Several weeks ago, I confirmed six inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution at Forrest City. I was accompanied by Sister Maxine Vogan, Father Ed Graves and several lay Catholic volunteers from Forrest City and Wynne who regularly visit the unit. From the moment we arrived, it was obvious that the Catholic volunteer group was a favorite of the Protestant staff chaplain. As she escorted us through the security procedure, there was lots of laughter.
“Do these people give you a hard time?” I asked. “No,” she said, “This is a fun group.”
A large number of inmates were present for confirmation. They were attentive and smiling, happy to be present for Mass and happy to see the volunteers they have come to love. Among the Catholic inmates there are several key leaders who have organized Bible study, instructions in the Catholic faith, liturgical music and common praying of the Liturgy of the Hours. They take our faith seriously, and confirmation was a celebration for all.
At the end of the evening, we went through the departure procedure, once again escorted by the chaplain. As we were about to say our good-byes for the evening, she said to me, “Bishop, can I ask you a question?” “Sure,” I replied.
“Will you explain to me what a ’Hail Mary pass’ is?”
“A desperation pass,” someone in the group called out.
I filled in the blanks, explaining the origin of the Hail Mary prayer (the Ave Maria) from Scripture and what the phrase means in football. (At the end of a half, and especially at the end of a game, when the team on offense is losing and has just enough time for one play, the quarterback throws the ball almost blindly toward the end zone, hoping one of the receivers can catch it for a score).
Although we Catholics usually think first of the prayer when we hear the words “Hail Mary,” they have also come to refer to any desperate measure or final effort in a project.
The chaplain’s question was one I had never been asked, and it made me smile. I began to wonder: would the Blessed Mother mind having a popular phrase refer to her as some kind of desperation move?
I don’t think she would mind at all.
As a child, along with the Hail Mary I learned the traditional prayer known as the Memorare.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my mother.
To thee I come, before thee I stand
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy
hear and answer me. Amen.
The Memorare has been attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), probably because it contains themes common to his writing, but it is doubtful that St. Bernard was the author. Its popularity and the theory of its authorship were promoted 500 years after his death by a French priest, Father Claude Bernard (1588-1641). Interestingly, Father Claude was known as the “Poor Priest” and was dedicated to ministry among prisoners and those condemned to death for their crimes.
In his apostolate of evangelization, Father Claude frequently encouraged prisoners to seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother, and to great effect; many were reconciled to God because of his counsel. He once printed more than 200,000 leaflets with the Memorare in various languages and distributed them wherever he thought they would give consolation and encouragement.
I suppose one could say that the Hail Mary and the Memorare are prayers of desperation, but only if at the same time one sees them as prayers of hope and confidence.
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, holy Simeon told her, “You yourself a sword will pierce.” (Luke 2:35) We “fly” to Mary because the Scriptures testify to her unfailing hope in God, even in the midst of her own suffering. She is happy when we ask her intercession, no matter the circumstances, because that gives her another opportunity to take us to her Son. She knows that no situation is desperate when handed over to him.
There are thousands of people incarcerated in the federal and state facilities of Arkansas. Pray for them and their families, that they might find hope in God, as Mary did. I have first-hand knowledge that many of them are praying for us.
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him at Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock, AR 72217