Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen called her “the world’s first love.” Sheen had particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout his life. He constantly preached the importance of honoring and venerating the greatest of all the saints. Mary has been given many names and titles by the Catholic Church; so many that it has a special litany to express them all. The New Eve, Ark of the New Covenant, Queen of Heaven, Mother of the Church, Mother of God, Help of Christians, Untier of Knots, and many others.
Sheen often asked his audiences what they would think of him if he visited their homes and refused to talk to or even acknowledge their mothers. Even worse, what about a home where there are no photos of a mother, and no one ever speaks of her. He was fond of saying it is simply not possible to make too much fuss over a mother. Especially the Mother of God, so special to Jesus, who created her and thought of her before he flung the cosmos into existence.
He urged his brother priests to adopt a similar veneration for Mary, and to call upon her intercession. Then, one day when they reach eternity, he said, they would hear Christ say, “I’ve heard my Mother speak of you.”
Sheen ended many of his presentations by reciting a favorite poem by Mary Dixon Thayer. Listen to Sheen reading the poem:
Lovely Lady dressed in blue ——-
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
Tell me what to say!Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
Mother does to me?Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things ——-
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels’ wingsMake a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me ——-for you know.Lovely Lady dressed in blue ——-
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
And you know the way.
The Hanneman Archive 
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THIS POEM AND AM GLAD I FOUND IT AGAIN.
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I LEARNED THIS PRAYER IN GRADE SCHOOL, ALMOST 65 YEARS AGO, AND WHEN A PRIEST USED IT IN HIS HOMILY A WEEK AGO, I WAS ABLE TO RECITE IT ALONG WITH HIM EVEN THOUGH I DON’T ROUTINELY SAY IT. iT’S A PRAYER THAT IS ALWAYS WITH ME, LIKE A GOOD FRIEND – YOU CAN BE TOGETHER NOT SPEAKING AND IT IS ENOUGH.
NOW I CAN MAKE MY OWN HOLY CARDS TO SHARE WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTERS. THANK YOU!!
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This is one of the most popular pages on my blog. I’m glad you like it. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be pleased. I have numerous recordings of him saying this prayer. He did it so well. God bless!
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I remember The Bishop Fulton Sheen. I watched his TV shows. Loved his inspiring talks.Growing up the nuns taught us Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue. I always liked that prayer. I’ll never forget it.
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If you’d like to read some recent news about Venerable Archbishop Sheen, check out my 2015 article from Catholic World Report:
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/3747/fulton_sheens_intense_life_of_holiness_worthy_of_sainthood_biographer_writes.aspx
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Such a gentle and enigmatic poem which I often read quietly and in church when a congregation is present. I is inspiring, happy and makes one think quietly. Then we can talk about the meaning of Blue and the History of the colour in the church making this poem educational as well.
Perhaps our catholic schools should use it,
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my Dad said this prayer with us kids never forgot it
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I love this poem and my friend, Ann, always said it after she recited the Rosary at the Nursing Home my mom was at. I since then started saying Rosary at the Nursing Home as well and carry on her tradition. The residents love it. Many of them and their families tell me they remember when Fulton Sheen was on TV and recited that prayer. It’s a treasured prayer.
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A wonderful reflection! Somewhere I have an audio file of the venerable archbishop speaking the poem during one of his talks. I will try to remember to post that here.
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I’m so glad I was able to find this poem again. At 65 years of age, I could just remember bits and pieces!
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I sing this to my grandson and he always go to sleep
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This is so lovely. So happy that Bishop Fulton Sheen’s life of service is now honoured with his being declared Venerable. We would like to sing the hymn based on this poem at the Novena to Our Lady this September. Where can I find the music, preferably just in two part harmony?
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I’ve never heard this set to music; only through Archbishop Sheen’s many recitations.
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Gentle and sweet lady in blue, dependable all the time, all the way.
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I finally found a poem that I used to recite as a child 75 years ago. I still love it. Thank you Hod for allowing me to recite it again.
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Me too
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This is the only prayer my mother read to me as a young child. She had a holy card of Mary with this poem on the back. I used it in my RCIA classes and it has always been very special to me.
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Beautiful!!! My heart melted at this story. Oh our Mother dressed in blue make our hearts just like thine. Thank you for sharing
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Aaron Neville sings this song’ Lady dressed in blue’, beautifully
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My 90 year old mother was dressed in blue for the first 7 years of her life in honor of Mary.
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What a wonderful memory!
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On my way to church, I was approved by a gentleman who asked if I knew who Faulton Sheen was and did I heard his poem Lovely Lady Dressed in blue. I happen to be dressed in blue dress and knew of Fulton but didn’t know the poem
Thank very much and blessings to the gentleman who mentioned it. It’s lovely.
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Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.
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I love this poem that bishop sheen would say after his shows. It always tug at my heart.
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I have two audio versions posted here, but I’m looking for more, since he did it a little differently over the years.
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I’ve always loved this hymn since I was a little child. Glad I found all the lyrics so now whenever or wherever I am and sing this little hymn I will through time remember all the words. I’m 81 years old and would like this sung at my funeral Mass!
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I’m glad you found it, too. Feel free to download the audio files of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen reciting the poem.
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Hello,
My Mother is 89, and in declining health. She would like this sung at her funeral. Do you know where I can get the music and lyrics? We need it quickly for mass cards, also. Thank you so much.
Blessings,
Michelle Herod
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The words to the poem are on this page (look above). I know Aaron Neville set the words to music, as did an artist named Donna Cori: https://donnacori.com/samples/SingOfMary/LovelyLady-clip.mp3
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When I graduated from kindergarten I recited this poem in front of the other students and parents that was in 1955
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Thomas Anthony -Some 75 years ago ; just before bed my mom and I would recite this poem together – so calming ; so peaceful – can’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning; but will always remember this – if posable ; hope to recite it one more time at my death ; God willing
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Dear Blessed Mother “Teach me how to pray”
Make my mind Bleed for thy Blessed Mother As Jesus did for me.
I remember back in 1955 I tried to bleed like Jesus did for me, to see what it was like. I stillam trying each day in 2022 and can not come close what he did.
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Hi. My 88-year-old cousin loves singing this song. But her childhood melody is not the same melody as the versions of Aaron Neville or Donna Corri. In fact, at my cousin’s church (St. Mary’s in Woodside, NY), the organist (deceased now) played (digitized??) the remembered melody at her son’s funeral mass. So there is a version, sweet and darling version, from the 1930-40 era. Can you or anyone locate this sheet music?
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