# Mary's birthday and the prayer to the Virgin Mary of Loreto
*2015-09-08*

> In honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bill Young leads a devotion centered on the prayer to Our Lady of Loreto.

## Celebrating the Nativity of Mary

Today is Tuesday, September 8, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is Mary's birthday, and to mark this occasion, we are reciting the prayer to the Virgin Mary of Loreto. This specific prayer is traditionally recited at midday on March 25th, August 15th, September 8th, and December 10th.

## The Prayer to Our Lady of Loreto

O Mary of Loreto, Glorious, we approach you with confidence and ask that you accept this humble prayer of ours. Humanity is now greatly troubled by grave evils from which it would like to be freed. It needs peace, justice, truth, and love, yet it often believes it can find these realities far from your Son, O Mother.

You carried the divine Savior in your most precious womb and lived with him in the Holy House, which we venerate on this hill of Loreto. Grant us the grace to seek him and to imitate his example, which leads to salvation. Through faith and love, we come spiritually to your blessed home. Because of the presence of your family, it is the supreme, holy home by which we want all Christian families to be inspired.

## Intercessions for the Family

From Jesus, may every son learn how to obey and to work. O Mary, may all women learn humility and a spirit of sacrifice from you. From Joseph, who lived for you and for Jesus, may all men learn to believe in God and to live justly and faithfully in the family and in society.

Many families, O Mary, are not sanctuaries where God is loved and served. Grant, therefore, we pray, that each family may imitate yours, recognizing your divine Son in their daily life and loving him above all things.

## A Call for Universal Grace

Just as Jesus left his holy house to proclaim his word, which is light and life, may the echo of that power enlighten and convert all people. We pray to you, O Mary, for the Universal Church, for Italy, for all people of earth, for ecclesiastical and civil institutions, for the suffering, and for sinners, so that everyone may become disciples of God.

On this day of grace, united to the faithful, we venerate the Holy House where you were overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. With lively faith, we repeat the words of the Archangel Gabriel: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

## Closing Devotions

We conclude with the Hail Holy Queen: 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 toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Our Lady of Loreto, pray for me. Our Lady of Loreto, protect me. Our Lady of Loreto, heal me. Our Lady of Loreto, take care of my children. Our Lady of Loreto, ease my sufferings. Our Lady of Loreto, intercede for me. Our Lady of Loreto, protect my dear ones. Our Lady of Loreto, assist me in the hour of death. Amen.

*By imitating the Holy Family of Loreto, our own families can become sanctuaries where God is loved and served.*