The Memorare

The Memorare is a prayer to Mary asking her to “remember” our intensions before her Son, our Lord. It is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux from the 12th century. This is possibly because it was championed by another Bernard, the French priest Claude Bernard in the 17th century. It is a wonderful prayer that my mother taught me. Recently I read that St. Joseph asks us to pray it along with The Lord’s Prayer, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be, for his intercession. That figures, the humble Joseph directs us to honor his wife instead of himself. I pray the 4 prayers together daily.

I can attribute a couple of minor miracles to the Memorare myself. St. Mother Teresa once said that she prayed a decade of Memorares for emergencies. Twice my son Danny asked for prayers for his poisoned dog. I prayed the decade of Memorares as Mother Teresa said to do and his dog was saved. Of course the vet intervened but I like to think it was our Lady’s intervention that sealed the deal.

Of course Mary remembers us! She loves us as our mother and loves to intercede for us. Let’s pray it together right now. Keep your lines muted but join in with me as we pray:

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Greg Brown, Lecturer’s report for June, 2020

Vivat Jesus!