Our Lady, Queen of heaven, is the most powerful intercessor. She exceeds all in her love of God and closeness to her divine Son and has been exalted in her greatness even beyond the angels who also hail her as queen.
“Our Lady… is far more necessary to men, in order that they may attain their last end. We must not confuse devotion to the Blessed Virgin with devotions to the other Saints, as if devotion to her were not far more necessary than devotion to them, and as if devotion to her were a matter of supererogation. … The learned and pious Jesuit, Suarez, the erudite and devout Justus Lipsius, doctor of Louvain, and many others have proved invincibly, from the sentiments of the Fathers [among others, St. Augustine, St. Ephrem, deacon of Edessa, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Germanus of Constantinople, St. John Damascene, St. Anselm, St. Bernard, St. Bernardine, St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure], that devotion to our Blessed Lady is necessary to salvation, and . . . that it is an infallible mark of reprobation to have no esteem and love for the holy Virgin; while on the other hand, it is an infallible mark of predestination to be entirely and truly devoted to her. … In his classic work entitled THE GLORIES OF MARY, the great Doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) states that “the intercession of Mary is even necessary to salvation; we say necessary—–not absolutely, but morally. This necessity proceeds from the will of God, that all graces He dispenses should pass by the hands of Mary, according to the opinion of St. Bernard, and which we may now with safety call the general opinion of theologians and learned men.” (p. 129, TAN edition) St. Alphonsus quotes St. Bernardine of Siena’s words to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “O Lady, since thou art the dispenser of graces, and since the grace of salvation can only come through thy hands, our salvation depends on thee.” – St Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Our Lady
Ave Maria | Hail Mary
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Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen. |
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen. |
Salve Regina | Hail Holy Queen
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Salve Regína, Mater misericórdiæ; Vita dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te Clamámus éxsules fílii Evæ; Ad te Suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle. Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra, Illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte: Et Iesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui, Nobis post hoc exsílium osténde. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo María. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Génetrix. Ut digni efficiámur promissionibus Christi. V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix. R. Ut digni efficiamur promissiónibus Christi. |
Hail holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. |
Sub Tuum Praesidium | Under Thy Patronage
This is the most ancient Christian prayer dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The oldest known version has been found on papyrus dating back to the 3rd century, and thus this prayer dates back to at least that time or earlier. This hymn is used to this present day in Coptic, Armenian, Byzantine, Ambrosian, and Roman Rite liturgies.
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Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. |
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. |
The Angelus
The seraphic Doctor St. Bonaventura, in the General Chapter of his Order, held at Pisa in the year 1262, directed his religious to exhort the faithful to say, at the sound of the church-bell at even, three times the Ave Maria, in veneration of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God in the most pure womb of the Blessed Virgin, by the operation of the Holy Ghost. This same devotion, which bad been already introduced in the episcopal church of Saintes (the capital of Saintonge in Western France), was approved by Pope John XXII., by a bull dated from Avignon, Oct. 13, 1318, who granted several days of Indulgence to all who should practise it with contrition; and this grant was renewed by him, May 7, 1327, in the injunction he sent to his Cardinal Vicar, to give at even in Rome a signal, by the sounding of the church-bell, to remind all persons to say these three Ave Maria’s. See F. Theodore a Spiritu Sancto, de Indulgentiis, part ii. art. iv. § v.
In later times Pope Benedict XIII. opened the treasury of the Church to bestow greater Indulgences in furtherance of this pious practice; being desirous that all the faithful, not once only but many times a day, should implore the protection of the Ever-blessed Virgin, and venerate the grand mystery of the Incarnation. Accordingly, by a universal Brief, Injuncta nobis, of Sept. 14, 1724, he granted to all Christians who, at the sound of the bell, morning, noon, and even, at sunset, shall say on their knees daily the Angelus Domini, &c., with three Ave Marias
Beautifully Chanted:
Prayerfully Spoken:
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V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae. Ave Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. V. Ecce ancilla Domini, Ave Maria … V. Et Verbum caro factum est, Ave Maria … V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix, Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. |
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with Thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.* Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, Hail Mary … V. And the Word was made flesh, Hail Mary … V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, Let us pray. |
Regina Caeli | Queen of Heaven
Legend says the St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) heard the first three lines chanted by angels on a certain Easter morning in Rome while he walked barefoot in a great religious procession and that the saint thereupon added the fourth line: “Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.”
