When you think of prayers to Mary, the Rosary is probably the first prayer that comes to mind, and for good reason. As one of the most beloved and commonly practiced devotions of the Catholic faith, the Rosary is a popular Marian devotion. But it’s not the only Marian prayer! Here are three short prayers to Mary you can incorporate into your prayer life to grow in devotion to the Blessed Mother. (Because these prayers are much briefer than the Rosary, they’re perfect to pray when you don’t have as much time!)
The Memorare comes from a longer Latin prayer to the Virgin Mary that dates back to the 15th century. Its name comes from the translation of the first word in this prayer, “Remember.” In the 17th century, Fr. Claude Bernard believed he received a miraculous healing through this prayer, and he popularized the Memorare as a devotion. Today it has become known for providing help in times of urgent need. St. Mother Teresa herself often made use of its miraculous potential through her practice of praying a “flying novena” of nine Memorares in a row!
Pray the Memorare with us online or on YouTube.
The Angelus prayer dates back to as early as the 11th century. During night prayer, when the last bell for the day would ring in the monasteries, Italian monks would pray three Hail Marys. This practice spread to the laity, who would have a bell run in their villages to remind them to pray. By the 14th century, the devotion had spread to England, where local bishops encouraged the lay faithful to pray the Hail Mary at the ringing of the evening bell. Back in Italy, the practice expanded to praying at the beginning of each day, and in the 15th Century, Pope Calixtus III instituted the ringing of bells at midday, calling the faithful to pray. The Angelus that we know today (with additional prayers in between the Hail Marys) was formalized in the 16th Century, and it is now prayed at 6am, noon, and 6pm.
Pray the Angelus with Bishop Robert Reed online or on YouTube.
Like the Angelus, the Regina Caeli is also an ancient Marian antiphon, dating back to as early as the 12th or 13th century. The name of this prayer is Latin for “Queen of Heaven.” While the Angelus celebrates the moment of Christ’s Incarnation, the Regina Caeli honors Mary’s “yes” to the Incarnation which ultimately made the Resurrection possible. The Regina Caeli is prayed in place of the Angelus during Eastertide, the period between Easter Sunday and Pentecost.
Pray the Regina Caeli with Bishop Robert Reed in English or Latin on YouTube.
Any of these prayers are beautiful ways to grow in your devotion to the Blessed Mother. They’re perfect for days when you don’t have time to pray a full Rosary (or, when you do have the time, to pray in addition to the Rosary!). Please share these prayers with someone you know who wants to grow closer to Mary!
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