The Meaning of the Memorare Prayer

THE MEMORARE PRAYER

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thine intercession
was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto 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.

THE MEANING OF THE MEMORARE

“Memorare” is Latin for “remember,” which is the first word of the Memorare prayer.

As Catholics, we believe the power of intercessory prayer is so important that it extends beyond life on earth to the saints in heaven, particularly the Mother of God.

In the beginning of the Memorare, we praise the Virgin Mary for her constant prayers for us to her son. She will not turn us away if we ask for her to pray for us. We state our confidence in this fact.

In the second sentence of the prayer, we humbly turn to her as our mother. At the foot of the cross, Jesus said to Saint John, “Behold your mother” and to Mary, “Behold your son.” Likewise, we turn to the Mother of God as our mother in prayer.

The Memorare is especially powerful in times of great desperation. We turn to Mary in recognition of our sinfulness and ask that she pray for us through her great mercy for the Body of Christ. We ask for her to hear us and to answer us by bringing our petition before her son just as we pray for his help as well.

THE MEMORARE NOVENA

Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta is known for her devout and effective prayer. She developed a practice of praying the "Flying Novena." (It has has also been called her "Emergency Novena" or "Express Novena" or "Quick Novena.")

A novena is usually a prayer we pray in a series of nine days straight, but when Mother Teresa encountered a very dire situation, she prayed her Flying Novena.

Instead of praying a novena for nine days, she prayed the Memorare nine times in a row.

But she didn't stop there. Mother Teresa prayed a tenth Memorare in thanksgiving for the answered prayer. She turned to the Virgin Mary with so much confidence that she "thanked" her and her Son ahead of time by praying the Memorare a tenth time.

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[liliaalejandro]

Be with my son tomorrow Mama Mary...hoping for his success on his test tomorrow...thank you Mama Mary...Amen🙏

[agathamburu]

Thanks for reaching about confidence to our Gracious Mother Mary for comfort and peace.. Amen

[dindingonza]

I was praying this during my college days...indeed a Powerful' prayer🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤

[martinmartinez]

After my morning rosary i pray the memorary ilove this prayer.

[mariemankos]

Thankyou for being a great religion professor!!

[mariedsouza]

Mama mary pls pary for the good health-care keep safe

[hollywaddell]

In our diocese, the team members for a retreat were asked to pray the Memorare months before the retreat date ... tallies were kept ... the goal was in the thousands of offerings of this prayer for the speakers and attendees of the retreat that the Holy Spirit would fill the event with grace & fruitful blessings. That is how I first memorized the Memorare. Now I say it several times for the conversion (reversion) of family members who have come under the influence of the JWs.

[lorlast]

I am not religious but I pray the rosary anyways. I stumble upon your channel. I always ask "why?" your channel does that ❤️ it

[krizanneangelfernandes]

Wonderfully explained GOD BLESS may MAMA MARY BLESS YOU

[bendonaabrera]

Thank you so much Brother, God bless.

[robertgorton]

Beautifully explained!! I have loved this prayer. Your mentioning Mother Teresa some may not be aware she wrote a Marian refrain called "Be With Us, Mary" it says- ( Be with us Mary, along the way. Guide us every step we take. Lead us to Jesus, your loving Son. Come with us Mary; please, with us come.)

Catholic Music composers Tom Booth and Jenny Pixler set it to music in 2003. They added a verse to it that says. ( Oh, on this journey we stray, we fall. Sometimes we're empty no strength at all. O Holy Mother, come take my hand. Bring me to Heaven the promised land.)

The choir at Annunciation church in Florida just sung it two days ago as a after Communion meditation at the 10:00 A.M. mass.

[simplyregina]

Wonderful easy to understand explanation. Is this an old Irish Prayer? Do you know which Saint gave us this Prayer? Thankyou for all that you do Godbless.

[benbautista]

I believe in the good intention of the Prayer. It is a good prayer. The intention is better served without the word "remember". We may say "we remember" to remind ourselves but not to remind the Blessed Virgin Mary. It shows lack of respect and as I said, it implies that we think the Blessed Virgin Mary is forgetful, ulyanin! Di maganda yon.