The Memorare

The author of the Memorare is unknown. It has been traditionally attributed to the abbott Saint Bernard of Clairvaux from the 12th century. It was also championed by another Bernard, the French priest Claude Bernard, who used it extensively in his ministry to the poor and to prisoners, including some hardened criminals in the 17th century. Claude Bernard credited reciting the Memorare with curing him of a serious illness. He had 200,000 copies of the prayer printed up and distributed in leaflets in various languages during his lifetime. This was no small feat in the 17th century.

Church teaching holds that Mary is the Mother of the Church and our mother as well “in the order of grace.” Catechism of the Catholic Church(CCC 969) Upon her death and assumption into heaven, “God chose her to be the treasurer, the administrator and the dispenser of all his graces, so that all his graces and gifts pass through her hands,” according to Saint Louis De Montfort, the 18th century French priest who wrote, The Secret of the Rosary" and "True Devotion to Mary."

Mary’s wonderful role in assisting in our salvation has been praised by many Saints and Church fathers over the centuries. Saint Lawrence Justinian referred to the Blessed Mother as “the ladder of paradise, the gate of heaven, the most true mediatrix between God and man.” Saint Louis De Montfort wrote that by asking Mary to approach Him for us “we are practicing humility, something which always gladdens the heart of God!” Saint Francis de Sales wrote that “God so loves humility that He instantly hastens to the soul in which he sees it.”

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. Luke 1:28-38. Giving her consent to God's Word, Mary became the Mother of Jesus. She gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son to serve the mystery of redemption. Saint Irenaeus, Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church, wrote of Mary as the new Eve in his writings, Against Heresies, "Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race...The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith." Comparing her with Eve, Mary is the Mother of the living. Death through Eve, Life through Mary.

When we pray to Mary, we pray through her to her Divine Son, Jesus. She is happy to pray for us and to intercede with Him on our behalf. In the Hail Mary, we ask for her to “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” When Our Lord said to Saint John when He was on the cross “Behold Thy Mother” John 19:27, His mother became our Mother. Let us ask our Blessed Mother for her assistance for these babies and little ones by praying the Memorare each day and by meditating on the lives of Jesus and Mary by praying the Most Holy Rosary.



Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to 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.