This is an old prayer that dates back to the 3rd century where it was found on
Egyptian papyrus in 1917. As such, it is one of the earliest known prayers to the
Blessed Virgin. This significantly predates the
Hail Mary which is dated at the fifteenth or sixteenth century.
The 3rd century was a difficult time for Christianity with the
Roman Emperors Septimius Severus and Decius persecuting Christianity.
Thus a short prayer asking for protection from dangers was a common
request. During the middle ages, the Sub Tuum was added as liturgical
prayer and was one of the four Marian anthems recided at the conclusion
of the Night Prayer. Because that this was when it became part of the
accepted set of prayers, many mistake the Sub Tuum as being created
then.
Furthermore, the age of this prayer shows that the term "Mother of God"
was used well before the use by St Athanasius who is often credited with
the creation of that phrase. This title does have some relationship to
Egypt where the Egyptian Goddess Isis was titled this as mother of the
god Horus. This is another example of Christianity adopting a local custom
and incorporating it into itself.
In English
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise
not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always
from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
In Latin
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix.
Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed
a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et
benedicta. Amen.
http://www.unidial.com/~martinus/thesaurus/BVM/SubTuum.html
http://www.fms-sydney.org.au/spirituality/sub_tuum.html