Mary Help of Christians/Rogation Days

Greetings in Jesus and Mary...

May 24th is the Feast of Mary Help of Christians. Another beautiful devotion to ask Our Dear Blessed Mother for her help and assistance during these crazy days on the planet. Things are getting crazy! On 24 May the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China and the Feast of Mary Help of Christians and, for China, Our Mother of Sheshan. We are asked to pray for Hong Kong and Cardinal Joseph Zen. May Our Lady pray for all those being persecuted in these Asian countries and may communism be suppressed in the world through the prayers and intercession of our good Queen and Mother!

Appropriately during these Rogation Days, we are being made aware of food shortages and crop failures due to poor weather throughout the world but especially in the USA. We are in the Rogation days before the Feast of the Ascension. Here is a little history of what these days mean. Also, there is a link at the bottom to help all of us with praying the Litany to ask for the help of Heaven for our crops and our health during these summer months. With food shortages, crop failures, and poor weather...this may be something we all want to participate in this year!!!!

The word "rogation" comes from the Latin word rogare meaning "to ask." The three Rogation Days are over 1,500 years old. They began in the fifth century at Vienne, France, when, in the year 470, there had been crop failures--due to earthquakes and bad weather--with resulting great food scarcity and destitution. St. Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, ordered a triduum of prayer and penance on the three days preceding the Ascension. The clergy and the people made penitential processions calling upon God to help and asking the intercession of His saints.


Other communities took up the custom and from France it soon spread throughout the world. At the end of the eighth century, Pope St. Leo III introduced the practice into the universal Church. Thus, it has become a tradition in the Church that each year on the feast of St. Mark, April 25, and on the three days before Ascension a special Rogation Days' service is held.


The purpose of the Rogation Days' service is to implore the mercy of God that He may keep us from all evils of soul and body, and give to the plants of the field an increase. In the spring, when the fields are becoming green and there is promise of a good harvest--but also the possibility of destruction through frost, hail, or rainstorms--the prayers and processions are a reminder to feeble man to turn with humility and confidence to the Giver of all good. For, it is not the earth alone which brings forth fruit, and not alone the busy hand of man on which the increase depends; but it is God who gives the increase.

Merciful Heart of Jesus, have mercy upon us!
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!
All ye holy angels and saints, pray for us!

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Rogation Litany