Over 800 years ago, Christians were captured and sold into slavery by the Muslims. St. John of Matha founded the Trinitarians for the purpose of going to the slave markets, purchasing the slaves, and setting them free. Of course, the Trinitarians needed substantial funds for this; and they placed their fundraising under the patronage of Mary. Their efforts were extremely successful; and St. John, with the approval of the Church, honored Our Lady with the new title “Our Lady of Good Remedy.” (Often an image of Our Lady of Good Remedy shows her handing a bag of money to St. John of Matha.)
Frequently we need a remedy for whatever problem we’re facing. It might be financial, as with the Trinitarians; but it could be a myriad of other issues. Whatever you’re going through, turn to our loving Mother, Our Lady of Good Remedy, and ask her to help you find a remedy for the situation, no matter how complicated or hopeless it seems.
Before we present the special prayer to Our Lady of Good Remedy, let’s talk a little about Our Lady and devotion to her:
First, some words of wisdom by St. Louis de Montfort:
“If I were asked by someone seeking to honor Our Lady, ‘What does genuine devotion to her involve?’, I would answer briefly that it consists in a full appreciation of the privileges and dignity of Our Lady; in expressing our gratitude for her goodness to us; in zealously promoting devotion to her; in constantly appealing for her help; in being completely dependent on her; and in placing firm reliance and loving confidence in her motherly goodness.”
“[True devotion to Our Lady] is trustful, that is to say, it fills us with confidence in the Blessed Virgin, the confidence that a child has for its loving Mother. It prompts us to go to her in every need of body and soul with great simplicity, trust and affection. We implore our Mother’s help always, everywhere, and for everything. We pray to her to be enlightened in our doubts, to be put back on the right path when we go astray, to be protected when we are tempted, to be strengthened when we are weakening, to be lifted up when we fall into sin, to be encouraged when we are losing heart, to be rid of our scruples, to be consoled in the trials, crosses and disappointments of life. Finally, in all our afflictions of body and soul, we naturally turn to Mary for help, with never a fear of importuning her or displeasing our Lord.”
“St. Thomas [Aquinas] assures us that, following the order established by his divine Wisdom, God ordinarily imparts his graces to men through Mary. Therefore, if we wish to go to him, seeking union with him, we must use the same means which he used in coming down from heaven to assume our human nature and to impart his graces to us. That means was a complete dependence on Mary his Mother, which is true devotion to her.”
Let’s listen to the wisdom of some other saints:
“O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity” (Saint Basil the Great).
“If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you” (Saint John Vianney).
“If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon our Lady; just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit, this prayer has never failed me” (Saint Teresa of Calcutta).
“Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence” (Saint Francis de Sales).
“Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination” (Saint Bernard).
Now let us ask the powerful motherly intercession of our dear Mother Mary, Our Lady of Good Remedy:
Novena to Our Lady of Good Remedy
O Queen of heaven and earth, Most Holy Virgin, we venerate thee. Thou art the beloved Daughter of the Most High God, the chosen Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Sacred Vessel of the Most Holy Trinity.
O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under the title of Our Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who call upon thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on thee, dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender and caring mother.
Hail Mary…
O Lady of Good Remedy, source of unfailing help, grant that we may draw from thy treasury of graces in our time of need.
Touch the hearts of sinners, that they may seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Bring comfort to the afflicted and the lonely; help the poor and the hopeless; aid the sick and the suffering. May they be healed in body and strengthened in spirit to endure their sufferings with patient resignation and Christian fortitude.
Hail Mary…
Dear Lady of Good Remedy, source of unfailing help, thy compassionate heart knows a remedy for every affliction and misery we encounter in life. Help me with thy prayers and intercession to find a remedy for my problems and needs, especially for (mention your special intentions here).
On my part, O loving Mother, I pledge myself to a more intensely Christian lifestyle, to a more careful observance of the laws of God, to be more conscientious in fulfilling the obligations of my state in life, and to strive to be a source of healing in this broken world of ours.
Dear Lady of Good Remedy, be ever present to me, and through thy intercession, may I enjoy health of body and peace of mind, and grow stronger in the faith and in the love of thy Son, Jesus.
Hail Mary…
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of Good Remedy,
R. That we may deepen our dedication to thy Son, and make the world alive with His Spirit.
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