The Three New Invocations Added to the Litany of Loreto
I had a high when I got an update on WhatsApp. Pope Francis had added three more invocations to the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s that high you get when you really like someone.
What are these Invocations? These invocations in Latin are “Mater misericordiae,” “Mater spei,” and “Solacium migrantium”. Their corresponding meanings are; Mother of Mercy, Mother of Hope, and Solace of Migrants. These are not new invocations in the church's history. They have been inserted into the prayer of the current litany in keeping with the realities of our time.
When were they inserted? They made these additions known in a letter on the feast of the Immaculate Heart on June 20, 2020. This letter was addressed to the presidents of bishops’ conferences worldwide. Cardinal Robert Sarah made this known on behalf of the pope. He is the prefect of the Congregation for the Divine Liturgy. He is also the perfect of the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Why bother? Archbishop Roche, the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, explained these invocations. He said they were a response “to the realities of the time that we are living”. He told the Vatican News that many people across the world are invoking the Blessed Virgin. They do this because of the many afflictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. They are being forced from their homes because of poverty, conflict, and other reasons.
An excerpt from the letter: “We know from the Gospel that the disciples of Jesus had in fact learned from the very beginning to praise her as “blessed amongst women” and to count on her maternal intercession.
The titles and invocations which Christian piety has reserved for the Virgin Mary over the course of the centuries, as the privileged and sure way to an encounter with Christ, are innumerable. Even in this present moment which is marked by feelings of uncertainty and trepidation, devout recourse to her, which is full of affection and trust, is deeply felt by the People of God.”
Where are they inserted in the current litany? The invocation, “Mother of mercy” is to be inserted after “Mother of the Church”, “Mother of hope” after “Mother of Divine Grace” and “Solace of migrants” after “Refuge of sinners”. Here is a link to the complete litany; https://www.romereports.com/en/2020/06/20/full-litany-of-blessed-virgin-mary-after-new-titles-introduced-by-pope-francis/
Are these additions first of its kind? The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also known as the litany of Loreto. It derives this name from the Marian shrine of Loreto in Italy, where it is thought to have been used as far back as 1531. The litany was approved in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V. He suppressed all other Marian litanies used publicly [they could be used in private devotions]. He approved the Litany of Loreto as the only approved Marian litany.
Through the years, at least 7 new invocations to Mary were added. Saint Pope John Paul II added, “Mother of the Church” in 1980, and “Queen of families” in 1995. Pope Francis has now added three more.
Final Thoughts: The Litany of Loreto is an all-time favorite prayer of the people of God. It has been made even richer by these new invocations. When prayer conveys people’s realities with depth and substance, what more could we ask for?
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