OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP - CHAPLET
The Chaplet of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of my most favorite devotional prayers to the Blessed Mother. It is typically prayed using a rosary but you can certainly use a chotki or your fingers to keep track, as I sometimes do. An online search of this chaplet will lead to variations but the below is the version that I pray.
Using the crucifix, make the sign of the cross:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Holding the crucifix, pray:
Please remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy Protection, implored Thy Help, or sought Thy 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 Clemency, hear and answer me. Amen
Starting with the medal or large central bead, pray:
O Mother of Perpetual Help,
Please listen to my pleading soul,
You can help us in our needs,
Mary, with hope, I call on you.
On each of the 10 smaller beads, pray:
O Mary, help us!
At the completion of each decade, on the large bead, pray:
Mary you have helped us,
Mary you want to help us,
Mary you can help us
Please, Mary, will you help us.
Followed by:
O Mother of Perpetual Help,
Please listen to my pleading soul,
You can help us in our needs,
Mary, with hope, I call on you.
Repeat this sequence a total of 5 times (once for every decade).
After the final decade, on the large bead that is located just after the medal/central bead, pray:
Mary you have helped us,
Mary you want to help us,
Mary you can help us
Please, Mary, will you help us.
On each of the three small beads, pray one Hail Mary:
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou amongst 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
On the last large bead, just ahead of the crucifix, pray:
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Upon completing the Chaplet, holding the crucifix, say the following prayer:
We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions but in Thy Clemency, hear and answer us.
End with the sign of the cross:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
~ ~ ~
Some of the things I like about this devotion are that I quickly memorized it without much effort, so I can easily pray it at anytime by rote; it can be done without a rosary; it goes fast, even with thoughtful contemplation; it is simple to fit in to my day or activities; I can personalize it by substituting “us” (as in “Oh Mary help us”) for anything – a person’s name, a group, a situation. Finally, I find it to be a very powerful prayer that is, at the same time, soothing to the soul – the Blessed Mother is always so Gracious, responding with action and peace.
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