The Memorare in Latin and English
Our family started praying the Memorare in English on a regular basis so that we could memorize it. It has been such a blessing. Now that we’ve memorized it in English, we’d love to learn the Memorare in Latin.
Some call this prayer the “Memorare to Mary” because it is asking our lady to remember (memorare).
Origin
The Memorare prayer in latin, is widely attributed to St Bernard of Clairveaux; however, he did not compose it, although it he popularized it.
It actually came from a much longer prayer called Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria by Fr Claude Bernard, a priest who dedicated his life to preaching and helping prisoners condemned to Church.
“Trusting his charges to the care and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Bernard employed the Memorare extensively in his work of evangelization to great effect. Many a criminal was reconciled to God through his efforts. At one time he had more than 200,000 leaflets printed with the Memorare in various languages so he could distribute the leaflets wherever he felt they would do some good.
Part of the reason Fr. Claude Bernard held the prayer in such high regard was because he himself felt that he had been miraculously cured by its use. In a letter to Queen Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII, he wrote that he was deathly ill once. In fear of his life he recited the Memorare and immediately began to get well again. Feeling unworthy of such a miracle, he attributed the cure to some unknown natural cause. Sometime later, Brother Fiacre, a discalced Augustinian, came to call upon Fr. Bernard. The good brother begged Fr. Bernard’s pardon for disturbing him, but he desired to know how Fr. Bernard was getting along. Brother Fiacre then went on to say that the Virgin Mary had appeared to him in a vision, told him of Fr. Bernard’s illness, told him how she had cured Fr. Bernard of it, and that he was to assure Fr. Bernard of this fact. Fr. Bernard then goes on to write in his letter that he was ashamed of his ingratitude in attributing the cure to natural causes, and asked for God’s forgiveness in the matter…”
Source
Some of you already know the Memorare prayer in English, but do you know the memorare in Latin? Praying in Latin is so powerful and we highly recommend that you learn it in Latin, as well as in the vernacular, if you can.
God’s blessings upon you.
The Memorare in Latin
Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.
The Memorare in English
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.
This article was originally posted in 2019.
Thank you, love.
I listened to it in latin chant.It’s so beautiful. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Thank you for posting this lovely prayer in Latin and English and sharing the music. However I am little confused by the text, because St. Bernard of Clairvaux lived circa 1090 – 20 August 1153, while Fr. Claude Bernard, minister to prisoners, lived December 23, 1588 – March 23, 1641. God bless and protect you.
Hi there,
You’re correct. I made a mistake. I meant to say it was attributed to Bernard Clairvaux, but was popularized by Fr. Claude Bernard. Thanks for catching that!
Where would we be without the Blessed Virgin? How good God is to give us such a loving mother unworthy as we are!