Aurelio Porfiri
In his book on the greatest prayers to Mary, Anthony M. Buono rhetorically asks to quote the oldest prayer to the Virgin Mary. He states that most people would answer the Hail Mary, but they would be wrong, as this prayer took its current form during the Renaissance era. Actually the oldest prayer is Sub Tuum Praesidium, which dates back to the third century. This prayer is not known like many other Marian antiphons but it is very beautiful and timely for the times we live in.
This prayer was compiled at a time when Christians were being persecuted, probably under the emperors Septimius Severus and Decius. It originated in Egypt and then spread throughout the Catholic world. The words, in an English version, are these: “We fly to your protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.”
Pier Luigi Guiducci summarizes the history of this antiphon in the following way: “In the first centuries, the Virgin was addressed with short adulations, or with a prayer written in Egypt. The latter, from the first words of the subsequent Latin translation, was indicated by the title: Sub tuum praesidium (“We fly to your protection”). This prayer then spread to the East (Byzantine, Armenian, Syro-Antiochian, Syrian liturgy -Caldea and Malarabian, Maronite, Ethiopian …), and in the West (Roman, Ambrosian liturgy …). Each community made its own translation. Unfortunately, scholars did not have the opportunity to immediately examine the primitive text that emerged from Egypt. For this reason, the Sub tuum praesidium was considered a medieval writing (Carolingian period, 800-888) and used with more variations in the local churches.
In 1917, however, an English researcher was able to acquire a batch of papyri in Egypt. Among these, one was found to contain the text of the ancient prayer in Greek. This demonstrated the origin of the prayer. The exhibit, which is preserved in the United Kingdom, is cataloged Papyrus Rylands 470” (storico.org). The Rylands 470 papyrus has been the subject of various dating studies, especially in the English context, some scholars preferred to place it in the fourth century rather than the third, precisely because of the invocation of Mary as “Mother of God,” Theotókos, which would have been regarded as premature in the third century. But then the consensus of scholars went for a dating to the third century, also considering some paleographic data.
This antiphon is short but possesses great richness. In 2018, Pope Francis invited the recitation of this ancient prayer to implore the protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the time of trial, so that our pleas in the time of trial may be heard by the One who can intervene and free us from every danger.
A text made available by the Carmelite Monastery Janua Coeli comments on the prayer as follows: “The beauty of the term praesidium goes beyond the connotation of the military lexicon and exactly means ‘place defended by garrison’ but in the broadest sense it indicates to conserve, protect or guard. Virgin Mary is considered a powerful garrison of Christians, she is the Mother to whom one can turn to and be welcomed and supported along the difficult moments of the journey, she is the one who intercedes for each one with her Son. She is the Holy Virgin Mother, “who alone is pure” and “blessed.” This ancient prayer alludes to Mary’s total holiness and her perpetual virginity. The supplication of the faithful who live in danger and trial is addressed precisely to the Virgo Purissima” (monasterocarmelitane.it). A song which alludes not only to Mary’s motherhood, but also to her virginity.
The melody with which this prayer is known in the Gregorian repertoire sounds sweet and confident, as if to announce the certain trust that accompanies the requests of the faithful Christian. It is a simple and memorable melody sung with great ease. Of course, there are also numerous polyphonic versions of this antiphon.
How can we not think of such a prayer at a time when the whole world is under terrible distress? How can we not desire a more intense protection from Mary Mother of God? We hear a lot about protecting ourselves from the virus during these times and protecting ourselves from infection. Certainly we all try to be prudent and not expose ourselves to this disease, but for this very reason it will not be wrong to rely more and more on the supernatural help that our faith offers us. Let us remember that in the famous prayer of Saint Bernard to the Virgin it is said: “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.” This is our consolation and hope.
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