This popular prayer, a favorite of many Catholics, dates back to the 15th century and takes its name from the first Latin word of the prayer, "memorare," which means "remember." The Memorare is of unknown authorship, although it has been attributed to St. Augustine (354-430), St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) and, with more reason, to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090-1153). St. Bernard's sermons on Mary were famous, and it was his Cistercian monks in the monastery of Citeaux in the 12th century who popularized the name "Our Lady" for Mary. The Memorare has also been attributed to the French cleric Claude Bernard (1588-1641), known as the "poor priest" of Paris, whose homilies contain passages that echo its words. No matter who wrote this prayer, it was Father Bernard who did much to popularize it, teaching it in hospitals and prisons, where Mary's intercession was effective in working miracles of grace. The first manuscript of the Mem
Could some clever blogger develop this idea for the ACWB or the Guild (which is short on women's contributions) and perhaps include a nice picture.
ReplyDeleteFrom Father Hunwicke's blog:
"When we kneel at the Altar to receive the Lord's Body and Blood, what the priest puts into our hands or onto our lips is the Body that Jesus took from Mary and the Blood which flowed in her veins before it flowed in his."
Technically speaking the baby does not share the mother's blood. Nutrients pass through the placenta into the baby's own blood.
The body of Jesus was reliant on nutrients from His Mother.
So are we.