Little Office of Our Lady
The following text is one of the two approved English “Little Offices” printed after the Second Vatican Council. This “Little Office of our Lady of Mt. Carmel” saw three editions (1975, 1985, 1991) but is now out-of-print. It was prepared by English Province of the Carmelites under the supervision of Fr. Hugh Clarke, O. Carm.
It is provided here as a form of prayer out of Marian devotion, for those for whom this forms an integral part of their spirituality, and also as an alternative in cases where the normal texts of the “Liturgy of the Hours” fail to download, are incomplete, etc. recalling the Constitution on the Liturgy prepared by the Second Vatican Council: “They too perform the public prayer of the Church, who, in virtue of their constitutions, recite any short Office, provided it is drawn up after the pattern of the Divine Office and is duly approved.” (para. 98).
THE STRUCTURE OF THE LITTLE OFFICE
The Little Office presents us with:
a Call to Praise and Worship
an Office of Readings
two major Hours: Morning Prayer (Lauds) and Evening Prayer (Vespers)
Prayer during the Day (Little Hours) 1 and 2
Night Prayer (Compline)
Morning Prayer normally begins the day; it is our offering of praise as we start another day. Similarly Evening Prayer closes the working day; it should be said early evening as a thanksgiving for God’s blessings during the day. Night Prayer essentially is a bed-time prayer, offered just before we lie down to sleep. Prayer During the Day can be said at any time during the day; it is intended to provide us with a breathing space during the day when we can raise our minds and hearts to God for a short while. The Office of Readings again may be said at any time; it is meant as a kind of spiritual reading on which we meditate devoutly.
The two major Hours are Morning and Evening Prayer. If no other part of the Office can be said, every effort should be made to pray these two Hours so as to sanctify the beginning and end of the day.
CALL TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP
1. Introductory Verse
2. Invitatory Antiphon
3. Psalm 94 or 99
OFFICE OF READINGS
1. Introductory Verse.
2. Hymn.
3. Psalmody.
4. Versicle.
5. First Reading and Responsory.
6. Second Reading and Responsory.
7. Hymn of Praise (on certain days).
8. Antiphon to Our Lady
MORNING PRAYER AND EVENING PRAYER
1. Introductory Verse.
2. Hymn.
3. Psalmody.
4. Scripture Readings, followed by short silence.
5. Short Responsory.
6. Gospel Canticle: at Morning Prayer, Canticle of Zechariah; at Evening Prayer, Canticle of the Virgin May, each with an Antiphon
7. Intercessions and the Lord’s Prayer
8. Concluding Prayer
9. Blessing
10. Antiphon to Our Lady
PRAYER DURING THE DAY I AND II
1. Introductory Verse.
2. Hymn.
3. Psalmody.
4. Scripture Reading, followed by short silence
5. Versicle.
6. Concluding Prayer
7. Antiphon to Our Lady
NIGHT PRAYER
1. Introductory Verse.
2. Examination of Conscience
3. Hymn.
4. Psalmody.
5. Scripture Reading, followed by short silence.
6. Short Responsory.
7. Gospel Canticle of Simeon with an Antiphon
8. Concluding Prayer
9. Blessing
10. Antiphon to Our Lady
CHOIR INSTRUCTIONS
When the Office is said in common the choir is divided into parts: the choir side or side of the Leader; and the non-choir side. The Cantor on the choir side begins all the hymns, the first and third psalms of each Hour, and the three Gospel Canticles. The Cantor on the non-Choir side begins the second psalm of each Hour. The hymns, psalms and canticles are then taken up by the respective sides.
1. It is the duty of the Leader to begin the Office with the introductory verse, to say the intercessions and concluding prayer and the antiphon and prayer to our Lady.
2. It is the duty of the Reader to proclaim from a suitable place and in a clear voice the readings whether long or short
3. A Cantor or Cantors should begin the antiphons, psalms and hymns
4. A Versicularian recites all the verses indicated by the abbreviation V. at all the Hours.
5. All stand:
a. During the Call to Praise and Worship and the introductory verse of each Hour;
b. During the hymn;
c. During the Gospel canticles of Zechariah in Morning Prayer, of Mary in Evening Prayer, and of Simeon in Night Prayer;
d. During the intercessions, Lord’s Prayer, concluding prayer and antiphon to Our Lady
6. All sit:
a. During the antiphons and psalms of each Hour;
b. During the readings
7. All make the Sign of the Cross:
a. At the beginning of each Hour when saying: “O God, come to our aid.”
b. At the beginning of the Gospel canticles
8. All make the Sign of the Cross on the lips at the beginning of the Call to Praise and Worship, when saying the words: “Lord, open our lips.”
9. In private recitation, the Office is said straight through as in the book, although of course it still remains a prayer offered in the name of the Church. Any reverent posture may be adopted.
10. The Call to Praise and Worship is always said as an introduction to the first Hour of the day, whether it is the Office of Readings or Morning Prayer. In either case the introductory verse for the Office of Readings or Morning Prayer is omitted.
V. Lord, + open our lips
R. And we shall praise your name
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
Psalm 94 Psalm 99
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 94
A call to praise God
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; *
hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks, *
with songs let us hail the Lord.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
A mighty God is the Lord, *
a great king above all gods.
In his hands are the depths of the earth; *
the heights of the mountains are his.
To him belongs the sea, for he made it *
and the dry land shaped by his hands.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Come in; let us bow and bend low; *
let us kneel before the God who made us
for he is our God and we†
the people who belong to his pasture, *
the flock that is led by his hand.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
O that today you would listen to his voice! *
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as on that day at Massah in the desert †
when your fathers put me to the test; *
when they tried me, though they saw my work.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
For forty years I was wearied of these people †
and I said: 'Their hearts are astray, *
these people do not know my ways.
Then I took an oath in my anger: *
'Never shall they enter my rest.'"
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
¶ In place of Ps. 94, Ps. 99 may be said at choice, as below:
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T Alleluia)
Alternative:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 99
The joy of those who enter the temple of the Lord
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.†
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Christ is the Son of Mary: come, let us adore him. (E.T. Alleluia)
Or:
Ant. Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, as we venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. O God, + come to our aid
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
HYMN
God, who made the earth and sky
And the changing sea,
Clothed his glory in our flesh:
Man, with men to be.
Mary, Virgin filled with light,
Chosen from our race,
Bore the Father’s only Son
By the Spirit’s grace.
He whom nothing can contain,
No one can compel,
Bound his timeless Godhead here,
In our time to dwell.
God, our Father, Lord of days,
And his only Son,
With the Holy Spirit praise:
Trinity in One.
Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday Monday, Wednesday and Friday Saturday
SUNDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Virgin Mary received blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saved her. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 8
The majesty of the Lord, the dignity of man
How great is your name, O Lord our God, *
through all the earth!
Your majesty is praised above the heavens; *
on the lips of children and of babes
you have found praise to foil your enemy, *
to silence the foe and the rebel.
When I see the heavens, the work of your hands, *
the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what is man that you should keep him in mind, *
mortal man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god; *
with glory and honor you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hands, *
put all things under his feet.
All of them, sheep and cattle, *
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish*
that make their way through the waters.
How great is your name, O Lord our God*
through all the earth!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 1 The Virgin Mary received blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saved her. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 2 The Most High has made holy the place where he dwells (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 18
Praise for the Lord, Creator of all things
The heavens proclaim the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story*
and night unto night makes known the message.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard †
yet their span extends through all the earth, *
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
There he has placed a tent for the sun; †
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent, *
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun; †
to the furthest end of the sky is its course. *
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, *
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, *
it gives wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, *
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear, *
it gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy, *
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth*
and all of them just.
