St. John the Evangelist saw a woman crowned with twelve stars, clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. According to the commentators, this woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary, with her virtues and her privileges, especially that of her divine maternity. Thus originated the Little Crown of the Twelve Stars of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which St. Joseph Calasanctius, St. John Berchmans and many other saints made it a practice to recite frequently.
In order to make this prayer more attractive, St. Louis De Montfort added to each Hail Mary one of the praises of the Blessed Virgin, with the invocation, "Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times."
It is this prayer which St. Louis De Montfort gave to his religious families (The Montfort Fathers and the Daughters of Wisdom) as their morning prayer. He also recommends it to all those who embrace the devotion of the holy and loving slavery of Jesus through Mary.
I. Crown of Excellence
(To honor the divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues.)
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who made thee, and remainest a virgin forever. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very One Whom the heavens cannot contain. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
(To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation and the strength of her rule.)
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a share in thy riches.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man! Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
(To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just and the dying.)
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to thee who are ever ready to assist us in life and death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
Glory be to the Father.
Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost; Hail, Mary, Temple of the most Holy Trinity; Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope--yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father. Amen.