Various Prayers to the Virgin Mary

Webmaster Note: There are countless famous prayers

to the Blessed Mother of God. These are just a few samples.

"Hail Mary" by Paul Gauguin

1891 Tahitian Years

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Angelus

(Ave Maria)

Webmaster Note: Authorship of Angelus is unknown. The earliest actual references to it were by Pope Gregory IX and Saint Bonaventure in 1239 and 1263 respectively as recommended "indulgences" to be said morning, midday and evening. The tradition of the evening Angelus is the oldest and is said every night before our weekday masses.

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary.

And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Song of Mary Magnificat (From BCP)

Luke 1:46‑55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Saint Mary the Virgin August 15

(Collect from the BCP)

O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary,

mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been

redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your

eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives

and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,

now and for ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac with the presence of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. May her prayers help all men and women to accept each other as brothers and sisters. Through your justice present in our heats, may your peace reign in the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Salve Regina

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail my life, my sweetness and my hope! To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To you do we send up our sighs; mourning and weeping in this vale of tears

Turn, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward me, and after this, our exile, show to us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus Christ!

Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy

By Saint Augustine of Hippo

Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.

Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

Prayer to Mary, Mother of Grace

by Saint Augustine of Hippo

It becomes you to be mindful of us, as you stand near him who granted you all graces, for you are the Mother of God and our Queen. Help us for the sake of the King, the Lord God and Master who was born of you. For this reason, you are called full of grace. Remember us, most holy Virgin, and bestow on us gifts from the riches of your graces, Virgin full of graces.

Regina Coeli

By Saint Athanasius, Bishop

and Doctor of the Church

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia,
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia,
Has risen, as he foretold, alleluia;
Pary for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
For the Lord has indeed risen, alleluia.

God our Father, you give joy to the world by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the prayers of his mother, the Virgin Mary, bring us to the happiness of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.