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Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia: Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia. Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia. V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia, R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia. Oremus: Deus qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus, ut per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. |
Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia: For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia. Let us pray: O God, who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. |
Miraculous Medal Prayer
In 1830, Saint Catherine Labouré had a vision of the Blessed Mother and various distinct and meaningful images, after which Our Lady spoke to her saying, “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.”
The front of the medal depicts Mary standing on a globe, with the head of a serpent beneath her feet. Circling the oval-shaped medal is the signature, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” On the reverse, 12 stars surround a large “M,” from which a cross arises. Below the “M,” the medal depicts two flaming hearts. The left heart, circled with thorns, represents Jesus. The right heart, pierced by a sword, symbolizes Mary.
• A cross-and-bar surmounts a large, bold “M.”
• 12 stars disperse around the perimeter.
• Two hearts are depicted underneath the “M,” the left lapped with a crown of thorns, the right skewed by a sword. From each, a flame emanates from the top.
• The large letter “M” — Mary as Mother, Mediatrix.
• Cross and bar — Jesus’ Cross of Redemption.
• 12 stars — 12 Apostles, who formed the first Church.
• Left Heart — The Sacred Heart, who died for our sins.
• Right Heart — The Immaculate Heart, who intercedes for us.
• Flames — The burning love Jesus and Mary have for us.
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O Maria, sine labe concepta, ora pro nobis qui ad te recurrimus. |
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. |
Memorare
Attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Confessor, Abbot, and Doctor of the Church. Popularized by Fr. Claude Bernard (1588-1641).
Beautifully Chanted:
Prayerfully Spoken:
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Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen. |
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 with 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. |
Magnificat
The title commonly given to the Latin text and vernacular translation of the Canticle (or Song) of Mary. It is the opening word of the Vulgate text (Luke 1:46-55): “Magnificat anima mea, Dominum”, etc. (My soul doth magnify the Lord, etc.). In ancient antiphonaries it was often styled Evangelium Mariæ, the “Gospel of Mary”.
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Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum Nomen eius, et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordi sui; deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles; esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes. Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula. |
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name. And His Mercy is from generation unto generations upon them that fear Him. He hath shewed might in His arm, He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our Fathers, Abraham and His seed forever. |
Ave Maris Stella
Ave Maris Stella is a popular liturgical hymn of unknown origin. It can be dated back to at least the 9th century for it is preserved in the Codex Sangallensis, a 9th century manuscript now in the Swiss Monastery of St. Gallen. Its appearance in the Codex points to a composition possibly in the 8th century. It is found in ancient codices of the Divine Office for Vespers on Marian feasts. Today it is still in use in the Divine Office and in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin.
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Ave maris stella, Sumens illud Ave Solve vincla reis, Monstra te esse matrem, Virgo singularis, Vitam præsta puram, Sit laus Deo Patri, |
Hail, star of the sea, Taking that Ave Loose the chains of the bound, Show thyself to be a mother, Singular virgin, Grant us a pure life, Praise be to God the Father, |
Alma Redemptoris Mater | Nurturing Mother of the Redeemer
First of the four Marian Antiphons said throughout the year – said from the first Sunday in Advent until the Feast of the Purification on Feb 2. It was composed by Herman Contractus (Herman the Cripple) in the 11th century. He derived it from the writings of St Iranaeus, St fulgentius, and St Epiphanius. The collects that follow depending on the season are also provided below.
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Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli Tempus Adventus Oremus Donec Purificatio Oremus |
O loving Mother of our Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, Hasten to aid thy fallen people who strive to rise once more. Thou who brought forth thy holy Creator, all creation wond’ring, Yet remainest ever Virgin, taking from Gabriel’s lips that joyful “Hail!”: be merciful to us sinners. During Advent Let us pray From Christmas Eve until the Purification Let us pray |
Ave Regina Caelorum
One of the four Marian Antiphons said throughout the year, it is assigned to be sung from Compline of 2 February to Holy Thursday. It is found in the St. Alban’s Book of the twelfth century: in a Sarum Breviary of the fourteenth; and in York and Roman Breviaries of the fifteenth. It is thought to contain within it elements of the “noble accents . . . aspirations of many Doctors, such as St. Athanasius, St. Ephrem, St. Ildephonsus”. Said during Septuagesima, Lent, Passiontide, the time, namely, of preparation for Easter, it recalls the part Mary had in the drama of the reopening of Heaven to men and shows her as reigning there Queen of Angels. (Catholic Encyclopedia).
