4.5 rounded up! I love his examples of the effectiveness of prayer, especially of the Memorare. The explanation/history of “piisima” on page 76 is great! Most gracious doesn’t quite compare to piisima. This book is encouraging me to “remember” daily to pray a few Memorares!
This volume was originally published in 2012 by Relevant Radio, under the title For Immediate Assistance, Pray the Memorare it was reprinted by Scepter Publishers in 2022 under the current title. I received a copy to review many months ago, I took it on a short vacation to read and absolutely loved it. My only regret is that there is no eBook edition of this or Mary at the Crossroads of History, I have a dual form of dyslexia and prefer eBooks so I can change the font, and the colour of the font and the page, to make reading easier. But even with there being no eBook edition I consider this an excellent volume and one of the best books I have read this year. At the reading of this volume I have read 192 books in nearly the first half of this year. This is a volume I will be sharing with friends for a long time to come.
The description of the book states:
“You may be very familiar with the Memorare, a devotional prayer to Our Lady that asks for her intercession in times of need. Or maybe you’ve never even heard of the prayer but are interested in new ways to grow in devotion to Mary.
Whether you’re looking to learn more about the prayer that you grew up praying or are brand new to the Memorare, The Memorare Moment by Father Rocky has something to offer to people at every stage of their spiritual lives.
Encounter the profound and Christ-centered theology that underlines this quick, easy to memorize Marian devotion. Experience its impact through inspiring stories in history – and throughout Father Rocky’s life.
“The time has come for us to stand up and pray! Our friends, families, and world need to turn to this powerful prayer and our Blessed Mother’s guiding hand. This is the moment for Our Lady’s maternal intercession to bring about a change of hearts, a change of laws and a change of culture.” – Father Rocky.”
And about the author we are informed:
“Rev. Francis J. Hoffman, JCD (Fr. Rocky) is Executive Director of Relevant Radio. Ordained as a priest for Opus Dei in 1992 by Blessed John Paul II, he holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and a BA in History from Northwestern University.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction: The Matter of a Moment A Mother’s Prayer Faith of a Father The Mysteries of the Memorare Behold Your Mother! The Rock Prayer Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Never Was It Known … Never Left Unsaid Fled, Sought, Implored In Your Mercy Hear and Answer Me Amen: The Marian Shape of History The Memorare, Tomorrow and Forever A Few Recommended Books
Father Rocky states in the introduction:
“In the first edition I made the historical and devotional case for this great Marian prayer. I drew from my own experience and from the lives of very recent sainst, and I begged readers to take that message and apply it specifically to a special intention: the eradication of legal abortion. I also asked them to log the number of their prayers on the ‘Memorare Meter’ created just for this purpose on the Relevant Radio website.
At the end of the introduction he states:
“Our task is enormous, and it will not be the work of a day, But it is the matter of a moment, and the moment, I believe, belongs to the Memorare. Please join me in this prayer without ceasing and discover, as I have that prayer is more powerful than politics.
We need to go now to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who intervenes decisively at the crossroads of history. She will lead us and teach us. She will pray with us and console us. She will offer her infallible intercession for us, and we will live to see the difference it makes.
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve gone to her. Even if it’s been an hour, it’s been too long! So remind her of who you are and why you’re here: Remember …”
The prayer at the centre of this volume is:
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
This story is part history of the Memorare and it’s uses down through history. It is also part biography of Father Rocky and his goring in faith his upbringing, discerning his vocation, and founding Relevant Radio, all while seeking the guidance and prayers of Mary.
It is a very easy volume to engage with. It is a book any high school student could easily read. It is an amazing little volume that any Catholic would benefit from reading. It will challenge, encourage and inspire readers of all ages. A great volume to add to any home, school, or church library! I can easily recommend this book.
Book 106 of 2022 — The Memorare Moment by Francis Joseph Hoffman
I started this book (that I received from Relevant Radio) at my very first holy hour on August 30 this year! I am pleased to say I finished it today and what a book! It has inspired me to schedule a weekly holy hour.
I am a convert, so some of the Catholic prayers are not as familiar to me. I had never heard the Memorare before this book. Now, I am making it a habit of saying it every day.
The book is broken into different chapters that cover each section of the prayer. It is interspersed with anecdotes from Father Rocky’s own life and how he has seen the prayer work in others’ lives! This means his own interactions and through those of the saints. He goes through each phrase and discusses what it really means, which was beautiful and enlightening!
I have already passed it on to the next reader. A short, powerful, prayerful read!! Highly recommend!
A Beautifully written book although I disagree with comment regarding Cuba and other oppressive regime run countries pay more for Catholic education than the US I disagree with that and not necessarily true, but I am Sure Father meant something to prove a point of the sad state of affairs in our Wonderful Country Here in The U.S. And Now Roe V Wade has been overturned on very special Holy Day of Our Lord, this is a beautiful book and it shows Miracles can happen just like Mother Teresa as mentioned in the book with the Memorares. this book is a wonderful read and meditation on Our Beautiful Mother. I loved reading it glad I own a copy.
Absolutely loved this book! Loved the personal stories by the author, also known as Father Rocky. Included was a prayer card of The Memorare with the same image on the book cover. I would read a little each time I went to Adoration and always began by praying The Memorare. The connections in each of the 13 chapters were seamless and flowed smoothly. I can’t believe this book was sent free upon request. I plan to read it again soon.
Father Rocky incorporates his personal encounters with inspiring reflections on the Memorare prayer. The first four chapters provide insight on prayer in general; Devotion to and Adoration of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and specific Intercessory prayer to our Blessed Mother. The second half of the book requires multiple readings and discernment as Father Rocky discusses the spiritual impact of each section of this powerful Marian prayer. A valuable addition to a Catholic library.
Father Rocky provides great insights, personal antidotes, and theology to show us how Mary has been present throughout history and in our own lives. This small but powerful prayer, asking for the intercession of our Holy Mother, can really make a difference in our personal lives and in the world.
This was a great find on a recent trip! We loved Fr. Rocky's conversational tone, and we learned so much about this beautiful prayer. It's a great read for anyone who wants to go deeper in prayer with the memorare.
Really transformative. There are a lot of beautiful testimonies of praying the Memorare. Reading this book helped me realize how Mary has worked through my life.
This was a very informational and insightful read. I typically enjoy reading about line-by-line explanations of prayers. Father Rocky does a fantastic job! I have a new appreciation for this prayer and great interest in reading more by Father Rocky.
My favorite quote: "You and I are made up of remembrance, every bit as much as we're made of flesh and blood. Memory conditions our responses, forms our habits, drives our decisions. If we have any wisdom at all, it's mostly based on memories of hard experience. Our memory is our coherence. And memory binds individuals together as well. Shared memory is what gives a common identity to families, nations, and churches. Memory is probably the most powerful force on earth, and the least understood." (p. 65)