TOWER OF DAVID

(1) MARY, you are called the Tower of David because the Church applies to you these words of the Canticle: "Thy neck is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks; a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armor of valiant men" (4,4).

The towers which David built to the walls of Jerusalem rose above all the other buildings. From them one could obtain a clear view of the surrounding country and observe every movement of the enemy. As the tower of David surpassed all other buildings of Jerusalem, so you, the daughter of David, excel all angels and men in dignity and sanctity. The angels and saints are servants and friends of God, but you are the Mother of God. No dignity is higher than this. Consequently God has endowed you with a higher degree of sanctity than that which all angels and men could possess.

Tower of David, you were the most humble of all; hence the Lord did great things for you. He chose you to become the Mother of His Son and made you the Queen of heaven. Help me to become daily more humble, that I may be great in the eyes of God.

(2) MARY, the tower of David was so strong and provided with so many means of defense that it could resist the attacks of the enemy. Greeting you as the Tower of David, I acknowledge that the devil could not prevail against you and that you overcame all his attacks. Though he lay in wait for your heel, you crushed his head (Gen. 3,15). By an extraordinary grace God preserved you from the stain of original sin and thereby prevented you from falling into the power of Satan in the very first moment of your life.

The weapons you used in your struggles against Satan were those which your divine Son recommended to His disciples and to us: "Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation" (Matt. 26,41). You were watchful over your heart, over your senses, over your surroundings. Where you could not escape the attacks of the enemy, you met them with courage and confidence in God, with your eyes fixed upon God, and asking His help in prayer.

Let me also be like a tower of David in the struggle with my spiritual enemies. With the help of divine grace I can conquer evil. Help me to be watchful over myself; for the devil often makes use of the inclinations of my heart and my external senses in order to tempt me to sin. Make me watchful in dealing with the world, so that I may avoid all occasions of temptations. Like you I wish to place my entire confidence in God and to pray frequently, especially in the hour of temptation.

(3) MARY, the tower of David afforded protection and safety to all on account of its firmness and its powerful means of defense. You are such a tower for me. You afford me the most powerful protection and will permit no harm to befall me, if I have recourse to you in my struggle against evil. I hope to be saved for certain, because a firm trust in you is my weapon. I shall face my enemies courageously when I can count on your help as a shield in my hands.

Tower of David, protect my soul from sin. I turn to you for aid when the battle is heaviest. With your help I shall be victorious.

Lord, we beg You, may we be helped by the prayers of Your most holy Mother, whose Rosary we are honoring, that we may draw strength from the mysteries which we reverence, and obtain the effect of the sacraments which we have received. Who live and reign forever. Amen. (Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, Oct. 7)