They are more to be desired than gold, *
than the purest of gold
and sweeter are they than honey, *
than honey from the comb.
So in them your servant finds instruction; *
great reward is in their keeping.
But who can detect all his errors? *
From hidden faults acquit me.
From presumption restrain your servant*
and let it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless, *
clean from grave sin.
May the spoken words of my mouth, *
the thoughts of my heart,
win favor in your sight, O Lord, *
my rescuer, my rock!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 2 The Most High has made holy the place where he dwells (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 3 Of you are told glorious things, O Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 23
The Lord comes to his temple
The Lord's is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, †
who desires not worthless things, *
who have not sworn so as to deceive their neighbor.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord*
and reward from the God who saves him .
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. Of you are told glorious things, O Virgin Mary. (E.T. Alleluia)
VERSICLE
V. Blessed are they who hear the word of God (E.T. Alleluia)
R. And keep it in their hearts (E.T. Alleluia)
FIRST READING
From the first book of Chronicles
17:1-15
A prophecy about the Son of David
Now when David dwelt in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent." And Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: You shall not build me a house to dwell in. For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I led up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'
Now therefore thus shall you say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house.
When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son; I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom for ever and his throne shall be established for ever.'" In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David
RESPONSORY
R. Blessed are you, Virgin Mary! You bore in your womb the Lord, the Creator of the world. * You gave birth to him who made you, and you remained a virgin forever. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you! * You gave birth to him who made you, and you remained a virgin forever. (E.T. Alleluia)
SECOND READING
Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI
To Honour Mary
Finally, insofar as it may be necessary we would like to repeat that the ultimate purpose of devotion to the Blessed Virgin is to glorify God and to lead Christians to commit themselves to a life which is in absolute conformity with His will. When the children of the Church unite their voices with the voice of the unknown woman in the Gospel and glorify the Mother of Jesus by saying to Him: "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that you sucked" (Lk. 11:27), they will be led to ponder the Divine Master's serious reply: "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Lk. 11:28) While it is true that this reply is in itself lively praise of Mary, as various Fathers of the Church interpreted it and the Second Vatican Council has confirmed, it is also an admonition to us to live our lives in accordance with God’s commandments. It is also an echo of other words of the Savior: “Not every one who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 7:21); and again: “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Jn. 15:14).
Christ is the only way to the Father (cf. Jn. 14:4-11), and the ultimate example to whom the disciple must conform his own conduct (cf. Jn. 13:15), to the extent of sharing Christ’s sentiments (cf. Phil. 2:5), living His life and possessing His Spirit (cf. Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:10-11). The Church has always taught this and nothing in pastoral activity should obscure this doctrine. But the Church, taught by the Holy Spirit and benefiting from centuries of experience, recognizes that devotion to the Blessed Virgin, subordinated to worship of the divine Savior and in connection with it, also has a great pastoral effectiveness and constitutes a force for renewing Christian living.
It is easy to see the reason for this effectiveness. Mary’s many-sided mission to the People of God is a supernatural reality which operates and bears fruit within the body of the Church. One finds cause for joy in considering the different aspects of this mission, and seeing how each of these aspects with its individual effectiveness is directed towards the same end, namely, producing in the children the spiritual characteristics of the first-born Son. The Virgin’s maternal intercession, her exemplary holiness and the divine grace which is in her become for the human race a reason for divine hope.
RESPONSORY
R. Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; * his love for me is great (E.T. Alleluia)
V. From this day forward, all generations will call me blessed; * his love for me is great (E.T. Alleluia)
¶ Other suitable readings may be substituted. (See Appendix). Continue at Te Deum
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Fragrant is the scent of your perfume, immaculate Virgin. Let us follow in your footsteps. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 44
Royal wedding song
My heart overflows with noble words. †
To the king I must speak the song I have made,*
my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.
You are the fairest of the children of men †
and graciousness is poured upon your lips: *
because God has blessed you for evermore.
O mighty one, gird your sword upon your thigh;†
in splendor and state, ride on in triumph *
for the cause of truth and goodness and right.
Take aim with your bow in your dread right hand. †
Your arrows are sharp, peoples fall beneath you. *
The foes of the king fall down and lose heart.
Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever.†
A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom. *
Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you †
with the oil of gladness above other kings: *
your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh.
From the ivory palace you are greeted with music. †
The daughters of kings are among your loved ones. *
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: *
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty: *
He is your lord, pay homage to him.
And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts, *
the richest of the people shall seek your favor.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor, *
her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.
She is led to the king with her maiden companions. †
They are escorted amid gladness and joy; *
they pass within the palace of the king.
Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers: *
you will make them rulers over all the earth.
May this song make your name for ever remembered. *
May the peoples praise you from age to age
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 1 Fragrant is the scent of your perfume, immaculate Virgin. Let us follow in your footsteps. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 2 You are blessed, daughter, by the Lord your God: through you we partake of the fullness of life.
(E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 45
God is our refuge and strength
God is for us a refuge and strength, *
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, *
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
even though its waters rage and foam, *
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The waters of a river give joy to God's city, *
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken; *
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken: *
he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, consider the works of the Lord, *
the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
He puts an end to wars over all the earth; *
the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps.
He burns the shields with fire. †
"Be still and know that I am God, *
supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!"
The Lord of hosts is with us: *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 2 You are blessed, daughter, by the Lord your God: through you we partake of the fullness of life.
(E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 3 All men will be called her children: the Most High himself has established her. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 86
Jerusalem, mother of all nations
On the holy mountain is his city*
cherished by the Lord.
The Lord prefers the gates of Zion*
to all Jacob's dwellings.
Of you are told glorious things, *
O city of God!
Babylon and Egypt I will count *
among those who know me;
Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia, *
these will be her children
and Zion shall be called "Mother"*
for all shall be her children."
It is he, the Lord Most High, *
who gives each his place.
In his register of peoples he writes: *
"These are her children,"
and while they dance they will sing: *
"In you all find their home."
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 3 All men will be called her children: the Most High himself has established her. (E.T. Alleluia)
VERSICLE
V. Blessed Mother and ever-Virgin Mary, glorious Queen of the world. (E.T. Alleluia)
R. Intercede for us with the Lord. (E.T. Alleluia)
FIRST READING
From the Song of Songs
2:10-14; 8:6-7
Mary, the beautiful one
My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned.
RESPONSORY
R. Like a thorn which has borne a rose, Eve gave birth to Mary * so that goodness might overcome our guilt and grace supplant our sin. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. The Lord willed this for our greater glory * so that goodness might overcome our guilt and grace supplant our sin. (E.T. Alleluia)
SECOND READING
Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI
To Honour Mary
The Blessed Virgin's role as Mother leads the People of God to turn with filial confidence to her who is ever ready to listen with a mother's affection and efficacious assistance. Thus the People of God have learned to call on her as the Consoler of the afflicted, the Health of the sick, and the Refuge of sinners, that they may find comfort in tribulation, relief in sickness and liberating strength in guilt.
For she, who is free from sin, leads her children to combat sin with energy and resoluteness. This liberation from sin and evil (cf. Mt. 6:13)-it must be repeated-is the necessary premise for any renewal of Christian living.
