Hard time processing the Memorare "before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful." Also, "but in thy mercy hear and answer me."

[GodHeals]

Hi,

I have a hard time processing the Memorare “before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.” Also, “but in thy mercy hear and answer me.”

It seems we are only to stand before God and He is truly the only One that can answer us. The wording of the prayer can seem idolatrous, even though I still pray it during some masses, and similar prayers on my own.

We all have a role in God’s plan for salvation. I know only God answers prayers of the Saints and Angels on our behalf as apart from God, they (we) wouldn’t exist. And when we talk to the Saints and Angels in our minds, they can only hear us because God the Holy Spirit lives in us all, that is my current understanding.

Please help me to better understand this prayer so as to minimize the supposed idolatrous aspect of the prayer. God Bless You, Brian

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by 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 the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Read more: ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/memorare.htm#ixzz2HC5GhYho

 

[RKO]

It’s actually very simple: The memorare is a prayer to the BVM, asking her to pray to God on our behalf. NOT to do anything herself, other than asking her son for Mercy.

We stand before her, “sinful and sorrowful” and not deserving of her prayers or God’s mercy. The “mercy” we ask of her is to pray for us even though we don’t deserve it.

Nothing more.

A guy once told me something that illustrated a catholic’s prayer to mary very simply. He said, If you want a guy to help you even though you don’t deserve it and you’re afraid he may say “no,” ask his mother to ask him. It’s a lot harder for the guy to say no to his mother.

 

[DeniseNY]

Very well put, RKO.

 

[JRKH]

Godheals…

I too have trouble with some of the Marion prayers - Generally I stick with the Hail Mary - clear and to the point.

The important thing in prayer - especially private prayer - is to feel comfortable with what you are saying…it needs to come from the heart. If a given prayer makes you feel uncomfortable, please do not feel that you must say it - especially if there are other prayers that serve the same function and that you ARE comfortable with.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

RKO -

While I appreciate this explanation I must say that I find it unsatisfying (for myself personally).

It’s actually very simple: The memorare is a prayer to the BVM, asking her to pray to God on our behalf. NOT to do anything herself, other than asking her son for Mercy.

Could you point out where in the prayer is the “asking her to pray to God on our behalf”?

A guy once told me something that illustrated a catholic’s prayer to mary very simply. He said, If you want a guy to help you even though you don’t deserve it and you’re afraid he may say “no,” ask his mother to ask him. It’s a lot harder for the guy to say no to his mother.

I like this…Which is why I like the “Hail Mary”…It does precisely this.
Of course in my case I don’t really fear that the “guy” referred to (Jesus) will say no. I have confidence that if he DOES say “no” it’s for may own good.

Peace
James

 

[Jeanne_S]

It’s actually very simple: The memorare is a prayer to the BVM, asking her to pray to God on our behalf. NOT to do anything herself, other than asking her son for Mercy.

We stand before her, “sinful and sorrowful” and not deserving of her prayers or God’s mercy. The “mercy” we ask of her is to pray for us even though we don’t deserve it.

Nothing more.

A guy once told me something that illustrated a catholic’s prayer to mary very simply. He said, If you want a guy to help you even though you don’t deserve it and you’re afraid he may say “no,” ask his mother to ask him. It’s a lot harder for the guy to say no to his mother.

There is a name for this in the Old Testament,I can’t remember it right off hand.Anyway this was the custom,that peasants,lower class would implore the QueenMother to intercede on their behalf to her son .This is the case with Mary.She to is the Queen of heaven and chief intercessor to hercSon,on our behalf.

 

[De_Montfort]

I don’t understand how anyone would have trouble with asking Mary to have mercy on us and hear our prayers and obtain from God what we need. After all it is Her role.

“Mary received from God a unique dominion over souls enabling her to nourish them and make them more and more godlike.”
(St. Louis de Montfort)

It is Her privilage as Queen Mother to obtain and ask for mercy.

 

[JRKH]

I don’t understand how anyone would have trouble with asking Mary to have mercy on us and hear our prayers and obtain from God what we need. After all it is Her role.

I don’t either…We should all feel comfortable asking our Mother for her help and prayers.
But I don’t think that this is what the OP is asking about. S/He can correct me if I’m wrong…

It seems to me that the question is in regards to the wording of a specific prayer, not with the concept of approaching Mary for intercession.
I’m sure that you will agree with me that when we pray we need to be comfortable with the prayers. That the prayers need to pour out of our heart.
I’m sure that this was precisely the case the author of the Memorare…It flowed from his heart.

Yet I can say that, speaking only for myself, I would never extemporaneously choose the language used in the Memorare to, as you say above, “ask Mary to have mercy on us and hear our prayers and obtain from God what we need.” It’s just not how I would choose to speak/pray.

