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
Go raibh mile maith agat, a Mharion! Diolch yn fawr! I'm inclined to believe that the great man was from Wales, maybe from Ynys Môn (Anglesey). 'Pob lwc Cymru' today against France! Some say St Patrick was from there, so which country is he praying for?!
ReplyDeleteWell he was a Celt!, both places, Brittany in France and the Strathclyde area of Scotland were home to Welsh people at the time so whichever modern country his birthplace is now in he was from the group we now call Welsh. :)
DeleteThanks for the information about Strathclyde. I know that Dumbarton is one of the places suggested as his birth-place but I didn't know that the people there at the time were what we now call Welsh.
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