# Prayer #1: O Mary, Mother of Divine Grace
*2015-08-22*

> Bill Young opens a marathon of Marian prayers on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, beginning with a prayer by St. John Paul II entrusting a new spring of vocations to Mary.

## Opening the Marian Marathon

Good morning. This is Bill Young, and welcome to the Prayer & Lunch podcast. Today, Saturday, August 22, we celebrate the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. I’m beginning a special marathon of prayers to Mary, posting a new prayer each hour so we’ll have at least twenty‑four prayers today. Please join me in this dedication to Mary, asking her to hear us and protect us, especially as we travel to Washington, D.C. next month with Pope Francis and all the clergy.

## First Prayer: O Mary, Mother of Divine Grace

The first prayer, offered at midnight, is titled “O Mary, Mother of Divine Grace” and was composed by St. Pope John Paul II. It begins:

“I entrust the new spring of vocations to Mary, Mother of Divine Grace.”

The accompanying reflection says:

“Let the whole body of the faithful pour forth persevering prayer to the Mother of God and Mother of men. Let them implore that she, who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers, may now, exalted as she is in heaven above all the saints and angels, intercede with her Son for all the saints. May she obtain that the peoples of the human family—whether they are already called Christians or still do not know their Savior—be gathered together in peace and harmony as one People of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and undivided Trinity.”

This text is drawn from the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium, §69).

## The Prayer Itself

We turn to you, Mother of the Church, you who, by your fiat, opened the door to the presence of Christ in the world, in history and in souls. Accept, in humble silence, our most perfect willingness to call upon the Most High. Grant, once again in our time, that many men and women may hear the invitation of your Son, “Follow me.” Grant them the courage to leave their families, occupations, and worldly hopes in order to follow Christ along the path He indicates.

Stretch out your maternal hand to all the missions and apostolates throughout the world—religious brothers and sisters caring for the elderly, the sick, the handicapped, and orphans; teachers in secular institutions who bear witness to God’s deeds; and those in cloistered orders who live by faith and love, interceding for the salvation of the world. Amen.

## Conclusion

God bless you all. This is the first prayer in our Marian marathon. May the Queenship of Mary inspire us to persevere in prayer and to seek vocations for the Church.

*May Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, bring forth a new spring of vocations for the Church.*