found favor with you and you love me,
let a document be issued to revoke the letters
which that schemer Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite,
wrote for the destruction of the Jews in all the royal provinces.
For how can I witness the evil that is to befall my people,
and how can I behold the destruction of my race?”
King Ahasuerus then said to Queen Esther and to the Jew Mordecai:
“Now that I have given Esther the house of Haman,
and they have hanged him on the gibbet because he attacked the Jews,
you in turn may write in the king’s name what you see fit concerning the Jews
and seal the letter with the royal signet ring.”
For whatever is written in the name of the king
and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.
And there was splendor and merriment for the Jews,
exultation and triumph.
In each and every province and in each and every city,
wherever the king’s order arrived,
there was merriment and exultation,
banqueting and feasting for the Jews.
And many of the peoples of the land embraced Judaism.
From the homily of St. Cyril of Alexandria preached at the Council of Ephesus
Hail Mary, Mother of God, august treasury of the whole world, unquenchable torch, crown of virginity, scepter of orthodoxy, temple indestructible, and place of the uncontainable, mother and virgin. Through you is named blessed in the holy gospel He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hail Mary! You contained the uncontainable in your holy virginal womb. Through you the Trinity is glorified; through you is the cross named precious, and adored throughout the whole world; through you heaven exults; through you angels and archangels rejoice; through you demons are put to flight; through you the devil, the tempter, fell from heaven; through you the fallen creature is taken up to heaven; through you the whole created world, gripped in the madness of idolatry, come to a recognition of the truth; through you comes about holy baptism for believers; through you the oil of gladness; through you churches have been founded through the whole world; through you nations are led to repentance.
What need is there to speak at length? Through you the only Son of God shone His light for those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death; through you prophets foretold what was to come; through you apostles preach salvation to the nations; through you the dead are raised to life; through you kings reign, through the Holy Trinity.
What man can sing adequately the praise of Mary? She is both virgin and mother! The wonder astounds me. Shall the Builder be forbidden to inhabit the temple He has built? Shall He be despised who chose His handmaid for His mother?
See then, all things rejoice. May it be ours to fear and bow before the unity of the Trinity, to worship and tremble in awe before the indivisible Trinity, as we sing praises of the ever-virgin Mary, that is the holy Church, and of her Son and immaculate spouse; for to Him is glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Musical Selection (Daughters of Mary)
O Mary of Graces and mother of God
May I tread in the paths that the righteous have trod
And mayest thou save me from evil's control
And mayest thou save me in body and soul.
And mayest thou save me by land and by sea
And mayest thou save me from tortures to be
May the guard of the angels around me abide
May God be before me and God at my side.
O Mary of Graces, oh answer my plea
Under crosses in trials, to thee do I flee
O teach me Sweet Mother to follow His Will
To journey with courage up Calvery's Hill
O Mary my Mother and Mother of all
Be my guide and Protectress that I may not fall
And mayest Thou lead me to Heaven above
With Saints and Angels I'll share in Thy Love
Prayer
Lord our God,
in your eternal wisdom and love
you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the Mother of the author of all grace
and as his companion in bringing about
the mystery of our redemption.
Grant that she may obtain for us
graces in abundance
and lead us at last
to the harbor of eternal salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Mother and Mediatrix of Grace)
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.