(Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, 1674) (link)

Feast Day · January 1

Mary

Patron ofAll Humanity, Mothers, Virgins, The Church

SituationsGrief, Motherhood, Pregnancy, Purity

ProfessionsMothers, Religious

Why this patronage

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of all humanity, and in a special way of mothers and of virgins, because in her these two states meet as in no other creature: she is at once the Virgin who said “yes” to the angel and the Mother who bore the Son of God, so that virgins look to her purity and mothers to her motherhood. She is patroness of the whole Church because from the Cross her Son gave her to the beloved disciple, and through him to all the faithful, as their mother (John 19:26-27). Mothers in pregnancy and the grieving turn to her especially — to her who carried Christ in her womb and stood beneath his Cross. Under her countless titles she is invoked across the whole world.

Life

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, is the most venerated saint in the Catholic Church. Chosen by God to bear His Son Jesus Christ, she said “yes” to the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation. Her life of faith, humility, and obedience is the model for all Christians. She is honored under many titles and her intercession is sought throughout the world.

Prayer

Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) (Salve Regina)

Salve, Regína, Mater misericórdiae,

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,

Sei gegrüßt, o Königin, Mutter der Barmherzigkeit,

Dios te salve, Reina y Madre de misericordia,

Salut, ô Reine, Mère de miséricorde,

vita, dulcédo et spes nostra, salve.

our life, our sweetness and our hope.

unser Leben, unsere Wonne und unsere Hoffnung, sei gegrüßt!

vida, dulzura y esperanza nuestra, Dios te salve.

notre vie, notre douceur et notre espérance, salut !

Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Hevae.

To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

Zu dir rufen wir verbannte Kinder Evas.

A ti llamamos los desterrados hijos de Eva.

Vers vous nous élevons nos cris, pauvres enfants d'Ève exilés.

Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes

To you do we send up our sighs,

Zu dir seufzen wir trauernd und weinend

A ti suspiramos gimiendo y llorando

Vers vous nous soupirons, gémissant et pleurant

in hac lacrimárum valle.

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

in diesem Tal der Tränen.

en este valle de lágrimas.

dans cette vallée de larmes.

Eia ergo, advocáta nostra,

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

Wohlan denn, unsere Fürsprecherin,

Ea, pues, Señora, abogada nuestra,

Ô vous, notre avocate,

illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte.

your eyes of mercy toward us.

wende deine barmherzigen Augen uns zu.

vuelve a nosotros esos tus ojos misericordiosos.

tournez vers nous vos regards miséricordieux.

Et Iesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui,

And after this our exile,

Und nach diesem Elend

Y después de este destierro

Et après cet exil,

nobis post hoc exsílium osténde.

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

zeige uns Jesus, die gebenedeite Frucht deines Leibes.

muéstranos a Jesús, fruto bendito de tu vientre.

montrez-nous Jésus, le fruit béni de vos entrailles.

O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo María.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

O gütige, o milde, o süße Jungfrau Maria.

Oh clemente, oh piadosa, oh dulce Virgen María.

Ô clémente, ô miséricordieuse, ô douce Vierge Marie.

— Attributed to Hermann of Reichenau, 11th century