Peace
James

 

[RKO]

RKO -

While I appreciate this explanation I must say that I find it unsatisfying (for myself personally).

Could you point out where in the prayer is the “asking her to pray to God on our behalf”?

I like this…Which is why I like the “Hail Mary”…It does precisely this.
Of course in my case I don’t really fear that the “guy” referred to (Jesus) will say no. I have confidence that if he DOES say “no” it’s for may own good.

Peace
James

sure, where it says “sought thy intercession.” It also says fled to thy protection, implored thy help. It doesn’t ask for anything that is reserved to God.

 

[JRKH]

sure, where it says “sought thy intercession.” It also says fled to thy protection, implored thy help. It doesn’t ask for anything that is reserved to God.

Fair enough…
I can’t say that the wording of this prayer is something I would ever be personally comfortable with…But I do see what you mean…
Thanks for nudging me to reread the prayer with different eyes.

Peace
James

 

[RKO]

Fair enough…
I can’t say that the wording of this prayer is something I would ever be personally comfortable with…But I do see what you mean…
Thanks for nudging me to reread the prayer with different eyes.

Peace
James

Also fair enough! But I have found that I sometimes process things with too much outside noise involved.

regarding the intercession of our Blessed Mother, that noise can come from either extreme, which to my mind is on the one hand true “worship” of Mary which is not what the Church teaches or complete disregard and perhaps even disdain for Mary and her role in our salvation as catholics. Listen to your own heart, contemplate the Holy Mother of god and she’ll guide you, as will her Son.

 

[EasterJoy]

Anyone can have mercy, and anyone can be asked to show mercy. It just means unmerited kindness. Otherwise, how could the Lord have said in the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”? Matt. 5:7

Likewise, we can of course admit our need for advocacy to anyone we wish to make into our advocate. We are not bound to admit only to God that we are sinners!! So in the Memorare we are only saying that we are in real need of a kind and blessed person to pray for us, because we do not merit it.

 

[RKO]

Also fair enough! But I have found that I sometimes process things with too much outside noise involved.

regarding the intercession of our Blessed Mother, that noise can come from either extreme, which to my mind is on the one hand true “worship” of Mary which is not what the Church teaches or complete disregard and perhaps even disdain for Mary and her role in our salvation as catholics. Listen to your own heart, contemplate the Holy Mother of god and she’ll guide you, as will her Son.

I quoted my own post to clarify something:

In what I said here, I do NOT mean to imply that if you look into your own heart you will come to have the same relationship with mary that I, or any other catholic may or may not have. There is a reason each of us has a different relationship with her, and it’s about us, where we are now and where God wants to lead us. There are wonderful catholics with an intense personal relationship with the BVM, and there are others who are much less inclined perhaps because of the reasons you have for being wary of the memorare. Or perhaps it’s because they think it detracts from our relationship with God. Only God knows where we all are in this journey and He spiritually feeds us as He sees fit. And whereveer that leads you is good enough for me!

 

[EasterJoy]

This is from Lumen Gentium; I highly recommend reading the entire chapter on the subject of Our Lady:

“It gives great joy and comfort to this holy and general Synod that even among the separated brethren there are some who give due honor to the Mother of our Lord and Saviour, especially among the Orientals, who with devout mind and fervent impulse give honor to the Mother of God, ever virgin.(24) The entire body of the faithful pours forth instant supplications to the Mother of God and Mother of men that she, who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers, may now, exalted as she is above all the angels and saints, intercede before her Son in the fellowship of all the saints, until all families of people, whether they are honored with the title of Christian or whether they still do not know the Saviour, may be happily gathered together in peace and harmony into one people of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity.”

24 Cfr. Pius XI, Litt. Encycl. Ecclesiam Dei, 12 nov. 1923: AAS 15 (1923) p. 581. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Fulgens corona, 8 sept. 1953: AAS 45 (1953) pp. 590-591.

If you think of how those who had been with her at Pentecost at the “beginnings of the Church” must have approached her for prayers while she was still on this earth, if you think of all they know of her now that they are with her in Heaven, it is easy to imagine that they, our first Magesterium, would entirely approve the wording of the Memorare.

 

[JRKH]

I quoted my own post to clarify something:

In what I said here, I do NOT mean to imply that if you look into your own heart you will come to have the same relationship with mary that I, or any other catholic may or may not have. There is a reason each of us has a different relationship with her, and it’s about us, where we are now and where God wants to lead us. There are wonderful catholics with an intense personal relationship with the BVM, and there are others who are much less inclined perhaps because of the reasons you have for being wary of the memorare. Or perhaps it’s because they think it detracts from our relationship with God. Only God knows where we all are in this journey and He spiritually feeds us as He sees fit. And whereveer that leads you is good enough for me!