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Ave, Regina caelorum,
Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
V. Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.
Oremus. Concede, misericors Deus, fragilitati nostrae praesidium: ut, qui sanctae Dei Genitricis memoriam agimus; intercessionis eius auxilio, a nostris iniquitatibus resurgamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. |
Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthroned!
V. Allow me to praise thee, O holy Virgin.
Grant, O merciful God, to our weak natures Thy protection, that we who commemorate the holy Mother of God may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our iniquities. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. |
Inviolata | Inviolate
Prayer and Chant in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary dating back to the 11th century.
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Inviolata, integra, et casta es Maria, O Mater alma Christi carissima, Te nunc flagitant devota corda et ora, Tu per precata dulcisona, O benigna! O Regina! O Maria, |
Inviolate, spotless and pure art thou, Holy mother of Christ most dear, Our hearts and tongues now ask of thee By thy sweet sounding prayers O gracious queen, O Mary, |
Litaniae Lauretanae | Litany of Loretto (aka Litany of the Blessed Virgin)
This beautiful Litany in honor of the various titles of the Mother of God is said to have been composed and added to throughout the centuries. Some trace it back to the translation of the Holy House (1294); others, to Pope Sergius I (687); others, again, to St. Gregory the Great or to the fifth century; while others go as far back as the earliest ages of the Church, and even Apostolic times. Its present form was definitely approved for use in the Church by Pope Sixtus V in 1587. The Litany of Loretto had taken root at Loretto, and from there was spread throughout the world.
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Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix. Oremus: |
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Pray for us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. Let us pray: |
The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady / Chaplet of Seven Sorrows
It was about the year 1233 that seven holy men of noble birth, by name Bonfiglio, Monaldio, Bonagiunta, Manetto, Amadeo, Uguccio, and Alessio Falconieri, withdrew from the city of Florence into the solitude of Mount Senario, receiving afterwards from the Church the appellation of the “Seven Blessed Founders.” For it was in that solitude that, passing their days in the constant exercise of prayer, penitence, and other virtues, they, by a special revelation from the Blessed Virgin, instituted the Order called “Servants of Mary,” taking for the object of their institution, meditation on the bitter pains she suffered in the Life, Passion, and Death of her Son Jesus, and, undertaking to promulgate this devotion amongst Christian people. One of the devout practices which they made use of for their purpose was a Chaplet or Rosary of Seven Divisions, in remembrance of the seven principal Dolours of the Blessed Virgin, which were to form the subject of the reciter’s meditation according to his ability; the prayers to be said during such meditation being one Pater noster and seven Ave Maria’s for each division, with three more Ave Maria’s at the end of all, in honour of the tears shed by the same most holy Virgin in her Dolours.
This devout prayer, so acceptable to our most holy Sorrowful Mother, and so useful to Christian souls, was propagated throughout the Christian world by these Servants of Mary and it afterwards received much encouragement from Pope Benedict XIII., who, in order to induce the faithful to adopt it more and more, granted by his Brief Redemptoris, of Sept. 26, 1724
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Ave Maria doloribus plena, Sancta Maria, Mater Crucifixi: |
Hail Mary, full of sorrows, Holy Mary, Mother of the Crucified, |
Act of Contrition.
O my Lord, Thou who alone art most worthy of my love, behold me standing before Thy Divine Presence all in confusion at the thought of the many grievous injuries I have done Thee. I ask Thy pardon for them with my whole heart, repenting of them purely for love of Thee, and hating and loathing them above every other evil of this life, when I think of Thy infinite goodness. As I would rather have died a thousand times than have offended Thee, so now I am most firmly resolved to lose my life rather than offend Thee again. My crucified Jesus, I firmly purpose to cleanse my soul as soon as possible by Thy most Precious Blood in the Sacrament of Penance. And thou, most tender Virgin, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of sinners, do thou obtain for me the pardon of sin by virtue of thy bitter pains; whilst praying according to the mind of so many holy Pontiffs in order to obtain the indulgences granted to this thy holy Rosary, I hope thereby to obtain remission of all pains due to my sins.
