The Virgin in Prayer, After Sassoferrato, c. 1624

Madonna Orante, Sassoferrato  (1609-1685)

The Traditional Memorare:

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.

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 from a 1741 edition of the Coeleste Palmetum. It contains the elements of the Memorare, and also phrases from the Sub Tuum Praesidium, Salve Regina and the Ave 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 by thee. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, Mary, Virgin of virgins, Mother of Jesus Christ; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful, sorrowful and trembling. O Mistress of the World and Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer wretched me crying to thee in this vale of tears. Be near me, I beseech thee, in all my necessities, now and always, and especially at the hour of my death. O clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Memorare, o piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, aut tua petentem suffragia a te esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus fiducia, ad te Virgo virginum Maria Mater Iesu Christi, confugio, ad te venio, ad te curro, coram te gemens peccator et tremens assisto: noli, Domina mundi, noli aeterni Verbi Mater verba mea despicere, sed audi propitia et exaudi me miserum ad te in hac lacrimarum valle clamantem. Adsis mihi, obsecro, in omnibus necessitatibus meis, nunc et semper, et maxime in hora mortis meae. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria! Amen.

Madonna and Child, Sassoferrato c. 1650

Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, what ineffable power thy divine Son hath given thee over His own adorable Heart. Filled with confidence in thy merits, we come before thee and implore thy protection. O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus, that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces, which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure, in order that from it may flow forth upon mankind the riches of love and mercy, light and salvation, that are contained therein; grant unto us, we beseech thee, the favors which we seek ... We can never, never be refused by thee, and since thou art Mother, O our Lady of the Sacred Heart, graciously receive our prayers and grant our request. Amen.

Memorare, o Domina Nostra a Sacro Corde, quam ineffabilem tibi potentiam Filius tuus divinus contulerit in suum ipsius Cor adorabile. Pleni nos fiduciae in meritis tuis, accedimus implorantes tuum praesidium. O Cordis Iesu Thesauraria caelestis, illius Cordis, fontis inexhausti gratiarum omnium, quod potes ipsa pro tua voluntate recludere, ut defluant inde in homines divitiae amoris et misericordiae, luminis et salutis, quae in ipso continentur; concede nobis, obsecramus, beneficia quae petimus ... Nulla nobis, nulla a te erit repulsa, et, quoniam Mater Tu nostra es, o Domina Nostra a Sacro Corde, preces nostras benigne habe et benigne exaudi. Amen.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, that in thy celestial apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, thou didst promise to show thy compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting thee, seek thy help and call upon thee in their necessities and afflictions.

Thou didst promise to hearken to our supplications, to dry our tears and to give us consolation and relief. Never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, either for the common welfare, or in personal anxieties, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Mary, ever Virgin Mother of the True God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves in thy august presence, certain that thou wilt deign to fulfill thy merciful promises. We are full of hope that, standing beneath thy shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor need we fear illness, or misfortune, or any other sorrow.

Thou hast decided to remain with us through thy admirable image, thou who art our Mother, our health and our life. Placing ourselves beneath thy maternal gaze and having recourse to thee in all our necessities we need do nothing more. O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us.

(Here mention your petition.)

Five Hail Marys

(In gratitude for the four apparitions to Juan Diego and the one to Juan Bernardino)

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

St Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) 1910-1997

Memorare - Our Lady of the Miracle

This version of the Memorare was on a holy card in the Church of St. Andrea delle Fratte in Rome. 

On 20 January 1842, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in this church to a young Jewish man, Alphonse Ratisbonne. He had been wearing a Miraculous Medal, and had recited the Memorare, thinking to disprove these could lead to his conversion. Our Lady appeared standing over a side altar, wearing a crown and a simple long white tunic with a jewelled belt around her waist and a  blue-green mantle draped over her left shoulder. She transmitted both grandeur and mercy in an atmosphere of great peace. Ratisbonne saw this figure and understood that he was before an apparition of the Mother of God. He knelt down before her and converted.

Shortly after the apparition, based on the description of Ratisbonne, a picture was painted representing Our Lady who had appeared to him that day in St. Andrea delle Fratte. When the picture was completed, he viewed it and said that it only vaguely depicted the beauty of the apparition he had seen. This is not difficult to believe since the actual beauty of Our Lady must far surpass any mere representation. 

The picture was placed on the exact spot where she had appeared to him, and became known as Madonna del Miracolo, Our Lady of the Miracle, referring to the two-fold miracle, her apparition and the instantaneous conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne. 

Our Lady of the Miracle, Painting in the Church of Saint Andrea delle Fratte, Rome

Memorare - Our Lady of the Miracle

Remember, O Most Holy Virgin Mary, that never was it known in any age, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this same confidence we fly to thy protection. O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother, to thee we come, before thee we stand sinful and sorrowful; despise not, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, our humble petitions, but graciously hear and grant our request. Amen.

Refuge of sinners pray for us.  Ave Maria (Hail Mary).

Comfort of the afflicted pray for us. Ave Maria (Hail Mary).

Help of Christians pray for us. Ave Maria (Hail Mary).

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.