Saint Saviour’s is home to the well-beloved shrine of Saint Martin de Porres, and to the venerable statue of Our Lady of Limerick.
The statue of Our Lady of Limerick dates to at least 1640, when it was given to the Dominicans in Limerick by Patrick Sarsfield and his wife Eleanor. As Patrick’s uncle, Judge Dominic Sarsfield, had condemned the lay Dominican Sir John Burke of Brittas for having Mass celebrated in his home, the statue was a gift of reparation to the Order. With the statue came a silver chalice, presented to Father Terence Albert O’Brien, Prior of Saint Saviour’s, who would himself be martyred in Limerick on 30 October 1651. Tradition holds that it was during the siege in 1651 that the statue of the Virgin was taken from the priory for safekeeping, and buried next to the remains of the martyred Father O’Brien..
In 1780, when the persecutions had calmed enough to allow it, the Dominicans built a small chapel in Fish Lane to replace an earlier church destroyed by anti-Catholic forces. The statue was displayed there until 1816, when the Dominican church of Saint Saviour’s was opened in Pery Square. To this day, Our Lady of the Rosary of Limerick is a sign of hope and a source of consolation for her “special heritage,” her “faithful people of Limerick.”
The novena prayers to Our Lady of Limerick and Saint Martin de Porres are available below, or can be downloaded as a prayer card here
Novena Prayer in Honour of Our Lady of Limerick (prayed in Saint Saviour’s on Mondays)
Most loving lady of Limerick, my Mother and my Queen, I thank thee from my heart for the many blessings and consolations that hast bestowed upon me. I love thee with all the fervour of my soul and promise to serve thee always and to make thee loved by all. I place my entire life with its many cares and anxieties in the tender arms of thy maternal love, knowing that thou wilt always guide and protect me. Inflame my heart with true love of Jesus Christ so that I may every accomplish His holy will. I pray thee, thou Mother of Mercy, to safeguard, as thy special heritage, thy faithful people of Limerick. Thou wert given to us in our hour of suffering to inspire and encourage us; do not leave us until thou see us safe in Heaven, there to bless thee and sing thy mercies for all eternity. Amen.
Novena Prayer in Honour of Saint Martin de Porres (prayed in Saint Saviour’s on Thursdays, with veneration of the relic following)
Most humble St. Martin, whose burning charity embraces all, but especially those who are sick, afflicted, or in need, we turn to you for help in our present difficulties and we implore you to obtain for us from God health of soul and body, and in particular the favour we now ask … (pause to ask favours) …
May we by imitating your charity and humility, find quiet and contentment all our days, and cheerful submission to God’s holy will in all the trials and difficulties of life.
Pray for us, O St. Martin,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray,
O God, who exalts the humble and who caused St. Martin, your confessor, to pass to the heavenly Kingdom, grant through his merits and intercession that on earth we may so imitate his humility as to deserve to be exalted with him in heaven. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.