Prayers for all Occasions, Needs, and Intentions

Prayers and Devotions To The Blessed Virgin Mary

A collection of beautiful prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Angelic Salute to Mary

The Holy Angels in Heaven salute thee most Blessed Virgin with the Hail Mary. For they are fully aware that through it, reparation was made for the fallen angel's sin, God was made man and the world was renewed. Amen.

Ave Maria

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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. 

O Queen of Heaven

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven! Alleluia. 
He whom thou wast fit to bear, alleluia.
As He promised, hath arisen, alleluia.
Pour for us to God thy prayer, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
For the Lord hath risen indeed, alleluia!

Hail Star of the Sea

Hail, thou star of Ocean, Portal of the sky, Ever Virgin Mother, Of the Lord most high.

O by Gabriel's Ave uttered long ago Eva's name reversing, Peace confirm below.

Break the captive's fetters, Light on blindness pour; Chase all evils from us, Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother, offer Him our sighs, Who for us incarnate did not thee despise.

Virgin all excelling, passing meek and lowly, freed from guilt preserve us blameless chaste and holy.

Still as on our journey help our weak endeavor till we gaze on Jesus and rejoice forever.

Father, Son and Spirit, Thee in one confessing give we equal glory equal praise and blessing. Amen. 

To Our Lady, Queen of Angels

August Queen of Heaven! Sovereign Mistress of the angels! Thou who from the beginning hast received from God the power and mission to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech thee to send thy holy Legions, that, under thy command and by thy power, they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them hence
into the abyss of eternal woe. Amen. 

The Angelus (traditionally said at 6, 12 and 6 o'clock.)

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy Word.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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. 

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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. 

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, Your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ 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.

Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Prayer to Our Lady, assumed into heaven

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we offer you our devotion and love. We are confident that you watch over our daily efforts and needs, and we take comfort from our faith in the coming resurrection. We look to you, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen. 

Prayer to the Mother of God (by the monk Paul)

O chaste and spotless Virgin! O Lady never touched by blame, corruption, or defilement! O Bride of Christ! You gave birth to the Word of God in a glorious and mysterious way, uniting Him to mankind and linking our apostate nature to the divine. You are the only hope, the prompt help of every Christian who seeks your refuge. Though I have often defiled myself with all sorts of impurities, words, deeds, or thoughts, though slothfulness has enslaved me to lust, though I often find myself weighed down by despair and depression, do not despise me. Rather, since you are the Mother of God and full of love for us, in your compassion pity me, prodigal sinner that I am, and accept this prayer which I offer to you with these impure lips. 

With boldness that only a mother could manifest, beg your Son, our Lord and Master, to open to me His deep and tender loving mercy. Entreat Him to disregard my numberless sins. Ask Him to lead me to repentance, so that I may become His friend and follower, always conscious of His commandments and ready to observe them. In your compassion, stay with me always, you who are so tender of heart! In this life, ever intercede for me fervently, ever be at my side to repel the onslaughts of my enemies, ever ready to lead me to salvation. At the moment of my death, embrace my sorry soul, and drive off the sinister forms of the evil spirits. 

On that awesome day of judgment, rescue me from eternal torment, and reveal me as an heir of that indescribable glory of your Son. O my Lady, O holy Mother of God! May I deserve this through your intercession and mediation, through the grace and love for mankind of your holy Son, +our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, who deserves all glory, honor and worship, with His eternal Father, and His all-holy Spirit, now and forever, and ever. Amen. 

Mary, Help of Those in Need

Holy Mary, help those in need, give strength to the weak, comfort the sorrowful, pray for God's people, assist the clergy, intercede for religious. 

Mary all who seek your help experience your unfailing protection. Amen. 

Prayer for hope (said on Saturdays, Mondays and especially on First Saturdays).

Immaculate Queen of the Most Holy Rosary and of Good Salvation, hear our prayers which we pour forth to thee. Teach me to love, to forgive and to obey the good will of others. Do not forsake our petitions. I know you are the Immaculate Conception, born without the stain of sin. Through your powerful intercession, grant us the grace to love, to serve the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. 

Hail Mary of Gold (Revealed to St. Gertrude the Great by the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Hail Mary, White Lily of the Glorious and always-serene Trinity. Hail brilliant Rose of the Garden of heavenly delights. O, You, by whom God wanted to be born, and by whose milk the King of Heaven wanted to be nourished! Nourish our souls with effusions of divine grace. Amen.

