translated by Luis G. Dato
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
We hope alone through Thee
With faith that falters never
The glory of Heaven to see
Its bliss to enjoy forever,
Forsake us not, O Mary
For in this vale of tears
We mortals ever terry
Engulfed in darksome fears.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
Save us, O Mother dear
So full of true compassion,
The evil Serpent near
Would lead us to temptation
Pray that to us descend
The grace that lights the way,
That we with Joy may end
The serpent’s mortal away.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
O star that shiniest bright
O’er oceans tempests ridden,
Direct the ships aright
Amidst the darkness hidden,
And off disaster’s way
Do guide the sailors brave,
From pagan wave we prey
The Bicolandia save.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
Dawn thou who dost open,
The gates of heaven, come
And bring the joy and hope
To every Bicol home,
Do break the chains that bind
The Christian captives feet
And et the echoing wind
Their freedom’s song repeat.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
Thou who the angry wake
Dost calm with their own hand
Hold fast the storms that rave
So ruthless o’er the land.
Stay thou tho hand that weaves
For us an evil fate,
And which our country leaves
So bare and desolate.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
Behold us at thy feet,
For thee we fain adore,
Thy Son most kind and sweet,
His pity we implore.
To Thee, O Mother dear
We also supplicate
That we all sin my fear
And evil always hate.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
O’er Bicol lend thy fame,
Mother of God on high,
Our humble prayers acclaim,
Hear thou, hear lovingly.
O Virgin thee we praise,
Our Mother Queen of love,
Do thou our prayers raise
To God and heaven above.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
The Bicol people all
Acclaim thee as their Mother,
With grateful hearts they call
And cheer thee as none other
In voices they proclaim thee
Celestial iris true,
Relief and remedy
That all our plagues subdue,
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
Thou art our Mother kind
Who granteth graces soon
All those who ask may find,
In thee the precious boon.
And never thee they leave
With empty hand in sadness,
But plentiful receive
All graces, joy and gladness.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
Thou always hast inspired
The weak with noble might,
And in the sage hast fired
Thoughts of immortal light
Thou fillest the young mind
With love and tenderness,
And makes the heart inclined
To seek God’s happiness.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
O pure and mystic flower
That blowest in the vale,
Of Peñafrancia’s bower
The fragrance we inhale
What bliss and happiness
What sweetness joy untold,
What clings of loveliness
Dost thou or mortals hold.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
The remedy thou art
The only medicine
That can the soul and heart
To virtues pure incline,
Without thee naught in pleasure
In this our life’s exile,
And errors without measure
Beset us all the while.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
O Azucena, white,
O Mary thou who art,
The strength, the joy and light
Of our mind and heart,
O Queen, thee we beseech
The tide of sins to stem,
That some day we may reach
Far-off Jerusalem.
O Mary full of grace
Of Peñafrancia’s shrine,
In thee our hope we place
O Lady most divine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The poem in this novena is a translation from the original in Spanish by Luis Dato, one of our leading Filipino poets in English, assisted by his brother, now deceased, Attorney Rodolfo Dato.