The Blessed Virgin's exemplary holiness encourages the faithful to "raise their eyes to Mary who shines forth before the whole community of the elect as a model of the virtues." It is a question of solid, evangelical virtues: faith and the docile acceptance of the Word of God; generous obedience (cf Lk. 1:38); genuine humility (cf. Lk. 1:48); solicitous charity (cf. Lk. 1:39-56); profound wisdom (cf. Lk. 1:29, 34; 2:19, 33:51); worship of God manifested in alacrity in the fulfillment of religious duties (cf. Lk. 2:21-41), in gratitude for gifts received (cf Lk. 1:46-49), in her offering in the Temple (cf. Lk. 2:22-24) and in her prayer in the midst of the apostolic community (cf. Acts 1:12-14); her fortitude in exile (cf. Mt. 2:13-23) and in suffering (cf. Lk. 2:34-35, 49; Jn. 19 25); her poverty reflecting dignity and trust in God (cf. Lk. 1:48, 2:24) her attentive care for her Son, from His humble birth to the ignominy of the cross (cf. Lk. 2:1-7; Jn. 19:25-27); her delicate forethought (cf. Jn. 2:1-11); her virginal purity (cf. Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38); her strong and chaste married love.
These virtues of the Mother will also adorn her children who steadfastly study her example in order to reflect it in their own lives. And this progress in virtue will appear as the consequence and the already mature fruit of that pastoral zeal which springs from devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
RESPONSORY
R. It is by the Holy Spirit that Mary has conceived this child. She will bear a son * and he will save his people from their sins. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. His greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth. He shall be a man of peace * and he will save his people from their sins. (E.T. Alleluia)
¶ Other suitable readings may be substituted. (See Appendix). Continue at Te Deum.
SATURDAY
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, above all women on earth. The Lord himself has chosen you. (E. T. Alleluia)
Psalm 95
The Lord is king and ruler of all the earth
O sing a new song to the Lord, †
sing to the Lord all the earth. *
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim his help day by day, †
tell among the nations his glory*
and his wonders among all the peoples.
The Lord is great and worthy of praise,†
to be feared above all gods; *
the gods of the heathens are naught.
It was the Lord who made the heavens,†
his are majesty and state and power*
and splendor in his holy place.
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,†
give the Lord glory and power; *
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Bring an offering and enter his courts, †
worship the Lord in his temple. *
O earth, tremble before him.
Proclaim to the nations: "God is king." †
The world he made firm in its place; *
he will judge the people in fairness.
Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad, *
let the sea and all within it thunder praise,
let the land and all it bears rejoice, *
all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord for he comes, *
he comes to rule the earth.
With justice he will rule the world, *
he will judge the peoples with his truth.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 1 Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, above all women on earth. The Lord himself has chosen you. (E. T. Alleluia)
Ant. 2 The Lord has clothed me in the garments of salvation; he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity. (E. T. Alleluia)
Psalm 96
The glory of the Lord’s rule
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice, *
let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment; *
his throne, justice and right.
A fire prepares his path; *
it burns up his foes on every side.
His lightnings light up the world, *
the earth trembles at the sight.
The mountains melt like wax*
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice; *
all peoples see his glory.
Let those who serve idols be ashamed, †
those who boast of their worthless gods. *
All you spirits, worship him.
Zion hears and is glad;†
the people of Judah rejoice*
because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you indeed are the Lord†
most high above all the earth, *
exalted far above all spirits.
The Lord loves those who hate evil;†
he guards the souls of his saints; *
he sets them free from the wicked.
Light shines forth for the just *
and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord; *
give glory to his holy name.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 2 The Lord has clothed me in the garments of salvation; he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity. (E. T. Alleluia)
Ant. 3 Behold, the chaste Mother who knew no stain; she was chosen to be chosen to be the Mother of God. (E. T. Alleluia)
Psalm 97
The Lord is victor and a just ruler
Sing a new song to the Lord*
for he has worked wonders.
His right and hand his holy arm*
have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation; *
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love*
for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen *
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, *
ring out your joy.
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp*
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn*
acclaim the King, the Lord.
Let the sea and all within it, thunder; *
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands*
and the hills ring out their joy
Rejoice at the presence of the Lord: *
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice*
and the peoples with fairness.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 3 Behold, the chaste Mother who knew no stain; she was chosen to be chosen to be the Mother of God. (E. T. Alleluia)
FIRST READING
From the book of Sirach
24:2-12; 16-22
The praises of Mary, Seat of Wisdom
In the assembly of the Most High she will open her mouth, and in the presence of his host she will glory:"I came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth like a mist. I dwelt in high places, and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. Alone I have made the circuit of the vault of heaven and have walked in the depths of the abyss. In the waves of the sea, in the whole earth, and in every people and nation I have gotten a possession. Among all these I sought a resting place; I sought in whose territory I might lodge.
Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and the one who created me assigned a place for my tent. And he said, ‘Make your dwelling in Jacob, and in Israel receive your inheritance.’ From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall not cease to exist. In the holy tabernacle I ministered before him, and so I was established in Zion. In the beloved city likewise he gave me a resting place, and in Jerusalem was my dominion. So I took root in an honored people, in the portion of the Lord, who is their inheritance.
Like a terebinth I spread out my branches, and my branches are glorious and graceful. Like a vine I caused loveliness to bud, and my blossoms became glorious and abundant fruit. Come to me, you who desire me, and eat your fill of my produce. For the remembrance of me is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance sweeter than the honeycomb. Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me will thirst for more. Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with my help will not sin.”
RESPONSORY
R. The salvation of the world has been made manifest to all who believe through the Virgin Mary * whose wonderful life illumines the whole Church (E.T. Alleluia)
V. Let us celebrate this day with the greatest devotion in memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary * whose wonderful life illumines the whole Church (E.T. Alleluia)
SECOND READING
Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI
To Honour Mary
Devotion to the Mother of the Lord becomes for the faithful an opportunity for growing in divine grace, and this is the ultimate aim of all pastoral activity. For it is impossible to honor her who is "full of grace" (Lk. 1:28) without thereby honoring in oneself the state of grace, which is friendship with God, communion with Him and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is this divine grace which takes possession of the whole man and conforms him to the image of the Son of God (cf. Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:18).
The Catholic Church, endowed with centuries of experience, recognizes in devotion to the Blessed Virgin a powerful aid for man as he strives for fulfillment. Mary, the New Woman, stands at the side of Christ, the New Man, within whose mystery the mystery of man(124) alone finds true light; she is given to it as a pledge and guarantee that God's plan in Christ for the salvation of the whole man has already achieved realization in a creature: in her. Contemplated in the episodes of the Gospels and in the reality which she already possesses in the City of God, the Blessed Virgin
Mary offers a calm vision and a reassuring word to modern man, torn as he often is between anguish and hope, defeated by the sense of his own limitations and assailed by limitless aspirations, troubled in his mind and divided in his heart, uncertain before the riddle of death, oppressed by loneliness while yearning for fellowship, a prey to boredom and disgust. She shows forth the victory of hope over anguish, of fellowship over solitude, of peace over anxiety, of joy and beauty over boredom and disgust, of eternal visions over earthly ones, of life over death.