At the hour when the soul which has thus greeted me quits the body, I'll appear to them in such splendid beauty that they'll taste, to their great consolation, something of the joys of Paradise. 

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, what ineffable power Thy divine Son hath given Thee over His own adorable Heart. Full of trust in Thy merits, we come before Thee and beg Thy protection. O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus, that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces, which Thou may 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. (mention request)

We can never, never be refused by Thee, and since Thou art our Mother, O our Lady of the Sacred Heart, graciously hear our prayers and grant our request. Amen. 

Prayer to Mary, Mother of Grace (composed by Saint Athanasius)

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. Amen.

Prayer to Mary, Queen of Peace

Most holy and immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our loving Mother, being His Mother, you shared in His universal kingship. The prophets and angels proclaimed Him King of Peace. With loving fervor in our hearts we salute and honor you as Queen of peace.

We pray that your intercession may protect us and all people from hated and discord, and direct our hearts into the ways of peace and justice which your Son taught and exemplified. We ask your maternal care for our Holy Father who works to reconcile the nations in peace. We seek your guidance for our President and other leaders as they strive for world peace.

Glorious Queen of peace, grant us peace in our hearts, harmony in our families and concord throughout the world. Immaculate Mother, as patroness of our beloved country, watch over us and protect us with your motherly love. Amen.

Prayer to Our Lady of Bistrica

Immaculate Mother of Jesus, we honor You as God's chosen one, beautiful, beloved, and free from all sin. Keep watch over us, pray that we may rise above our sins and failings and come to share the fullness of grace. Be a Mother to us in the order of grace by assisting us to live your obedience, your faith, your hope and your love. Amen. 

Prayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa (Our Lady of Perpetual Help)

O Mother of God, Immaculate Mary, to Thee do I dedicate my body and soul, all my prayers and deeds, my joys and sufferings, all that I am an all that I have. With a joyful heart I surrender myself to Thy love. To Thee will I devote my services of my own free will for the salvation of mankind, and for the help of the Holy Church whose Mother Thou art.

From now on my only desire is to do all things with Thee, through Thee, and for Thee. I know I can accomplish nothing by my own strength, whereas You can do everything that is the will of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. You are always victorious. Grant, therefore, O Helper of the Faithful, that my family, my parish, and my country might become in truth the Kingdom where Thou reignest in the glorious presence God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Mary, Mother of God

O Mary, Mother of God as You are above all creatures in Heaven and Earth, more glorious than the Cherubim, more noble than any here below, Christ has given You to His people, firm bulwark and Protectress, to shield and save sinners who fly unto You.

Therefore O Lady, all embracing refuge, we solemnly recall Your sweet protection, and beg Christ forever for His mercy. Amen. 

Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke Thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying. O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let Your 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 Your sacred name, Mary, Mary. O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fills 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.

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help for a Particular Intention 

O Mother of Perpetual Help! With the greatest of confidence I approach you to implore your aid. You have seen the wounds of your Son and His blood shed for our salvation. You know how He desires our salvation. Because of this, I kneel before you and beseech you to obtain for me the mercy of which I stand in such great need. O Mary, most amiable among women, obtain the favor I seek from Jesus, the source of all good. (mention request) 

O Mother of Perpetual Help, you desire our salvation more than we ourselves do. Your Son has given you to be our mother, and you have chosen for yourself the name: Mother of Perpetual Help. I do not trust in my own merits, but in your powerful intercession. I trust in your goodness and in your motherly love. For the love that you have for Jesus, your Son, and my Savior, for the love of the souls faithful to you, and for the sake of your love for my soul, obtain for me all the graces and favors I ask of you. Amen. 

Prayer to Our Lady, Help of Christians

Mary, powerful Virgin, You are the mighty and glorious protector of the Church. You are the marvelous help of Christians. You are awe inspiring as an army in battle array. In the midst of our anguish, struggle, and distress, defend us from the power of the enemy, and at the hour of hour death, receive our soul in Heaven. Amen.

Mary, Queen of Missions

Holy Mary, Our Mother, today, each day and in our last hour, we entrust ourselves entirely to Your loving and singular care. We place in Your hands our entire hope and happiness, our every anxiety and difficulty, our whole lives.

