Eight Century Irish Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Our beloved Son, Monsignor Bartholomew Woodlock, one of our Chamberlains of Honor, and Rector of the Catholic University in the City of Dublin, has lately caused to be laid before Us a certain Pious Prayer, or Form of Supplication, to the Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the beginning of which is, in the English tongue—‘‘O Great Mary! O Mary Greatest!’’—in the Italian language, ‘‘O Maria, eccelsa Sienora’’ ; and has also caused it to be set forth to Us that it was lately recovered from oblivion by one of the Professors of the said University, and that it is the same which used to be recited in the Churches by the Irish faithful in their primitive language from the most remote period. But, now, Our aforesaid beloved Son has caused Us to be informed that he himself, and very many others, have it extremely at heart that, with the view of increasing more and more, in the minds of Christ's faithful of Ireland, piety and devotion towards the Immaculate Mother of God, We should vouchsafe, of Our Apostolic favor, to unlock the heavenly treasures of Indulgences for the faithful who shall recite that prayer. We, who regard with fatherly charity and special good will all Christ’s faithful of Ireland, from whom We have always had peculiar proofs of dutiful service towards this Holy See, have been pleased to meet the prayers they have addressed to Us, and to grant Indulgence as below. :
Wherefore, unto all and singular the faithful of Christ of either sex, now or temporarily residing in Ireland, being at least contrite in heart, who shall on any day devoutly recite the aforesaid Prayer, translated into whatsoever language, provided only the version be faithful, whereof We have ordered a copy, written in the English and Italian languages, to be kept in the Registry of the Briefs of Our Secretary’s Office,

We, relying on the mercy of the Almighty God, and by the authority of His Apostles, the Blessed Peter and Paul, do remit, in the wonted form of the Church, on the day whereon they shall do this, One Hundred Days from penances enjoined, or otherwise in what manner soever due, of which relaxations of penances We grant also in the Lord the application, by way of suffrage, to the souls of Christ’s faithful who shall have departed from this life united in charity to God. Anything making to the contrary notwithstanding. These presents to hold to all future times.

And We will have precisely the same confidence which would be accorded to these presents, if they were exhibited or shown, to be accorded to translations or copies, even printed, of the present Letters, inscribed by the hand of some public notary, and furnished with the seal of a person placed in an ecclesiastical dignity. |