These Prayers, asking for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s help, is addressed to Jesus Christ, the source of the blessings and protection that the Blessed Virgin bestows on those who seek her intercession. As such, it illustrates an important point: All intercessory prayer, even through the saints, is directed to man’s relationship with God.
The Prayer:
May we be assisted, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the worshipful intercession of Thy glorious Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary; that we, who have been enriched by her perpetual blessings, may be delivered from all dangers, and through her loving kindness made to be one heart and mind: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Its Explanation
This prayer might initially strike us as odd. Catholics are used to praying to saints, as well as praying to God, in all Three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but why would we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ in order to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary? After all, when the Mother of God intercedes for us, she does so by praying to God Himself. Doesn’t that mean that this prayer is a sort of circular prayer?
Well, yes, in a way. But that isn’t as odd as it might seem at first glance. For instance, imagine being stranded somewhere and needing some sort of physical help. We might pray to Christ that He would send someone to assist us. But spiritual dangers are even more hazardous than physical ones, and we, of course, are not always aware of the forces that are attacking us. By asking Jesus for the assistance of His Mother, we’re not asking for help just right now, and for those dangers that we know threaten us; we are asking Him for her intercession at all times and in all places and against all dangers, whether we recognize them or not.
And who better to intercede for us? As the prayer notes, the Blessed Virgin Mary has already provided many good things for us through her previous intercession.
Prayer to Our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help
O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying.
O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips.
Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on you, for, in all my needs, in all my temptations I shall never cease to call on you, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary.
O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fill my soul when I pronounce your sacred name, or even only think of you.
I thank God for having given you, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name.
But I will not be content with merely pronouncing your name: let my love for you prompt me ever to hail you, Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen.
A Prayer to Our Blessed Mother
We fly to your protection, most holy Mother of God; please listen to our petitions and needs, and deliver us from all dangers, ever glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary, our model and mother, by your obedience and patience you have taught us how to be true children of God. Please help us by your powerful assistance to overcome all our weaknesses, and to fulfill perfectly our tasks in life.
By your compassionate aid may we ever stand in spirit with you beneath the cross of Christ so that we may also rejoice with you in your divine Son’s triumphant victory over sin and death.
In your maternal kindness help us to be faithful to prayers in the company of God’s Church as you were one with the Apostles in the upper room as you waited for the promised Spirit of Pentecost.
With your gracious assistance may we be near you in the glory of Christ’s kingdom come to sing with you and all the faithful the eternal praise of God. Amen.
V. O Mary, conceived without sin,
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.
You are all fair, O Virgin Mary,
You never knew the stain of sin;
You are the glory of Jerusalem,
You, the joy of Israel,
You, the great honour of our people,
You, the advocate of sinners.
O Mary, Virgin most prudent,
O Mary, Mother most merciful,
Pray for us,
Intercede for us with our Lord,
Jesus Christ. Amen!
.
