What is ora pro nobis?

Answer 1

"Ora pro nobis" is Latin (imperative, 2nd person, singular) for "pray for us." Literally, it means "speak for us," but its association with Church ritual has influenced its English translation.

The plural 2nd person imperative is "Orate pro nobis."

The response "Ora(te) pro nobis" is the response to invocations of the saints during the Litany of the Saints.

In the prayers for the dead, the response in the Litany of the Saints is replaced by "ora(te) pro eo/ea"... "pray for him/her."

The prayer Hail Mary contains this request as well. The prayer consists of two parts. The first is based on the angelic greeting found in scripture (Lk 1:28) which praises her dignity as the mother of Jesus Christ. To this greeting, the petition is added: "Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc et in hora mortis nostrae" or "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and a the hour of our death".