Let the very words that she spoke to the servants at the marriage feast of Cana, "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn. 2:5), be a seal on our Exhortation and a further reason in favor of the pastoral value of devotion to the Blessed Virgin as a means of leading men to Christ. Those words, which at first sight were limited to the desire to remedy an embarrassment at the feast, are seen in the context of Saint John's Gospel to re-echo the words used by the people of Israel to give approval to the Covenant at Sinai (cf. Ex. 19:8, 24:3, 7; Dt. 5:27) and to renew their commitments (cf. Jos. 24:24; Ezr. 10:12; Neh. 5:12). And they are words which harmonize wonderfully with those spoken by the Father at the theophany on Mount Tabor: "Listen to him" (Mt. 17:5).
RESPONSORY
R. Blessed are you who have believed, because what has been promised to you by the Lord will be fulfilled. And Mary said: * ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.’ (E.T. Alleluia)
V. Come and hear: I will tell what God has done for my soul. * My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord (E.T. Alleluia)
¶ Other suitable readings may be substituted. (See Appendix)
Skip to the Closing Prayer.
HYMN OF PRAISE
Te Deum
¶ This hymn is said on Sundays outside of Lent , during the octaves of Easter and Christmas and on Solemnities and Feasts.
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as the Lord.
Everlasting Father,
all the world bows down before you.
All the angels sing your praise,
the hosts of heaven and all the angelic powers,
all the cherubim and seraphim
call out to you in unending song
Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God of angel hosts!
The heavens and the earth are filled
with your majesty and glory.
The glorious band of apostles,
the noble company of prophets,
the white-robed army who shed their blood for Christ,
all sing your praise.
And to the ends of the Earth
your holy Church proclaims her faith in you:
Father, whose majesty is boundless,
your true and only Son, who is to be adored,
the Holy Spirit sent to be our Advocate.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
Son of the eternal Father.
When you took our nature to save mankind
you did not shrink from birth in the virgin's womb.
You overcame the power of death
opening the Father's kingdom to all who believe in you.
Enthroned at God's right hand in the glory of the Father,
you will come in judgment according to your promise.
You redeemed your people by your precious blood.
Come, we implore you, to our aid.
Grant us with the saints
a place in eternal glory.
Lord, save your people
and bless your inheritance.
Rule them and uphold them
for ever and ever.
Day by day we praise you:
we acclaim you now and to all eternity.
In your goodness, Lord, keep us free from sin.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
May your mercy always be with us, Lord,
for we have hoped in you.
In you, Lord, we put our trust:
we shall not be put to shame.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
THROUGH THE YEAR
Grant us, Lord, we pray,
the joy of continual health of mind and body:
and through the intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin,
free us of this present sadness,
fill us with eternal joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Forgive the sins of your people, Lord,
and as nothing we can do is worthy in your sight,
save us through the intercession of the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Come to help us in our weakness, God of mercy,
and as we celebrate the memory of the Mother of God,
may we rise from our sins
by the help of her prayer.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Let the gracious intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin help us, Lord:
may she protect us in all dangers
and make us rejoice in your peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Lord God,
as we venerate the memory of the Virgin Mary, now in glory,
grant that by her intercession
we ourselves may share in the fullness of your grace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Almighty God,
grant that your faithful who rejoice in the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
may be delivered from every evil here on earth through her prayer,
and come to the enduring joys of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
ADVENT
As it was your will, heavenly Father,
that, at the angel’s message,
your Word should be conceived by the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grant, that as we believe her to be truly the Mother of God
so may we be helped by her intercession.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
CHRISTMASTIDE
God, our Father,
since you gave mankind a Saviour
through Blessed Mary, virgin and mother,
grant that we may feel the power of her intercession,
when she pleads for us
with Jesus Christ, your Son, the author of life,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
LENT
Lord,
open our hearts to your grace.
Through the angel’s message to Mary
we have learned to believe in the incarnation of Christ your Son.
Lead us by his passion and cross
to the glory of his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
EASTERTIDE
Lord God,
as you brought joy to the world
through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
grant that through his Virgin Mother
we may come to the joys of eternal life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen.
CONCLUSION
V. Let us praise the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
ANTIPHON TO OUR LADY
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God,
with the help of the Holy Spirit,
you prepared a dwelling worthy of your Son
in the body and soul of blessed Mary the Virgin Mother;
grant then, that we who are happy to celebrate her memory,
may by her maternal intercession,
be freed from present ills and everlasting death:
and this we ask in the name of Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen
Or, said or sung especially by Carmelites
FLOS CARMELI
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
V. Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto you
[A priest or deacon adds:
V. The Lord be with you
R. And also with you]
Let us pray
By a special privilege Lord,
you have adorned our Order with the name of your Mother,
the most glorious Virgin Mary:
grant as we faithfully remember this honour,
that in these days we may receive her protection
and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness,
and this we ask of you, who are living and reigning for ever.
R. Amen
V. May the blessed Virgin Mary help us in every trial and danger.
R. Amen.
V. May God grant us peace.
R. And everlasting life. Amen.
EASTERTIDE
REGINA CAELI
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia!
Has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, alleluia
Let us pray
O God,
you give joy to your family
through the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:
grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen.
V. O God, + come to our aid
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
¶ This versicle is omitted when the Call to Praise and Worship, or the Office of Readings immediately precedes this Hour.
HYMN
Mary, crowned with living light,
Temple of the Lord,
Place of peace and holiness,
Shelter of the Word.
Mystery of sinless life
In our fallen race,
Free from shadow, you reflect
Plenitude of grace.
Virgin-mother of our God,
Lift us when we fall,
Who were named upon the Cross
Mother of us all.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Heaven sings your praise;
Mary magnifies your name
Through eternal days.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Blessed are you, O Mary for through you salvation came into the world; now you are in glory and rejoice before the Lord. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalms 62 (63): 2-9
A soul thirsting for God
O God, you are my God, for you I long; *
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you *
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary *
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life, *
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,*
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, *
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you. *
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help; *
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 1: Blessed are you, O Mary for through you salvation came into the world; now you are in glory and rejoice before the Lord. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 2 The Virgin Mary is exalted high above the choirs of angels; let all the faithful rejoice and bless the Lord. (E.T. Alleluia)
Canticle: Dan 3: 57-88, 56
Let every creature praise the Lord
O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, angels of the Lord, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, the heavens of the Lord, O bless the Lord. *
And you, clouds of the sky, O bless the Lord.
And you, all armies of the Lord, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, sun and moon, O bless the Lord. *
And you, the stars of the heavens, O bless the Lord.
And you, showers and rain, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, all you breezes and winds, O bless the Lord. *
And you, fire and heat, O bless the Lord.
And you, cold and heat, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, showers and dew, O bless the Lord. *
And you, frosts and cold, O bless the Lord.
And you, frost and snow, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, night-time and day, O bless the Lord. *
And you, darkness and light, O bless the Lord.
And you, lightning and clouds, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
O let the earth bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, mountains and hills, O bless the Lord. *
And you, all plants of the earth, O bless the Lord.
And you, fountains and springs, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, rivers and seas, O bless the Lord. *
And you, creatures of the sea, O bless the Lord.
And you, every bird in the sky, O bless the Lord. *
And you, wild beasts and tame, O bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise forever.
And you, children of men, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
O Israel, bless the Lord, O bless the Lord. *
And you, priests of the Lord, O bless the Lord.
And you, servants of the Lord, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
And you, spirits and souls of the just, O bless the Lord. *
And you, holy and humble of heart, O bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Mizael, O bless the Lord. *
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
Let us praise the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit: *
To you be highest glory and praise for ever.
May you be blessed, O Lord, in the heavens. *
To you be highest glory and praise for ever.
