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Traditional Catholic prayer
The Memorare
A confident plea to Our Lady, made famous by St. Bernard, that no one who sought her help was ever left unaided.
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 unto 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.
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 unto 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.
Where it comes from
Popularised in the seventeenth century by a French priest, Claude Bernard, who printed and gave away thousands of copies. It is often attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux, five centuries earlier, but that attribution is traditional rather than documented.
Frequently asked
What does 'memorare' mean?
'Remember' — the first word of the Latin, and the whole argument of the prayer: that no one who asked Mary's help was left without it.
More Catholic prayers
- The Sign of the Cross
- The Our Father
- The Hail Mary
- The Glory Be
- The Apostles' Creed
- The Act of Contrition
- All prayers
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