I am a firm believer in the Holy Virgin Mary, the God-bearer. But I was truly dumbfounded when I read the last page of St. John Maximovitch's book titled The Orthodox Veneration of Mary: the Birthgiver of God.
This prayer followed right after the Akathist on page 82. It reads:
My most gracious Queen, my hope, Mother of God, shelter of orphans, and intercessor of travellers, strangers and pilgrims, joy of those in sorrow, protectress of the wronged, see my distress, see my affliction! Help me, for I am helpless. Feed me, for I am a stranger and pilgrim. Though knowest my offence; forgive and resolve it as though wilt. For I know other help but thee, no other intercessor, no gracious consoler but thee, O Mother of God, to guard and protect me throughout the ages. Amen.
Perhaps the translation is off as I hope it is. I was astonished that that near the end of the prayer it turns from normal supplication to the Virgin Mary to something that only pertains to God the Father / God the Son / God the Holy Spirit .
- Complete knowledge of Sin, 2. Forgiveness of Sin, 3. The will to resolve it, 4. Sole Intercessor, 5. Sole Consoler.
Can someone please tell me honestly if this is a canonical prayer or not?
I do not question St. John's sanctity but perhaps there was a mess up in the editing process.
Please help.