Ant. 2 The Virgin Mary is exalted high above the choirs of angels; let all the faithful rejoice and bless the Lord. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 3 Your name has been so exalted by the Lord, that your praises will never cease on the lips of men. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 149
The song of joy of the saints
Sing a new song to the Lord, *
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker, *
let Zion's sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing *
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people. *
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, *
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips *
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations *
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains *
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained: *
this honor is for all his faithful. *
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. 3 Your name has been so exalted by the Lord, that your praises will never cease on the lips of men. (E.T. Alleluia)
SCRIPTURE READING
Cf Is 61:10
I exult for joy in the Lord,
my soul rejoices in my God,
for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation,
he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity,
like a bride adorned in her jewels.
Pause for reflection
SHORT RESPONSORY
R. The Lord chose her. * He chose her before she was born.
R. The Lord chose her. * He chose her before she was born.
V. He made her live in His own dwelling place
R. He chose her before she was born
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
R. The Lord chose her. * He chose her before she was born.
BENEDICTUS
Antiphon:
One of the following may be chosen
1. Let us celebrate the commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary that she may intercede for us with the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, above all women on earth. The Lord God himself has chosen you.
3. Through you, immaculate Virgin, the life we had lost was returned to us. You received a child from heaven and brought forth to the world a Saviour.
4. Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. You are the most blessed of all women, alleluia.
5. How shall I fittingly praise you, holy and immaculate virginity of Mary? Through you we received our redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. You are the glory of Jerusalem! You are the joy of Israel! You are the highest honour of our race.
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Lk 1:68-79
Blessed + be the Lord the God of Israel! *
He has visited his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty saviour *
in the house of David his servant,
as he promised by the lips of holy men, *
those who were his prophets from of old.
A saviour who would free us from our foes, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled
and his holy covenant remembered.
He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, *
that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness and justice *
all the days of our life in his presence.
As for you, little child,*
you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord *
to prepare his ways before him,
To make known to his people their salvation *
through forgiveness of all their sins,
the loving-kindness of the heart of our God *
who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those who dwell in darkness,
those who dwell in the shadow of death, *
and guide us into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Antiphon:
One of the following may be chosen
1. Let us celebrate the commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary that she may intercede for us with the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, above all women on earth. The Lord God himself has chosen you.
3. Through you, immaculate Virgin, the life we had lost was returned to us. You received a child from heaven and brought forth to the world a Saviour.
4. Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. You are the most blessed of all women, alleluia.
5. How shall I fittingly praise you, holy and immaculate virginity of Mary? Through you we received our redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. You are the glory of Jerusalem! You are the joy of Israel! You are the highest honour of our race.
INTERCESSIONS
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
Let us proclaim the greatness of our Saviour who chose to be born of the Virgin Mary. Confident that He will hear us we ask:
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Sun of Justice, you showed your day was dawning in the immaculate Virgin Mary;
– help us to walk in the daylight of your presence.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Eternal Word, in the living flesh of Mary, you found a dwelling place on earth
– remain with us forever in hearts free from sin.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Christ our Saviour, you willed that you Mother should be there when you died;
– through her intercession may we rejoice to share you suffering.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Loving Saviour, while hanging on the cross, you gave you mother Mary to be the mother of John
– let us be known as her children by our way of living.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Other personal prayers may be added.
Following our Lord’s teaching, let us say with faith and trust:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Continue at Concluding Prayer
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Let us proclaim the greatness of our Saviour who chose to be born of the Virgin Mary. Confident that He will hear us we ask:
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Saviour of the world, by your redemptive power you preserved your Mother Mary from every stain of sin
– deliver us form the evil that lies hidden in our hearts.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Christ our Redeemer, you made the Virgin Mary the sanctuary of your presence and the temple of the Spirit
– make us bearers of your Spirit, in mind, heart and body.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Eternal Word, you taught your Mother Mary to choose the path that was best
– let us follow her example and hunger for the food of everlasting life.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
King of kings, you assumed Mary into heaven to be with you completely in body and soul;
– may we seek the things that are above and keep our lives fixed on you.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
King of heaven and earth, you placed Mary at your side to reign as queen forever
– grant us the joy of sharing in your glory.
R. Lord may your Mother pray for us
Other personal prayers may be added.
Let us fulfill our Lord’s instruction and say:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Continue at Concluding Prayer
Saturday
United in spirit to honour our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother of our Saviour, let us say to him:
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
Christ, Son of God, you deigned to be born of the Virgin Mary
– help us to live as children of God.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
King and Lord, you honoured us by taking flesh of the Virgin Mary;
– grant that we may always honour you by our faith and conduct.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
Saviour of us all, your Mother conceived you first in her mind before she conceived you in her womb;
– help us to live by faith
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
Christ, you willed that you Mother should be your perfect disciple;
– give us the strength to follow you more closely.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
Lord God, you called your Mother happy because she always did the will of your Father in heaven;
– help us always to do the things which please him.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
Other personal prayers may be added.
Let us now say those words which the Lord gave us as the pattern of all prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
THROUGH THE YEAR
Grant us, Lord, we pray,
the joy of continual health of mind and body:
and through the intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin,
free us of this present sadness,
fill us with eternal joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Forgive the sins of your people, Lord,
and as nothing we can do is worthy in your sight,
save us through the intercession of the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Come to help us in our weakness, God of mercy,
and as we celebrate the memory of the Mother of God,
may we rise from our sins
by the help of her prayer.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Let the gracious intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin help us, Lord:
may she protect us in all dangers
and make us rejoice in your peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Lord God,
as we venerate the memory of the Virgin Mary, now in glory,
grant that by her intercession
we ourselves may share in the fullness of your grace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Almighty God,
grant that your faithful who rejoice in the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
may be delivered from every evil here on earth through her prayer,
and come to the enduring joys of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
ADVENT
As it was your will, heavenly Father,
that, at the angel’s message,
your Word should be conceived by the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grant, that as we believe her to be truly the Mother of God
so may we be helped by her intercession.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
CHRISTMASTIDE
God, our Father,
since you gave mankind a Saviour
through Blessed Mary, virgin and mother,
grant that we may feel the power of her intercession,
when she pleads for us
with Jesus Christ, your Son, the author of life,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
LENT
Lord,
open our hearts to your grace.
Through the angel’s message to Mary
we have learned to believe in the incarnation of Christ your Son.
Lead us by his passion and cross
to the glory of his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
EASTERTIDE
Lord God,
as you brought joy to the world
through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
grant that through his Virgin Mother
we may come to the joys of eternal life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen.
CONCLUSION
V. The Lord bless + us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
R. Amen.
ANTIPHON TO OUR LADY
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God,
with the help of the Holy Spirit,
you prepared a dwelling worthy of your Son
in the body and soul of blessed Mary the Virgin Mother;
grant then, that we who are happy to celebrate her memory,
may by her maternal intercession,
be freed from present ills and everlasting death:
and this we ask in the name of Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen
Or, said or sung especially by Carmelites
FLOS CARMELI
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
V. Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto you
[A priest or deacon adds:
V. The Lord be with you
R. And also with you]
Let us pray
By a special privilege Lord,
you have adorned our Order with the name of your Mother,
the most glorious Virgin Mary:
grant as we faithfully remember this honour,
that in these days we may receive her protection
and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness,
and this we ask of you, who are living and reigning for ever.
R. Amen
V. May the blessed Virgin Mary help us in every trial and danger.
R. Amen.
V. May God grant us peace.
R. And everlasting life. Amen.
EASTERTIDE
REGINA CAELI
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia!
