Pray the Memorare

By Charla Misse

My son’s fifth grade religion teacher assigns homework on Fridays. One was “Go to Mass.” I love that.  A “little” thing like a child urging to attend Mass can make a big difference for the whole family.

On a recent weeknight, this teacher’s assigned homework was, “Pray the Memorare.” Wow. Now, that can certainly make a difference. That assignment really made me pause. What a blessing – pray the Memorare. I realized we should pray the Memorare for homework every night!  I should pray the Memorare for every meeting, for every trip, for everything.

I learned this prayer in grammar school and firmly believe it has kept me close to our Mother Mary and saved me from great harm.  

As testified by numerous holy people, this powerful prayer has resulted in a multitude of conversions and miracles. In times of need, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would pray the Memorare 10 times, calling it the “Flying Novena”– nine times for the novena in petition and once in confident thanks.

The morning after that homework assignment, I was inspired to pray the Memorare on the way to weekly Mass and confession. I will share that my given penance was not the usual set of Hail Marys, Glory Bes or Our Fathers. Instead, I was instructed to “Pray the Memorare.”  

My Lord and my God, thank you for your boundless mercy, and thank you for our loving Mother.

Thank you for my son’s Catholic school teachers in general and specifically for Jennifer Demarest (who gave this assignment), Alyssa Dowell and Amanda Malachowski, who form the trio that has facilitated a monumental year for my son.  

With this being Teacher Appreciation Week, I will say a Flying Novena for these teachers, but with all 10 Memorares in thanks.  

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 thy 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.”