Ancient Prayer

An ancient prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the oldest known version , which in 1917 was found on an Egyptian papyrus dated from the 3rd century. This prayer is used in Litanies to the Mother of God and as a concluding antiphon at Compline of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary .

It is one of the ealiest prayers to our Holy Mother, and therefore it even predates the Hail Mary in its completed form as we know it today.

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God;

despise not our petitions in our necessities,

but deliver us always from all dangers,

O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus,
sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper,
Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.