The Memorare
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 Memorare appeared in 1489 as part of a longer prayer. It appeared again in 1503 and is found in its present form in an 1849 edition of theRaccolta, a collection of documents on prayers. ("Raccolta" is the Italian word for collection.) The prayer inspired a longer version in verse form, by St. Louis de Montfort in the 18th century, as well as "Memorares" to St. Joseph and other saints.
I have an old Catholic prayer book from 1947 which contains the following version of the Memorare. I love this version and cannot seem to find its source. Nothing I've looked up has come close.
ReplyDeleteMemorare
Remember, O most pious Virgin Mary that no one ever had recourse to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy mediation without obtaining relief. Confiding, then, in thy goodness and mercy, I cast myself at thy sacred feet, and do most humbly supplicate thee, O Mother of the Eternal Word to adopt me as thy child, and to take upon thyself the care of my salvation. O let it not be said, my dearest Mother, that I have perished where no one ever found but mercy, grace and salvation. Amen
Good Afternoon Victor: I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, today we met with several of our friends, once a month we go to a different Catholic Church and to lunch after, to Nelson Bros.
ReplyDeleteThe Memorare was said after Mass, the Church in Clearwater is lovely rather modern but with an amazing priest with a powerful voice, St. Ignatius in Annandale does not say the Memorare or the St. Michael Prayer it is sad to know that people are leaving even before the final Blessing, we now go to St. Alberts in Alberts in Albertville a lovely Church family.
Positively a beautiful post, thank-you.
Have a wonderful week
Catherine