Pray in thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Bartolo Longo
ROME — With joy and gratitude, the Dominican Family celebrates the canonization of St. Bartolo Longo, lay Dominican and founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii. Once lost in darkness and despair, Bartolo encountered the saving mercy of Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His conversion—marked by repentance, service to the poor, and tireless promotion of the Rosary—has inspired countless souls to rediscover hope in God’s mercy.
In honor of his canonization, consider praying The Supplication to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii—a moving act of trust composed by Bartolo himself. This prayer, recited on May 8 and every year on the first Sunday of October, has become one of the most beloved Marian devotions in the Catholic world.
More than a petition, the Supplication is a school of prayer. It teaches us, as Bartolo learned, that no sinner is beyond the reach of divine grace, and that through the Rosary we contemplate the mysteries of Christ’s love. In the Supplication, Bartolo calls Mary the Queen of Victories, Help of Christians, Refuge of Sinners, and Mother of Divine Grace—titles that remind us of her maternal care and of her mission to lead all people to Jesus.
As we celebrate St. Bartolo Longo’s canonization, may his Supplication renew in us confidence in the power of the Rosary, deepen our devotion to the Mother of God, and strengthen our resolve to bring Christ’s mercy to those most in need.
Prayer to Our Lady of Pompeii
I. O august Queen of victories, Virgin who reignest in paradise, whose mighty name causes Heaven to rejoice and hell to tremble, O glorious Queen of the most holy Rosary, we, thy happy children chosen by thy goodness in this century to build thee a temple at Pompeii, kneeling at thy feet on this solemn day to commemorate thy latest triumphs on the spot where idols and demons were formerly worshipped, we pour out with tears the feelings of our hearts and with a filial confidence lay before thee our miseries.
From that throne of mercy where thou sittest as Queen, O Mary, turn down thy pitiful eyes on us, on our families, on Italy, on Europe, and the whole Church; take into pity the afflictions which overwhelm us and the cares which embitter our life. Thou seest, O Mother, how many dangers of soul and body, how many calamities and afflictions press upon us.
O Mother, keep back the arm of justice of thy indignant Son, and conquer by thy mercy the hearts of sinners, since they are our brethren and thy children, redeemed through the blood of our sweet Jesus and through the wounds of thy most tender heart pierced with the sword. Show thyself to all in this day, as thou art, the Queen of peace and mercy.
Hail, Queen, Mother of mercy, vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin. Give me strength against thy enemies. Pray for us, Queen of the most holy Rosary, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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 in the hour of our death. Amen.
II. It is but too true that we, although thy children, are the first who crucify Jesus in our hearts and wound anew thy heart by our sins. We confess it, we deserve the severest chastisements; yet remember how thou didst receive, on the top of Golgotha, the last drops of that Divine blood, and the testament of our dying Redeemer. And this testament of a God, sealed with the blood of a Man-God, appointed thee our Mother, the Mother of sinners. Thus, as our Mother, thou art our Advocate and our Hope. To thee, amidst sighs, do we lift up our hands, crying for mercy!
Have pity, good mother, have pity on us, on our souls, on our families, on our relations, on our friends, on our departed brethren, above all, on our enemies, and on so many who claim the name of Christians, yet wound the loving heart of thy Son. Pity, O Mother, we now implore thee for pity on the erring nations, on all Europe, on the whole world, that they may repair repentant to thy heart. Be merciful to all, O Mother of mercy.
Hail, Queen, Mother of mercy, vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin. Give me strength against thy enemies. Pray for us, Queen of the most holy Rosary, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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 in the hour of our death. Amen.
III. What does it cost thee, O Mary, to hear us? What does it cost thee to save us? Did not Jesus entrust to thy hands all the treasures of His graces and mercies? Thou sittest as Queen at the right hand of thy Son, crowned with immortal glory, above all the choirs of angels. Thou extendest thy dominion as far as the heavens expand, the earth and all the creatures that people it are subject to thee. Thy power even reaches hell; and thou alone, O Mary, canst rescue us from the devil’s grasp. Thou art almighty by grace, and therefore thou canst save us. Now if you sayest thou wilIest not help us because we are ungrateful children and unworthy of thy protection, tell us at least to whom shall we have recourse in order to be released from so many evils? Oh! No, thy maternal heart will never bear to see the ruin of thy children. The Divine Child we behold on thy knees, the mystical crown we admire in thy hand, both inspire us with hope that we will be heard. And full of confidence in thee, we throw ourselves at thy feet, we trust ourselves as feeble children into the arms of the tenderest amongst mothers and today, this very day, we expect from thee the graces we are longing for.
Hail, Queen, Mother of mercy, vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin. Give me strength against thy enemies. Pray for us, Queen of the most holy Rosary, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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 in the hour of our death. Amen.
Let us ask Mary for her blessing.
We now ask of thee, O Queen, a last favour which thou canst not refuse on this solemn day. Grant to all of us thy constant love and in a special manner thy maternal blessing. No, we will not leave thy feet today nor cease clasping thy knees till thou hast blessed us. Bless now, O Mary, the sovereign Pontiff: to the first laurels of thy crown, to the ancient trophies of the Rosary, whence thou art called Queen of victories, add also this one, O Mother, grant triumph to religion and peace to mankind. Bless our bishop, the priests and particularly those who promote the honour of thy Sanctuary; bless finally all those who are associated to thy new temple of Pompeii and who practice and spread devotion to thy most holy rosary.
O blessed rosary of Mary, sweet chain which unites us to God, bond of love, which connects us with the angels, tower of safety against the assaults of hell, sure harbour in the universal shipwreck, never more shall we part with thee; thou shall be our comfort in the hour of agony: to thee the last kiss of our life; and the last word of our dying lips shall be thy sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Valle di Pompei. Mother dear, only refuge of sinners, supreme comforter of the afflicted, blessed be thy name, now and forever, on earth and in heaven. Amen.
Hail; Queen, Mother of mercy, vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin. Give me strength against thy enemies. Pray for us, Queen of the most holy Rosary, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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 in the hour of our death. Amen.
