Apostolate Our Lady’s Sons

(A Private Devotion of 7 Hail Mary’s)

An Apostolate of Prayer for

Mary’s First Sons of the Church

Introduction

This is a short and simple private devotion, rooted in humility and obedience, to ‘Christ in His Ordained Ministers’ through His Mother, Mary, and through their Mother, the Church.

This is a lay Apostolate of devotion in accord with the clergy of the Catholic Church. Each Catholic who would like to participate is encouraged to discuss this with one source of authoritative spiritual direction: either parish priest, or spiritual director, or Confessor. This discussion can take place before or soon after beginning the prayers to verify approval for participation as well as to clarify any personal conditions of participation. The person should provide a copy of the apostolate booklet to the priest/deacon to enable a fully informed discernment. As of this printing, it is the priest/deacon’s responsibility to verify approval of participation in this apostolate from his Ordinary (Bishop or other).

The Prayer for Each Son of Our Lady

One Hail Mary, with no intention. (Total time about 2-3 minutes.)

Simply, pray a Hail Mary for the member of the clergy identified under each petition. (For details, see “Considerations and Conditions”)

The intention is Mary’s will and Fiat for her son; it is between
her and Him (him/Him): “Woman, what is this between you and Me?” (Jn 2:4)

Each Hail Mary is offered as follows:

First pray: “Through Mary’s most pure hands, I offer this Hail Mary,
and I raise up to You, (name of clergy) .“

Then, pray the Hail Mary.

The Clergy for Whom to Pray
in the
Seven Petitions

1^st The Pope, by name.
2^nd My Bishop, by name.
3^rd My Parish Priest, by name.
4^th My Spiritual Director, either by name or for my future Spiritual Director.
5^th A Priest, by name, for whom I have made a commitment to pray.
6^th Another Priest or Deacon, by name (cf. “Considerations and Conditions”)
7^th Any other Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, by name if possible. A recommendation is the one from whom I received a Sacrament(s) this day.

Your prayer is for these 7 clergy per day in this Apostolate:
“I trust in God’s work, not my works; I neither add to nor take away from.”

Considerations and Conditions

1^st Any prayer for the Pope, by name, is a central Act of Faith in God, in His work, and in His Providence. This fidelity is essential to any apostolate.

2^nd This prayer is for the Bishop of your judiciary region in the Church, not for any other Bishop with whom you may be associated.

Again, this is an Act of Faith; it is essential in the apostolate.

If you happen to be in another judiciary region, for example while travelling and especially while on pilgrimage, you may substitute the Bishop of that region, though it is normal to consult an authoritative source of spiritual direction if this is a regular occurrence.

3^rd Pray either for the Pastor or an Assistant Pastor – only one of these per day – of the parish where you are signed up as a parishioner. You need to be signed up with a parish (your fiat of unity) to complete this part of the devotion.

4^th If you do not have a current spiritual director, then this prayer is nameless and directed to any future spiritual director you may have.

If your parish priest (3^rd prayer) or the priest you have made a commitment to pray for (5^th prayer) is your spiritual director, then offer this for “a priest who is a spiritual director.” Mary will direct it as she sees fit.

5^th Many Dioceses, Confraternities, and Associations have programs or protocols to pray for a priest. My home diocese has adopted the beautiful apostolate Spiritual Motherhood for Priests. In this, a woman becomes a “Spiritual Mother” to pray and make offerings for one priest. There are other ministries of apostolate where members are invited to ‘take on’ a priest who is associated with the ministry as part of the member’s prayer devotions.

If no apostolate or program like these is available or binding on you, then choose one priest, by name, for whom you will pray daily (a short or long term commitment to this priest, as suits your faith journey).

6^th If your area-of-jurisdiction parish priest is not prayed for under the 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th Hail Mary’s, then offer this Hail Mary for you area-of-jurisdiction parish priest (by name) who is the Head Pastor of that parish. This priest is your rightful first priest of jurisdiction under the hierarchy in the Church, and this is an Act of Faith in God’s Providence which has placed you here.

Your fiat of fidelity to this priest is one of the faith foundations that keeps you in right order within the Church; as such, it increases the efficacy of all the prayers and works of your entire faith journey.

7^th In this Hail Mary, you make a choice to pray for any Bishop, Priest, or Deacon – by name – as the Holy Spirit moves you.

Optional Petition

8^th Hail Mary, in honour of the 8^th Day, the Day of Resurrection.

If you are so moved by the Holy Spirit, you may append to your devotion – for example daily, or on Sundays and Solemnities, or on an anniversary of death, or simply for a period of time – a Hail Mary for a deceased member of the clergy.

This is recommended, yet not required by this devotion: many of the faithful have a well-discerned devotion for the souls in Purgatory that would cover this; such a devotion should be prioritised. This 8^th Hail Mary can be in addition to such a devotion, yet it should neither distract nor detract from the other devotion.

If you choose to pray the 8^th Hail Mary, it can be by name for someone you either knew personally or who you know about, or it can be according to Mary’s choice of the clergy to whom she will apply your prayer.

Available for download/printing at gemcatholicpress.com/resources/prayer-resources