The following is the letter sent by His Eminence Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, to the presidents of the Conferences of Bishops on the invocations “Mater misericordiæ”, “Mater spei”, and “Solacium migrantium”to be inserted into the Litany of Loreto:

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENTS OF CONFERENCES OF BISHOPS

ON THE INVOCATIONS “MATER MISERICORDIÆ”, “MATER SPEI”,

AND “SOLACIUM MIGRANTIUM”

TO BE INSERTED INTO THE LITANY OF LORETO

Vatican City, 20 June 2020,

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Your Eminence,

Your Excellency,

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.

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.

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. 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.

Discerning this sentiment and welcoming the desires expressed, 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 misericordiæ”, “Mater spei” and “Solacium migrantium” should be inserted.

The first invocation shall be placed after “Mater Ecclesiæ”, the second after “Mater divinæ gratiæ”, while the third shall be placed after “Refugium peccatorum”.

With every good wish and kind regard, we wish to entrust this notification to you for your information and application.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Robert Card. Sarah
Prefect

+Arthur Roche
Archbishop Secretary