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
Have you ever heard anything like it? lol
ReplyDeleteIs it a saints name??!!!***))(£"
ReplyDeleteJackie, aren't all saints 'harpers'?! I hope to string along with them some day.
ReplyDeleteThe first person to be named Florence was Florence Nightingale and she was named after the city. Bit like Brooklyn or Chelsea perhaps in its day and probably raised a few eyebrows. Now we accept it as a lovely name.
ReplyDeleteHow about Wigan 11 for the next baby born to an ACWB reader!
(Sorry to any Wigan readers) It is actually a nice place with a great orthopaedic hospital (artificial hip pioneered there by Sir John Charnley)
I feel sorry for children given strange names. It must be tough in the playground.
Me too Fr Sean!
ReplyDeletePamela was invented by the author for the book of the same name. In 1740.
ReplyDelete...and Wendy was supposedly invented by J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan! :)
ReplyDeleteI still think Harper Seven is a very silly name!