VATICAN: Pope Francis Adds Three Invocations to Litany of Blessed Virgin Mary
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Pope Francis on Saturday, June 20, added three titles to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as the Litany of Loreto.
“The Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, wishes to provide that in the formulary of the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called “The Litany of Loreto,” the invocations “Mater Misericordia” (Mother of Mercy), “Mater Spei” (Mother of Hope) and “Solacium Migrantium” (Comfort of Migrants) should be inserted,” Prefect of the Congregation for the Divine Liturgy and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Robert Cardinal Sarah and the Secretary, Archbishop Arthur Roche, said in a letter addressed to the Presidents of Conferences of Bishops.
In the co-signed letter, the Church leaders explained that “Mother of mercy” should be inserted after Mother of the Church, “Mother of hope” should be added after Mother of divine grace, and “Comfort of migrants,” should follow refuge of sinners.
Since the approval of the Litany of Loreto by Pope Sixtus V in 1587, other Popes have added invocations to the Marian Litany which is commonly recited after praying the Rosary.
“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,” the Church leaders noted in their letter has released on the day the Church commemorated the memorial of Immaculate Heart of Mary.
“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,” they added.
Cardinal Sarah and Archbishop Roche said, “The Church which walks along the pathways of history as a pilgrim towards the heavenly Jerusalem and enjoys inseparable communion with Christ her Spouse and Saviour, entrusts herself to her who believed in the word of the Lord.”
They added, “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.”