Has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, alleluia
Let us pray
O God,
you give joy to your family
through the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:
grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen.
V. O God, + come to our aid
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
HYMN
Eternal Father, loving God,
Who made us from the dust of earth,
Transform us by your spirits grace,
Give value to our little worth.
Prepare us for that day of days
When Christ from heaven will come with might
To call us out of dust again
Our bodies glorified in light
O Godhead, here untouched, unseen,
All things created bear your trace;
The seed of glory sown in man
Will flower when we see Your face
PSALMODY
Ant. They all joined together in constant prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 119
Longing for peace
To the Lord in the hour of my distress *
I call and he answers me.
“O Lord, save my soul from lying lips, *
from the tongue of the deceitful.”"
What shall he repay you in return, *
O treacherous tongue?
The warriors arrows sharpened *
and coals, red-hot, blazing.
Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech, *
dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Long enough have I been dwelling
with those who hate peace.
I am for peace, but when I speak,
they are for fighting.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Psalm 120
God, the protector of his people
I lift up my eyes to the mountains; *
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord *
who made heaven and earth.
May he never allow you to stumble! *
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, *
Israel's guard.
The Lord is your guard and your shade; *
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you *
nor the moon in the night.
The Lord will guard you from evil, *
he will guard you soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming *
both now and for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Psalm 127
Peace in the home, a gift from the Lord
O blessed are those who fear the Lord
and walk in his ways!
By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
You will be happy and prosper;
the wife like a fruitful vine
in the heart of your house;
Your children like shoots of the olive,
around the your table.
Indeed thus shall be blessed
the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion
all the days of your life!
May you see your children's children
in a happy Jerusalem!
On Israel, peace!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. They all joined together in constant prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus. (E.T. Alleluia)
SCRIPTURE READING
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice, rejoice, daughter of Zion,
shout aloud, daughter of Jerusalem;
for see, your king is coming to you,
his cause won, his victory gained.
Pause for reflection
V. How full of glory is this mother. (E.T. Alleluia)
R. She gave birth to the King of Heaven. (E.T. Alleluia)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray
Lord,
as we come to praise you during this day,
fill our hearts with your wisdom that,
through the intercession of our Lady of Mount Carmel,
we may always walk in the way of your commandments
and never fall into sin.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Let us pray
Lord God Almighty,
you have brought us safely to this time of day.
Relying on the intercession of Mary,
Mother of your Son and our Mother,
we ask you to keep us free from sin,
so that all our thoughts, words and actions
may be pleasing to you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
CONCLUSION
V. Let us praise the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
ANTIPHON TO OUR LADY
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God,
with the help of the Holy Spirit,
you prepared a dwelling worthy of your Son
in the body and soul of blessed Mary the Virgin Mother;
grant then, that we who are happy to celebrate her memory,
may by her maternal intercession,
be freed from present ills and everlasting death:
and this we ask in the name of Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen
Or, said or sung especially by Carmelites
FLOS CARMELI
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
V. Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto you
[A priest or deacon adds:
V. The Lord be with you
R. And also with you]
Let us pray
By a special privilege Lord,
you have adorned our Order with the name of your Mother,
the most glorious Virgin Mary:
grant as we faithfully remember this honour,
that in these days we may receive her protection
and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness,
and this we ask of you, who are living and reigning for ever.
R. Amen
V. May the blessed Virgin Mary help us in every trial and danger.
R. Amen.
V. May God grant us peace.
R. And everlasting life. Amen.
EASTERTIDE
REGINA CAELI
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia!
Has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, alleluia
Let us pray
O God,
you give joy to your family
through the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:
grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen.
V. O God, + come to our aid
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
HYMN
Come, Holy Spirit, live in us
With God the Father and the Son,
And grant us your abundant grace
To sanctify and make us one.
May mind and tongue made strong in love,
Your praise throughout the world proclaim,
And may that love within our hearts
Set fire to others with its flame.
Most blessed Trinity of love
For whom the heart of man was made,
To you be praise in timeless song,
And everlasting homage paid.
PSALMODY
Ant. Mary gave birth to the king who name is eternal; she united the joy of a mother with the honour of a virgin; such as this has never happened before nor will it happen again. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 122
The Lord is the hope of his people
To you have I lifted up my eyes, *
you who dwell in the heavens;
my eyes, like the eyes of slaves *
on the hand of their lords.
Like the eyes of a servant *
on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God *
till he show us his mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. *
We are filled with contempt.
Indeed all too full is our soul †
with the scorn of the rich, *
with the proud man's disdain.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Psalm 123
Our help is in the name of the Lord
If the Lord had not been on our side," *
this is Israel's song.
"If the Lord had not been on our side *
when men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive *
when their anger was kindled.
Then would the waters have engulfed us, *
the torrent gone over us;
over our head would have swept *
the raging waters."
Blessed be the Lord who did not give us *
a prey to their teeth!
Our life, like a bird, has escaped *
from the snare of the fowler.
Indeed the snare has been broken *
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, *
who made heaven and earth.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Psalm 124
The Lord, the protector of his people
Those who put their trust in the Lord †
are like Mount Zion, that cannot be shaken, *
that stands for ever.
Jerusalem! The mountains surround her, †
so the Lord surrounds his people *
both now and for ever.
For the scepter of the wicked shall not rest *
over the land of the just
for fear that the hands of the just *
should turn to evil.
Do good, Lord, to those who are good, *
to the upright of heart;
but the crooked and those who do evil, *
drive them away!
On Israel, peace!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. Mary gave birth to the king who name is eternal; she united the joy of a mother with the honour of a virgin; such as this has never happened before nor will it happen again. (E.T. Alleluia)
SCRIPTURE READING
Judith 13:31
Wherever the sons of Jacob dwell,
God has made your name a name of blessing;
wherever your renown reaches through the world,
the God of Israel shall be glorified in the telling of it.
Pause for reflection
V. You are the most blessed of all women (E.T. Alleluia)
R. And blessed is the fruit of your womb (E.T. Alleluia)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray
Lord,
as we come to praise you during this day,
fill our hearts with your wisdom that,
through the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
we may always walk in the way of your commandments
and never fall into sin.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Let us pray
Lord God Almighty,
you have brought us safely to this time of day.
Relying on the intercession of Mary,
Mother of your Son and our Mother,
we ask you to keep us free from sin,
so that all our thoughts, words and actions
may be pleasing to you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
CONCLUSION
V. Let us praise the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
ANTIPHON TO OUR LADY
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God,
with the help of the Holy Spirit,
you prepared a dwelling worthy of your Son
in the body and soul of blessed Mary the Virgin Mother;
grant then, that we who are happy to celebrate her memory,
may by her maternal intercession,
be freed from present ills and everlasting death:
and this we ask in the name of Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen
Or, said or sung especially by Carmelites
FLOS CARMELI
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
V. Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto you
[A priest or deacon adds:
V. The Lord be with you
R. And also with you]
Let us pray
By a special privilege Lord,
you have adorned our Order with the name of your Mother,
the most glorious Virgin Mary:
grant as we faithfully remember this honour,
that in these days we may receive her protection
and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness,
and this we ask of you, who are living and reigning for ever.
R. Amen
V. May the blessed Virgin Mary help us in every trial and danger.
R. Amen.
V. May God grant us peace.
R. And everlasting life. Amen.
EASTERTIDE
REGINA CAELI
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia!