May our every endeavor be directed and guided according to the Will of Your Son, which is Your wish, by the aid of Your prayer and special favor with God. Amen. 

Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel

Most Glorious Virgin, you were chosen by the eternal Counsel to be the Mother of the Eternal Word made flesh. You are the treasurer of divine graces and the advocate of sinners. I who am your most unworthy servant have recourse to Thee. Graciously be my guide and counselor in this valley of tears.

Obtain for me, through the Precious Blood of your Divine Son, the forgiveness of my sins, the salvation of my soul, and the means necessary to obtain it. In like manner, obtain for the Holy Church victory over Her enemies and the spread of Jesus' kingdom over the whole earth. Amen. 

Prayer of St. Aloysius to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Holy Mary, my Mistress, into Thy blessed trust and special keeping, into the bosom of Thy tender mercy, this day, every day of my life and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body; to Thee I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that through Thy most holy intercession and thy merits, all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to Thy will and that of Thy Divine Son. Amen.

(Indulgence, 3 years; plenary under usual conditions, for one month's recitation)

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparations for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular, for the intentions recommended this month by the Holy Father. Amen.

To Spend the Day Well

My dear and sweet Mother Mary, Co-Redemptrix of the human race, keep me in Your holy protection. Guard my mind, my heart and my senses, that I be not stained by sin.

Sanctify my thoughts, desires, words, and actions, that I may please You and Your Jesus, my God, and gain paradise with You. Jesus and Mary, give me Your most holy blessing. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen. 

The Devotion of the Three Hail Mary's

This devotion consists in saying three Hail Mary's followed by the invocation:

"O Mary, my good Mother, deliver me from sin this day (or night). Amen."

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

In January 1979, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in the first year of his pontificate, made the first of a long series of pastoral visits. He went to Mexico and presided over the Conference in Puebla. He visited the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the new Basilica built in her honor. There, in the presence of all the bishops of America, the Holy Father addressed this prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church! You, who from this place revealed your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection; hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer. 

Mother of mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities, and our sorrows. 

Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our people; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are, our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church: hold us always with your loving hand. 

Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, we pray to you for all the bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. 

Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole People of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God's mysteries. 

Grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love, protect our families, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of our children.

Our hope, look upon us with compassion, teach us to go continually to Jesus and, if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to him, by means of the Confession of our faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul. We beg you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth. 

Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in our conscience, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Kolbe 

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has will to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (mention name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you. 

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world." Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin. 

R. Give me strength against your enemies.

Prayer to Our Lady Immaculate 

Most holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on the wretched who implore thy powerful patronage. The wicked serpent, against whom was hurled the first curse, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. 

Do thou, then, O Blessed Mother, our queen and advocate, who from the first instant of thy conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive the prayers which, united with thee in our single heart, we implore thee to present at the throne of God, that we may never fall into the snares which are laid out for us, and may all arrive at the port of salvation; and, in so many dangers, may the Church and Christian society sing once again the hymn of deliverance and of victory and of peace. Amen.

Ave Maris Stella 

Hail, Star of the sea! Blessed Mother of God, yet ever a virgin! O happy gate of heaven! thou that didst receive the Ave from Gabriel's lips, confirm us in peace, and so let Eva be changed into an Ave of blessing for us. 

Loose the sinner's chains, bring light to the blind, drive from us our evils, and ask all good things for us. Show thyself a mother, and offer our prayers to him, who would be born of thee, when born for us. 

O incomparable Virgin, and meekest Or the meek, obtain us the forgiveness of our sins, and make us meek and chaste. Obtain us purity of life, and a safe pilgrimage; that we may be united with thee in the blissful vision of Jesus. 

Praise be to God the Father and to the Lord Jesus, and to the Holy Ghost: to the Three one self-same praise. Amen. 

V. Hail Mary, full of grace, alleluia. 

R. The Lord is with thee, alleluia.

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes 

O ever Immaculate Virgin Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings, deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. 

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory. Amen.

Prayer to Prevent One Mortal Sin 

O Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, we beseech thee, offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, to prevent at least one mortal sin from being committed somewhere in the world today. Amen.

Just imagine what a service to God and souls it would be to recite this prayer every day of the year.