Psychological Healing
in the Roman Catholic Mystic Tradition

After Mass:
The Leonine Prayers

 
In 1884, Pope Leo XIII prescribed the recitation of several prayers after Low Mass. In 1934, Pope Pius XI ordered that these same prayers be offered for the conversion of Russia. These prayers are now optional. And, of course, they were meant to be said publicly by a priest after Low Mass.

But think about it. Why rush off after Mass just to chat with someone outside or to be the first out of the parking lot? Why not say these prayers—or other prayers of thanksgiving—privately and voluntarily? Of course, if you are in a parish that has Masses back to back and everyone stayed to pray after Mass, then—God forbid—the Mass schedule might have to be adjusted to suit the needs of prayer rather than human convenience.

Anyway, here are the Leonine Prayers.
 

•	Three Hail Marys HAIL, Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst   women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners   now and at the hour of our   death. Amen.   AVE María, grátia plena! Dóminus tecum; benedícta tu in   muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus   ventris tui, Iesus! Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis   peccatóribus nunc et in hora mortis   nostræ. Amen.
•	The Hail Holy Queen HAIL, Holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of   Eve; To thee do we send up our   sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious   Advocate, thine eyes of mercy   towards us: and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed   fruit of thy womb Jesus.   O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!   V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.     SALVE Regína, mater misericórdiæ; vita, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Hevæ;   Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes   in hac lacrymárum valle. Eia ergo,   Advocáta nostra, illos tuos misericórdes   óculos ad nos convérte: Et Iesum, benedíctum   fructum ventris tui,   nobis post hoc   exsílium osténde. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo María.   V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Génitrix. R. Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi.
•	A collect: Let us pray. O God, our refuge and our strength, look down in mercy on Thy people who cry to Thee, and by the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of St. Joseph her Spouse, of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exultation of our holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ our Lord.   R. Amen.
•	The prayer to St. Michael the Archangel:     SAINT Michael   the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of   the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the   heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the wicked spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.       R. Amen. SANCTE Michaël   Archángele, defénde nos in praélio, contra nequítiam et insídias diáboli esto præsídium.   Imperet illi Deus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, Princeps milítiæ   cœléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus   malígnos qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in   mundo, divina virtúte, in inférnum detrúde.   R. Amen.     Read an excerpt from a homily about angels by Saint Gregory the Great
•	Conclusion, said three times: V. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, R. Have mercy upon us.   V. Cor Iesu sacratíssimum R. Miserére nobis.