 

[GodHeals]

This is from Lumen Gentium; I highly recommend reading the entire chapter on the subject of Our Lady:

“It gives great joy and comfort to this holy and general Synod that even among the separated brethren there are some who give due honor to the Mother of our Lord and Saviour, especially among the Orientals, who with devout mind and fervent impulse give honor to the Mother of God, ever virgin.(24) The entire body of the faithful pours forth instant supplications to the Mother of God and Mother of men that she, who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers, may now, exalted as she is above all the angels and saints, intercede before her Son in the fellowship of all the saints, until all families of people, whether they are honored with the title of Christian or whether they still do not know the Saviour, may be happily gathered together in peace and harmony into one people of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity.”

24 Cfr. Pius XI, Litt. Encycl. Ecclesiam Dei, 12 nov. 1923: AAS 15 (1923) p. 581. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Fulgens corona, 8 sept. 1953: AAS 45 (1953) pp. 590-591.

If you think of how those who had been with her at Pentecost at the “beginnings of the Church” must have approached her for prayers while she was still on this earth, if you think of all they know of her now that they are with her in Heaven, it is easy to imagine that they, our first Magesterium, would entirely approve the wording of the Memorare.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE POSTINGS…
My question wasn’t about Pray to or asking Mother Mary to Pray for me… Can we call her St. Mary too, BTW? … but the words of the prayers, standing before Mary and saying I am a sinner and in your mercy hear and answer me…

It was good to read what you said EasterJoy.

I just took it as we are standing before Mary like standing before God, a sinner… and Mary is judging me, even though i know only God is to judge. The in thy mercy (which i think you or someone else also mentioned) is to be give out by all people. But i took that she is all merciful or something, like God, and that Mary answers me, like God, put together standing before her, to make her “God”… at least somewhat in my own mind enough to be a little bit uncomfortable. But after reading all the posts, it seems to make better sense.
**
We can stand before anyone and tell them we are a sinner and sorrowful, ask anyone for mercy… the “answer me” part throws me off a little bit, but I believe God answers us through Mary’s intercession, right? … So Mary is not answering me or Mary answering me is answering me by interceding for me?**

I have heard Mary gives out grace as part of her role, when we offer up our suffering as redemptive suffering, not sure if true?

Thank you ALL for all of your help! God Bless You! Brian

 

[GodHeals]

This is from Lumen Gentium; I highly recommend reading the entire chapter on the subject of Our Lady:

The entire body of the faithful pours forth instant supplications to the Mother of God and Mother of men that she, who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers, may now, exalted as she is above all the angels and saints

Side question, Is only Mary above the Angels or all humans above the Angels? I think we humans are below the Angels (they are more powerful) and that is why Satan fell, partly at least?, because He didn’t want to serve humans that are below him?

So how did Mary, a human, become higher than the Angels, and where do we first hear of it?

Thank you for your help!
Brian

 

[RKO]

We ONLY ever ask Mary to have mercy on us by interceding for us before God, even though we don’t deserve it. That’s where the mercy comes in. same as if I say something offensive about your father and ask you to have mercy and forgive me for that. 1 of God’s creations to another. Nothing that is reserved to God alone.

As for the ranking of Mary Humans and angels, I know she is Queen of heaven and queen of the Angels. I do not know how we stack up to angels. I suspect they outrank us, maybe. Hopefully someone else has a better answer…

And yes, you can call her Saint Mary. Catholics often don’t because of the relationship between Mary and her children is very personal and close. AAt least I suspect that’s why you don’t hear “St. Mary” a lot, even though it is perfectly ok. She is a saint, if there EVER was one!

 

[Robyn_p]

Side question, Is only Mary above the Angels or all humans above the Angels? I think we humans are below the Angels (they are more powerful) and that is why Satan fell, partly at least?, because He didn’t want to serve humans that are below him?

So how did Mary, a human, become higher than the Angels, and where do we first hear of it?

Thank you for your help!
Brian

Well, of all creatures, humans or angels, Mary is the only one to give birth to God. She’s not higher than the angels by nature, but through grace because she has the most intimate relationship with God than anyone.

As for are we higher than the angels, not sure. Don’t think so. But St. Paul does say in 1 Corinthians 5 or 6 that we are to judge angels…but I think he means fallen angels. That’s a good question though!

IMO, and this is just me, you don’t have to agree. But I would say we are more blessed than the angels. In so far as God didn’t become an angel, he became a man, and we get to experience the mercy of God in a way that the angels don’t. But I don’t think that makes us higher necessarily. It just means we need a lot more help!!

Anyway that’s just me, hope that’s a help!