Mother, help our faith!

San Alfonso Retreat House, NJ

Mary of the tents, Iraqui Christian's refugee camp

watching over Santiago de Chile

Pastoral Center, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

I don't remember if I've shared this with you before, so here's hoping and praying it be new to you (in some form) today!

This beautiful prayer was introduced to the world by Pope Francis on June 29, 2013, the first year of his pontificate. It was the final prayer in Lumen Fidei [The Light of Faith], his first encyclical letter as pope. 

Chartres Cathedral, crypt church

Sainte-Mère-Eglise, France

I prayed with these words this morning, and it occurs to me that if you haven't discovered it already, some of you may appreciate it as well.

I've included with it here some of my (current!) favorite images of Mother Mary--and I've tried to label where they're from.

on the side of the road, near Sorrento, Italy

door of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, OkCity

Let us turn in prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of our faith.

Mother, help our faith! 

Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call. 

Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land and to receive his promise. 
Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith. 
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature. 
Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One. 
Remind us that those who believe are never alone. 
Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path.
And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!

Ephesus, Turkey

Finisterre, Spain

Antigua, Guatemala

watching over the town of Agropoli, on the Italian Amalfi coast