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Memorare

also known as The Memorare, Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary

Memorare, o piissima Virgo Maria,

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, aut tua petentem suffragia a te esse derelictum.

that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.

Ego tali animatus fiducia, ad te Virgo virginum Maria Mater Iesu Christi, confugio,

Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come,

ad te venio, ad te curro, coram te gemens peccator et tremens assisto:

before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

noli, Domina mundi, noli aeterni Verbi Mater verba mea despicere,

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,

sed audi propitia et exaudi me miserum ad te in hac lacrimarum valle clamantem.

but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Adsis mihi, obsecro, in omnibus necessitatibus meis, nunc et semper, et maxime in hora mortis meae.

Be present with me, I beg you, in all my necessities, now and always, and especially at the hour of my death.

O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Amen.

Amen.

About the Memorare

The Memorare is a prayer of unshakable confidence in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Though traditionally attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), the prayer was popularized in its current form by the seventeenth-century French priest Claude Bernard, who used it as a remedy of last resort in his ministry to prisoners and the poor.

When prayed: Prayed in moments of urgent need, distress, or temptation — and as a daily act of trust in Our Lady's care.

Line-by-line translation

The Latin text of the Memorare alongside its English translation, line by line.

Latin English
Memorare, o piissima Virgo Maria, Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, aut tua petentem suffragia a te esse derelictum. that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Ego tali animatus fiducia, ad te Virgo virginum Maria Mater Iesu Christi, confugio, Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come,
ad te venio, ad te curro, coram te gemens peccator et tremens assisto: before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
noli, Domina mundi, noli aeterni Verbi Mater verba mea despicere, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
sed audi propitia et exaudi me miserum ad te in hac lacrimarum valle clamantem. but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Adsis mihi, obsecro, in omnibus necessitatibus meis, nunc et semper, et maxime in hora mortis meae. Be present with me, I beg you, in all my necessities, now and always, and especially at the hour of my death.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria! O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Amen. Amen.

Vocabulary

Word-by-word definitions and example uses. Tap any word to learn its meaning, then return to the prayer with new ears.

memorare

Definition: to remember

Memorare veteres dies. (Remember the old days.)

piissima

Definition: most pious

Maria est piissima. (Mary is most pious.)

Virgo

Definition: virgin

Virgo Maria veneratur. (The Virgin Mary is venerated.)

Maria

Definition: Mary

Virgo Maria sancta est. (The Virgin Mary is holy.)

auditum

Definition: heard

Multi rumores auditum est. (Many rumors were heard.)

saeculo

Definition: century; age

In hoc saeculo vivimus. (We live in this age.)

quemquam

Definition: anyone

Non vidi quemquam. (I didn't see anyone.)

praesidia

Definition: protections

Praesidia militum firma sunt. (The protections of the soldiers are strong.)

implorantem

Definition: imploring

Implorantem auxilium audivi. (I heard someone imploring help.)

auxilia

Definition: helps, aids

Auxilia Dei petimus. (We seek God's help.)

petentem

Definition: seeking

Pacem petentem vidi. (I saw someone seeking peace.)

suffragia

Definition: intercessions; prayers

Suffragia sanctorum peto. (I seek the intercessions of the saints.)

derelictum

Definition: abandoned

Nullum amicum derelictum sum. (I have abandoned no friend.)

animatus

Definition: encouraged

Animatus sum spe. (I am encouraged by hope.)

fiducia

Definition: trust, confidence

Fiducia magna tecum est. (Great confidence is with you.)

Virginum

Definition: of virgins

Coronam Virginum vidit. (He saw the crown of virgins.)

Mater

Definition: mother

Mater mea cara est. (My mother is dear.)

Iesu

Definition: Jesus

Iesu domine, audi me. (Lord Jesus, hear me.)