Has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, alleluia
Let us pray
O God,
you give joy to your family
through the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:
grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen.
V. O God, + come to our aid
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
HYMN
Star of sea and ocean,
Gateway to God's haven,
Mother of our Maker,
Hear our prayer, O Maiden.
Welcoming the Ave,
Gabriel's simple greeting,
You have borne a Savior
Far beyond all dreaming.
Loose the bonds that hold us
Bound in sin's own blindness
That with eyes now opened
God's own light may guide us.
Show yourself our mother;
He will hear your pleading
Whom your womb has sheltered
And whose hand brings healing.
Gentlest of all virgins,
That our love be faithful
Keep us from all evil,
Gentle, strong, and grateful.
Guard us through life's dangers,
Never turn and leave us
May our hope find harbor
In the calm of Jesus.
Sing to God our Father
Through the Son who saves us,
Joyful in the Spirit,
Everlasting praises.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. (E.T. Alleluia)
Psalm 121 (122)
The holy city of Jerusalem
I rejoiced when I heard them say: *
"Let us go to God's house."
And now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city *
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up, *
the tribes of the Lord.
For Israel's law it is, *
there to praise the Lord's name.
There were set the thrones of judgment *
of the house of David.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray: *
"Peace be to your homes!
May peace reign in your walls, *
in your palaces, peace!"
For love of my brethren and friends *
I say: "Peace upon you."
For love of the house of the Lord *
I will ask for your good.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 1 Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 2 I am the servant of the Lord; let it be as you have said. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ps. 126 (127)
Success depends on the Lord’s blessing
If the Lord does not build the house, *
in vain do its builders labor;
if the Lord does not watch over the city, *
in vain does the watchman keep vigil.
In vain is your earlier rising, *
your going later to rest,
you who toil for the bread you eat, *
when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.
Truly sons are a gift from the Lord, *
a blessing, the fruit of the womb.
Indeed the sons of youth *
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
O the happiness of the man *
who has filled his quiver with these arrows!
He will have no cause for shame *
when he disputes with his foes in the gateways.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 2 I am the servant of the Lord; let it be as you have said. (E.T. Alleluia)
Ant. 3 You are the most blessed of all women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. (E.T. Alleluia)
Canticle: Eph 1: 3-10
God the Saviour
Blessed be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ *
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
He chose us in him *
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy *
and blameless before him.
He destined us in love *
to be his sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, †
to the praise of his glorious grace *
which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, *
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace *
which he lavished upon us.
He has made known to us *
in all wisdom and insight
the mystery of his will, †
according to his purpose *
which he set forth in Christ
His purpose he set forth in Christ *
as a plan for the fulness of time,
to unite all things in him, *
things in heaven and things on earth.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. 3 You are the most blessed of all women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. (E.T. Alleluia)
SCRIPTURE READING
Gal 4:4-5
When the appointed time came,
God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born a subject of the Law,
to redeem the subjects of the Law
and to enable us to be adopted as sons.
RESPONSORY
R. Hail Mary, full of grace * the Lord is with you.
R. Hail Mary, full of grace * the Lord is with you.
V. You are the most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
R. The Lord is with you.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Hail Mary, full of grace * the Lord is with you.
Eastertide
R. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, * alleluia, alleluia.
R. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, * alleluia, alleluia.
V. You are the most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
R. Alleluia, alleluia
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, * alleluia, alleluia.
MAGNIFICAT
Antiphon:
One of the following may be chosen
1. Let us celebrate the commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary that she may intercede for us with the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, above all women on earth. The Lord God himself has chosen you.
3. Through you, immaculate Virgin, the life we had lost was returned to us. You received a child from heaven and brought forth to the world a Saviour.
4. Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. You are the most blessed of all women, alleluia.
5. How shall I fittingly praise you, holy and immaculate virginity of Mary? Through you we received our redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. You are the glory of Jerusalem! You are the joy of Israel! You are the highest honour of our race.
CANTICLE OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Lk 1:45-55
My + soul glorifies the Lord, *
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
He looks on His servant in her lowliness, *
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me. *
Holy is his name!
His mercy is from age to age, *
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength *
and scatters the proud hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones *
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things, *
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel his servant *
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers *
to Abraham and his sons forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Antiphon:
The previously chosen antiphon is repeated
1. Let us celebrate the commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary that she may intercede for us with the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, above all women on earth. The Lord God himself has chosen you.
3. Through you, immaculate Virgin, the life we had lost was returned to us. You received a child from heaven and brought forth to the world a Saviour.
4. Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with you. You are the most blessed of all women, alleluia.
5. How shall I fittingly praise you, holy and immaculate virginity of Mary? Through you we received our redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. You are the glory of Jerusalem! You are the joy of Israel! You are the highest honour of our race.
INTERCESSIONS
Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
Let us praise God the Father who chose Mary to be the Mother of his Son and wanted all generations to call her blessed. With confidence we pray:
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Father, you did great things for the Virgin Mary and brought her body and soul, to the glory of heaven;
– fill the hearts of your children with the hope of Christ’s glory.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Through the prayers of Mary, our Mother, heal the sick, comfort the sorrowful, pardon sinners;
– grant peace and salvation to all.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
You favoured Mary with the fullness of grace;
– bestow on all men your overflowing blessings.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
May your Church be united heart and soul, held fast by love;
– and may your faithful be joined in continuous payer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Father, you exalted the Virgin Mary and crowned her Queen of heaven;
– may the dead enter your kingdom and rejoice with Your saints for ever.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Other personal prayers may be added.
Let us now pray to the Father, in the words our Saviour gave us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Let us praise God the Father who chose Mary to be the Mother of His Son and wanted all generations to call her blessed. With confidence we pray:
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Father, you have looked on the virgin Mary and made her the mother of mercy
– may those who are in danger experience the depth of her love. R.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
You called Mary to be the mother in the house of Jesus and Joseph
– through her prayers, help all mothers to make their homes places of love and holiness. R.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
You gave Mary the strength to stand beneath the cross and made her radiant with joy in the resurrection;
– raise up the sorrowful and transform their lives with hope. R.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Mary was your faithful handmaid who reassured Your words in her heart;
– through her intercession let us become true disciples of Your Son, devoted to his service. R.
Father, you exalted the virgin Mary and crowned her Queen of heaven
– may the dead enter Your kingdom and rejoice with Your Saints forever. R.
R. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us.
Let us sum up our praise and petitions in the words of Christ, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Saturday
United in spirit to honour our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother of our Saviour, let us say to him:
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
You gave the Virgin Mary the joys of motherhood
– grant all parents joy in their children.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
King of peace, your kingdom is one of justice and peace;
– grant that we might seek those things that will further harmony among men
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
You came to build the human race into a holy people;
– bind the nations together in the unity of the Spirit.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
You were born into a human family;
– strengthen with love the bonds of family life.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
You came to a life of weakness in our world;
– grant to the dead the life of glory in your kingdom.
R. May your Mother intercede for us, Lord.
Other personal prayers may be added.
