Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.
The Memorare is part of a longer 15th century Latin prayer popularised in the 17th century by Frenchman Fr Claude Bernard and St Francis de Sales.
Fr Claude Bernard had 200 000 copies of the prayer printed in various languages so that he could distribute them as part of his evangelisation work with prisoners and criminals condemned to death – to great effect.
St Francis de Sales tells us that he fell into deep despair in his youth and in his desperation prayed the Memorare day after day in the church of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, in Paris until the “torment of despair” left him.
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