Christi

Definition: of Christ

In templo Christi oramus. (We pray in the temple of Christ.)

confugio

Definition: to flee for refuge

Ad templum confugio. (I flee for refuge to the temple.)

venio

Definition: to come

Venio ad te. (I come to you.)

curro

Definition: to run

Ad domum curro. (I run to the house.)

coram

Definition: before; in the presence of

Coram rege loquitur. (He speaks before the king.)

gemens

Definition: groaning

Gemens et flens venit. (He comes groaning and weeping.)

peccator

Definition: sinner

Peccator remissionem petit. (The sinner seeks forgiveness.)

tremens

Definition: trembling

Manus tremens tenuit. (He held the trembling hand.)

assisto

Definition: to stand by; assist

Ego cum amicis assisto. (I stand by with friends.)

noli

Definition: do not (imperative)

Noli me tangere. (Do not touch me.)

Domina

Definition: lady

Domina magna est. (The lady is great.)

mundi

Definition: of the world

Curiositatem mundi explorat. (He explores the curiosity of the world.)

aeterni

Definition: eternal

Aeterni Dei fides. (The faith of the eternal God.)

Verbi

Definition: of the Word

In principio erat Verbum. (In the beginning was the Word.)

verba

Definition: words

Verba tua clara sunt. (Your words are clear.)

despicere

Definition: to despise; disregard

Nemo te despicit. (No one disregards you.)

propitia

Definition: favorable; gracious

Propitia caelestis venit. (The gracious heavenly one comes.)

exaudi

Definition: hear (imperative)

Exaudi preces meas. (Hear my prayers.)

miserum

Definition: wretched

Vir miserum auxilium petit. (The wretched man seeks help.)

lacrimarum

Definition: of tears

Dolor lacrimarum oritur. (The pain of tears arises.)

valle

Definition: valley

In valle viridi ambulamus. (We walk in the green valley.)

clamantem

Definition: crying out

Clamantem vocem audivi. (I heard a voice crying out.)

adsis

Definition: be present (subjunctive)

Adsis nobis, Domine. (Be present with us, Lord.)

obsecro

Definition: I beseech

Obsecro, audi me. (I beseech you, hear me.)

omnibus

Definition: all

Omnibus pacem do. (I give peace to all.)

necessitatibus

Definition: necessities

Necessitatibus student. (They attend to necessities.)

nunc

Definition: now

Nunc tempus est. (Now is the time.)

semper

Definition: always

Semper amicus fidelis eram. (I have always been a faithful friend.)

maxime

Definition: especially

Maxime te laudamus. (We especially praise you.)

hora

Definition: hour

Hora sexta venit. (The sixth hour comes.)

mortis

Definition: of death

Timor mortis nullus est. (The fear of death is nothing.)

mortis meae

Definition: of my death

Mortis meae timor abit. (The fear of my death departs.)

clemens

Definition: merciful, gentle

Deus clemens est. (God is merciful.)

pia

Definition: pious

Femina pia orat. (The pious woman prays.)

dulcis

Definition: sweet

Dulcis sonus canitur. (A sweet sound is sung.)

Amen

Definition: Amen; truly

Fidem tuam confirmo, Amen. (I confirm your faith, Amen.)

About the Memorare

What is the Memorare?

The Memorare is a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary that begins, in Latin, 'Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria…' — '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.' It is, in essence, a confident plea: a child's reminder to his Mother that she does not turn away those who come to her.

Did St. Bernard write the Memorare?

The prayer is traditionally attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the great twelfth-century Cistercian, and certainly its theology — the absolute confidence in Mary's intercession — is deeply Bernardine. But the Memorare in its present form was popularized by another priest, the seventeenth-century French missionary Claude Bernard, who recited it constantly in his ministry to the imprisoned and the dying.

When should the Memorare be prayed?

The Memorare is the prayer of urgent need. The faithful pray it in moments of grave temptation, in the face of difficult decisions, in times of family crisis or illness, and at the hour of death. Many Catholics make a habit of praying it daily as an act of confidence in Our Lady's continual intercession.

What does 'piissima' mean in this prayer?

Piissima is the superlative form of pius — 'most holy,' 'most loving,' 'most devoted.' Latin pietas connotes not the English word 'piety' but a deep filial devotion: the love a child owes a parent, the loyalty a citizen owes his country. To call Mary piissima is to call her 'most loving' — the perfect Mother whose pietas toward her children never fails.

Other Latin Catholic prayers

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