"Pray for us, Holy Mother of God!": A Beautiful Prayer for the Immaculate Conception Written by Pope Francis

Did you know that Pope Francis wrote a prayer for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception?

It’s absolutely beautiful, and perfect for this time of year. (But you can definitely pray it at any time!)

The prayer was actually recited in front of the Spanish Steps at the Piazza Spagna in Rome on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016 as an “Act of Veneration to the Immaculate Conception.”

Although it is not always the same prayer, this tribute is held every year. (See photos at the bottom of this article.)

Although the first paragraph of the prayer below is specific to our Pope and his location, you can reword the prayer to apply to you. Or you can just pray for our our Pope!

Here’s the prayer:

O Mary, our Immaculate Mother,
On your feast day I come to you,
And I come not alone:
I bring with me all those with whom your Son entrusted to me,
In this city of Rome and in the entire world,
That you may bless them and preserve them from harm.

I bring to you, Mother, children,
Especially those who are alone, abandoned,
And for this reason are tricked and exploited.

I bring to you, Mother, families,
Who carry forward life and society
With their daily and hidden efforts;
In a special way the families who struggle the most
For their many internal and external problems.

I bring to you, Mother, all workers, both men and women,
And I entrust to you especially those who, out of need,
Are forced to work in an unworthy profession
And those who have lost work or are unable to find it.

We are in need of your immaculate gaze,
To rediscover the ability to look upon persons and things
With respect and awareness,
Without egotistical or hypocritical interests.

We are in need of your Immaculate Heart,
To love freely,
Without secondary aims, but seeking the good of the other,
With simplicity and sincerity, renouncing masks and tricks.

We are in need of your immaculate hands,
To caress with tenderness,
To touch the flesh of Jesus
In our poor, sick, or despised brethren,
To raise up those who have fallen and support those who waver.

We are in need of your immaculate feet,
To go toward those who know not how to make the first step,
To walk on the paths of those who are lost,
To find those who feel alone.

We thank you, O Mother, because in showing yourself to us
You free us of all stain of sin;
You remind us that what comes first is the grace of God,
The love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us,
The strength of the Holy Spirit which renews all things.

Let us not give in to discouragement,
But, trusting in your constant help,
Let us engage ourselves fully in renewal of self,
Of this city and of the entire world.
Pray for us, Holy Mother of God!

Here’s some photos from Pope Francis’ 2017 Veneration of the Immaculate Conception:

Daniel Ibañez / ChurchPop

Here’s the prayer:

Here’s some photos from Pope Francis’ 2017 Veneration of the Immaculate Conception:

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!