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Madonna della Misericordia, ora pro nobis
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September 24th is the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom, also called Our Lady of Mercy (Madonna della Misericordia). The Feast commemorates the founding of the Mercedarians, a mendicant Order devoted to the redemption of Christian slaves in Africa seized by Moslem reavers. Originally celebrated by the friars on August 1st (the night the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Peter Nolasco, prompting him to found the order in 1218) the Feast was eventually extended to the entire Church by Pope Innocent XII and observed on September 24th. The Order is credited with rescuing 70,000 slaves taken from Europe by the Saracens. In celebration, we're posting a Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy by Saint Augustine. The accompanying photo was taken at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn during the 2015 Festa di Maria SS. della Misericordia, Patroness of Fontanarosa, Avellino. Evviva Madonna della Misericordia!
Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy
Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.
Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
