A correspondent - himself a devout oblate of the Order of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary – begs to remind me of the pious custom obtaining amongst those Canons Regular, whereby the brethren, ere they seek repose, recommend themselves to the Most Holy Mother of God, in very truth throwing themselves upon the mercy of her who is Queen and Mother of Mercy, as they fall down and prostrate themselves (or at the least lie themselves down) by imploring Our Lady of the Pillow (cervícal) to help, defend, succour, aid and rest them:
Sub tuum cervical confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, ut bene requiescamus, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.
It may not be doubted that this anthem is of the remotest antiquity, and goes far toward proving the evangelical origins of the Dormitionists, entirely oriented as they are toward winning through to heaven, to eternal rest, a foretaste of which they, all unworthy, do enjoy so blessedly even here on earth. So may they, and we with them, rest in peace, "both now and ever and unto the ages of the ages". Sicut in cœlo, et in terra! – Grant it, O Lord!
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