Some of the pope’s most heartfelt requests of his Mother

Above all, Mother, show us Jesus, and teach us to do what He tells us.

On May 8, Argentina celebrates the solemnity of Our Lady of Luján, the country’s patroness. This month of May is a good opportunity to look back to some of the prayers of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio—now Pope Francis—during homilies on the feast day and pilgrimages to the shrine of Luján. Here are some of those prayers, somewhat adapted and abridged.

Live as brothers

Mother, teach us to take care of each other, just as you take care of us. We come to you to express this need—not a desire, but a need. Mother, we need to live as brothers. And so, we ask you to uproot all the weeds of discord, envy, hate, and violence that could be in our hearts. We ask you for the grace of remembering how to live as brothers. We ask you, Mother of Grace, to teach us to care for one another, because we are Your flesh and blood.

October 1, 2006

May all be loved

Mother, we want a country with room for everyone. May there not be “superfluous,” excluded, or exploited people. May no one be disregarded or scorned. May hate never grow among us. May the bitter, fatal weed of resentment never take root in our heart. We are in your hands; never let go of us. We know in whom we have placed our trust.

October 3, 2010

Help us to take care of life

Beloved Mother, we pray to you for all your children. May they not be left alone and abandoned; may they always find a place in your home … We ask you to help us imitate you, caring for every life. May we learn to be silent, so we can contemplate—as you do—your children, who are our brothers. May we, who are here in your house, consecrate ourselves to you once again, so that we may never be lacking in your love, that love that takes care of every life.

Mother, help us to take care of life. All together, three times, may we ask you: “Mother, help us to care for life. Mother, help us to care for life. Mother, help us to care for life.”

Consecration of the city

Dear Virgin of Luján, our Mother, I consecrate this city and every one of your children to your Immaculate Heart. You know us well, and we know that you love us very much. I ask you to look upon each and every one of us. I pray to you for every family in this city. I pray for our children and our elderly; for our sick; for those who are alone; for those who are in prison; for those who are hungry and those who don’t have a job. I pray for those who have lost hope; for those without faith. I also pray to you for those who govern us, and for those who teach. Mother, I ask you to care for all of us with tenderness, and to share your strength with us. We are your children. We place ourselves under your protection. We trust in your maternal Heart, and we consecrate to you all that we are and all that we have. Above all, Mother, show us Jesus, and teach us to do what He tells us. Amen.

June 1, 2001

Mother, teach us to listen

Mother, we ask you to help us to conquer anything within us that keeps us from empathizing with others. Mother, we ask you to teach us to be silent so we can be open to those who need to tell us about their lives, often full of suffering. Mother, we ask you to make us like your Son, patient and compassionate, when we listen to the lives of those around us.

October 5, 2008

Strengthen our hope

Mother, strengthen our hope. May our hope not be taken from us. Dear Mother, all of your children ask you: never release us from your hand. Look upon your children, who are traveling towards you. Look upon them and accompany them. Help them to follow in the footsteps of your Son, so that together, we may build a nation of brothers. Mother, help us. We are in your hands. May our hope not be taken from us! May your gaze strengthen our hope!

October 4, 2009