When You Don't Know the Memorare

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

A deacon’s wife walks into her weekly Catholic moms group. She meets and greets with her fellow sisters in Christ; they enjoy coffee and conversation together and offer intercessory prayer for one another. 90 minutes later the gathering draws to an end and the leader says, “Let’s end our time together by praying the Memorare.”

The deacon’s wife squirms a little. She’s a 39-year-old cradle Catholic who really doesn’t know the Memorare all that well. But she knows parts of it, so she sits up straight and vows to give it her best shot. The women begin the prayer,

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary”

the deacon’s wife nails that part ...

“that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection”

A little shaky, but she’s still following along …

“implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.”

At this point, the deacon’s wife lowers her head in embarrassment and starts mouthing “watermelon, watermelon, watermelon” in hopes no one notices she <gasps> doesn’t know the prayer.

The prayer continues on, and the deacon’s wife stays in her head-down-I-hope-they-think-I’m-piously-praying posture until the prayer ends. On cue, she lifts her head and joins in with an enthusiastic, “Amen!”

The deacon's wife thinks, "Whew. Maybe no one noticed I stink at memorizing and knowing really great Catholic prayers." And with that, the gathering comes to an end, the women say their goodbyes, hug one another, and depart on their merry ways.

** Although inspired, in part, by a true incident, the following story is fictional and does not depict any real person or event. Certainly not this 39-year-old cradle Catholic deacon’s wife. **

If you struggle to know and pray the Memorare, I’ve heard that listening to Danielle Rose’s sung version of the song can really help a person become better acquainted with it, and better yet, draw closer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here's all you need to do: download the song from iTunes, listen to it as part of your daily prayers, and soon, you, too, will know well the prayer.

Resources:

Purchase Danielle Rose's sung Memorare from iTunes here.
Explore more of Danielle Rose's music here.

No longer shall I (I mean ... that the 39-year-old cradle Catholic deacon's wife ...) lower my head in embarrassment when someone suggests praying the Memorare.

So shall we end with the Memorare, friends?

Push "play" and pray along with Danielle's beautiful rendition. Oh, and if a 39-year-old cradle Catholic deacon’s wife breaks into song when the moms group begins praying the Memorare, now you know why.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with 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 thy Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy clemency hear and answer me.
Amen.