1. With this confidence in my heart, I meditate on the First Sorrow, when Mary, Virgin Mother of my God, presented Jesus, her only Son, in the Temple, laid Him in the arms of holy aged Simeon, and heard his prophetic word, “This One shall be a sword of pain to pierce thine own heart,” foretelling thereby the Passion and Death of her Son Jesus.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
ii. The Second Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she was obliged to fly into Egypt by reason of the persecution of cruel Herod, who impiously sought to slay her well-beloved Son.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
iii. The Third Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when, after having gone up to Jerusalem at the Paschal Feast with Joseph her spouse and Jesus her dear Son, she lost Him on her return to her poor house, and for three days bewailed the loss of her beloved only Son.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
iv. The Fourth Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she met her dear Son Jesus carrying on His tender shoulders the heavy cross whereon He was to be crucified for our salvation.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
v. The Fifth Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she saw her Son Jesus raised upon the tree of the cross, and Blood pouring forth from every part of His Sacred Body ; and when then, after three long hours’ agony, she beheld Him die.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
vi. The Sixth Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin was when she saw the lance cleave the Sacred Side of Jesus, her beloved Son, and when taken down from the cross, His Holy Body was laid in her purest bosom.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
vii. The Seventh and last sorrow of the Blessed Virgin, Queen and Advocate of us her servants, miserable sinners, was when she saw the Holy Body of her Son buried in the grave.
One Pater noster and seven Ave Maria s.
Then say three Ave Maria’s in veneration of the tears which Mary shed in her sorrows, to obtain thereby true sorrow for sins and the holy Indulgences attached to this pious exercise.
Tota pulchra es Maria | You are all beautiful, Mary,
Tota pulchra es is an old Catholic prayer, written in the fourth century. It is one of the five antiphons for the psalms of Second Vespers for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The title means “You are completely beautiful” (referring to the Virgin Mary). It speaks of her immaculate conception. It takes some text from the book of Judith, and other text from Song of Songs, specifically 4:7.
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Tota pulchra es, Maria. |
You are all beautiful, Mary, |
Flos Carmeli | Flower of Carmel
Flos Carmeli (Latin, “Flower of Carmel”) is a Marian Catholic hymn and prayer honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is said to have been written by St. Simon Stock himself; the prayer, is taken from the first two stanzas of the hymn.
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Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera, |
FLOWER of Carmel, tall vine blossom laden; |
Chaplet of Twelve Stars
Pope Gregory XVI., of holy memory, by a Rescript of Jan. 8, 1838, kept in the Archivium of the Fathers of the Pious Schools at St. Pantaleon in Rome, granted to all the faithful –
An indulgence of 100 days, every time they devoutly say the following Chaplet of the Twelve Stars of the Blessed Virgin, composed by St. Joseph Calasantius, founder of these schools, who used always to make his scholars say it.
THE CHAPLET
All praise and thanksgiving be to the ever-blessed Trinity, who hath shown unto us Mary, ever-Virgin, clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a mystic crown of twelve stars.
R. For ever and ever, Amen.
Let us praise and give thanks to God the Father, who elected her for His Daughter.
R. Amen.
Pater noster
Praise be to God the Father, who predestined her to be the Mother of His Son..
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Father, who preserved her from all stain in her conception.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Father, who on her birthday adorned her with His choicest gifts.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Father, who gave her Joseph for her pure spouse and companion.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
and
Gloria Patri
Let us praise and give thanks to God the Son, who chose her for His Mother.
R. Amen.
Pater noster
Praise be to God the Son, who became Incarnate in her womb, and abode there nine months.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Son, who was born of her, and gave to her her milk wherewith to nourish Him.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Son, who in His childhood willed that Mary should teach Him.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Son, who revealed to her the mysteries of the redemption of the world.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
and
Gloria Patri
Let us praise and give thanks to God the Holy Ghost, who made her His Spouse.
R. Amen.
Pater noster
Praise be to God the Holy Ghost, who revealed to her first His name of Holy Ghost.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Holy Ghost, through whose operation she became at once Virgin and Mother.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Holy Ghost, through whom she became the living temple of the Most Holy Trinity.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
Praise be to God the Holy Ghost, by whom she was exalted in heaven high above all creatures.
R. Amen.
Ave Maria
and
Gloria Patri
For the Holy Catholic Church, for the propagation of the faith, for peace among Christian princes, and for the uprooting of heresies, let us say,
Salve Regina, &c.