Let us give a sure foundation to our prayers and petitions by the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
THROUGH THE YEAR
Grant us, Lord, we pray,
the joy of continual health of mind and body:
and through the intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin,
free us of this present sadness,
fill us with eternal joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Forgive the sins of your people, Lord,
and as nothing we can do is worthy in your sight,
save us through the intercession of the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Come to help us in our weakness, God of mercy,
and as we celebrate the memory of the Mother of God,
may we rise from our sins
by the help of her prayer.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Let the gracious intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin help us, Lord:
may she protect us in all dangers
and make us rejoice in your peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Lord God,
as we venerate the memory of the Virgin Mary, now in glory,
grant that by her intercession
we ourselves may share in the fullness of your grace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
Alternative:
Almighty God,
grant that your faithful who rejoice in the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
may be delivered from every evil here on earth through her prayer,
and come to the enduring joys of heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
ADVENT
As it was your will, heavenly Father,
that, at the angel’s message,
your Word should be conceived by the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grant, that as we believe her to be truly the Mother of God
so may we be helped by her intercession.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
CHRISTMASTIDE
God, our Father,
since you gave mankind a Saviour
through Blessed Mary, virgin and mother,
grant that we may feel the power of her intercession,
when she pleads for us
with Jesus Christ, your Son, the author of life,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
LENT
Lord,
open our hearts to your grace.
Through the angel’s message to Mary
we have learned to believe in the incarnation of Christ your Son.
Lead us by his passion and cross
to the glory of his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
EASTERTIDE
Lord God,
as you brought joy to the world
through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
grant that through his Virgin Mother
we may come to the joys of eternal life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
R. Amen
CONCLUSION
V. The Lord bless + us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
R. Amen.
ANTIPHON TO OUR LADY
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God,
with the help of the Holy Spirit,
you prepared a dwelling worthy of your Son
in the body and soul of blessed Mary the Virgin Mother;
grant then, that we who are happy to celebrate her memory,
may by her maternal intercession,
be freed from present ills and everlasting death:
and this we ask in the name of Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen
Or, said or sung especially by Carmelites
FLOS CARMELI
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
V. Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto you
[A priest or deacon adds:
V. The Lord be with you
R. And also with you]
Let us pray
By a special privilege Lord,
you have adorned our Order with the name of your Mother,
the most glorious Virgin Mary:
grant as we faithfully remember this honour,
that in these days we may receive her protection
and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness,
and this we ask of you, who are living and reigning for ever.
R. Amen
V. May the blessed Virgin Mary help us in every trial and danger.
R. Amen.
V. May God grant us peace.
R. And everlasting life. Amen.
EASTERTIDE
REGINA CAELI
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia!
Has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, alleluia
Let us pray
O God,
you give joy to your family
through the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:
grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen.
V. O God, + come to our aid
R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Alleluia.
(Alleluia is omitted in Lent)
An examination of conscience is then performed as recommended. Within a communal celebration may be said:
V. I confess all to Almighty God (and to you brethren)
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed and omission,
through my own fault.
Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
(our blessed Father Elias), all the saints (and you, brethren)
to pray to our Lord Jesus Christ for me.
V. May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins;
and bring us to everlasting life.
R. Amen
HYMN
Christ, the true light of us, true morn,
Dispersing far the shades of night,
Light whereof every light is born.
Pledge of the beatific light.
Thou all the night our guardian be,
Whose watch no sleep or slumber knows:
Thou be our peace, that stayed on thee
Through darkness we may find repose.
Sleep then our eyes, but never sleep
Touch our heaven-directed heart.
And may Thy hand in safety keep
Thy servants whose desire Thou art.
Look on us, thou, and at our side
Our foes and thine repulse afar;
Through every ill the faithful guide
Who in thy blood redeemed are.
While soul within the body clings,
Body and soul defend us, Lord
Sure in the shadow of Thy wings
Kept in Thy lasting watch and ward.
PSALMODY
Ant. He will conceal you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night
Eastertide: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 90 (91)
In the shelter of the Most High
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: "My refuge, *
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!"
It is he who will free you from the snare *
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions *
and under his wings you will find refuge.
You will not fear the terror of the night *
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness *
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side, *
ten thousand fall at your right,
you, it will never approach; *
his faithfulness is buckler and shield.
Your eyes have only to look *
to see how the wicked are repaid,
you who have said: "Lord, my refuge!" *
and have made the Most High your dwelling.
Upon you no evil shall fall, *
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels, *
to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you upon their hands *
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and the viper you will tread *
and trample the young lion and the dragon.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him; *
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: "I am with you," *
I will save him in distress and give him glory.
With length of life I will content him; *
I shall let him see my saving power.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be world without end. Amen
Ant. He will conceal you with his wings; you will not fear the terror of the night
Eastertide: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alternative psalm
Ant. Lord have mercy and hear me.
Eastertide: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Thanksgiving
Psalm 4
When I call, answer me, O God of justice; *
from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me!
O men, how long will your hearts be closed, *
will you love what is futile and seek what is false?
It is the Lord who grants favors to those whom he loves; *
the Lord hears me whenever I call him.
Fear him; do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still *
Make justice your sacrifice, and trust in the Lord.
"What can bring us happiness?" many say. *
Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
You have put into my heart a greater joy *
than they have from abundance of corn and new wine.
I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once *
for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son *
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, *
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Ant. Lord, have mercy and hear me.
Eastertide: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Thess 5: 9-10
God chose us to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
who died for us
in order that we might live together with him,
whether we are alive or dead when he comes.
Or:
Deut 6: 4-7
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord;
and you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your might.
And these words which I command you this day
shall be upon your heart,
and you shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way,
and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Or:
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that in due time he may exalt you.
Cast all your anxieties on him,
for he cares about you.
SHORT RESPONSORY
Through the year
R. Into your hands O Lord, * I commend my spirit.
R. Into your hands O Lord, * I commend my spirit.
V. You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
R. I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. * Into your…
R. Into your hands O Lord, * I commend my spirit.
Eastertide
R. Into your hands O Lord, I commend my spirit, * alleluia, alleluia.
R. Into your hands O Lord, I commend my spirit, * alleluia, alleluia.
V. You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. * alleluia, alleluia
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. Into your hands O Lord, I commend my spirit, * alleluia, alleluia.
NUNC DIMITTIS
Antiphon: Save us, Lord while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Eastertide: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Lk 2:29-32
CANTICLE OF SIMEON
At last, + all powerful Master †
you give leave to your servant *
to go in peace according to your promise
For my eyes have seen your salvation *
Which you have prepared for all nations,
The light to enlighten the Gentiles *
and give glory to Israel your people.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be world without end. Amen
Antiphon: Save us, Lord while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Eastertide: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
One of the following prayers is chosen.
Let us pray
Visit this house we pray you Lord:
drive far from it all snares of the enemy.
May your holy angels stay here and guard us in peace
and let your blessing be always upon us.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ,
meek and humble of heart,
you offer to those who follow you
a yoke that is good to bear, a burden that is light.
Accept, we beg you, our prayer and work of this day,
and grant us the rest we need
that we may be ever more willing to serve you.
Who live and reign forever and ever
R. Amen
Let us pray
Lord our God,
restore us again by the repose of sleep
after the fatigue of our daily work:
so that, continually renewed by your help,
we may serve you in body and soul.
Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen
BLESSING
V. May the almighty and merciful Lord
grant us a peaceful night
and a perfect end.
R. Amen
ANTIPHON TO OUR LADY
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God,
with the help of the Holy Spirit,
you prepared a dwelling worthy of your Son
in the body and soul of blessed Mary the Virgin Mother;
grant then, that we who are happy to celebrate her memory,
may by her maternal intercession,
be freed from present ills and everlasting death:
and this we ask in the name of Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen
Or, said or sung especially by Carmelites
FLOS CARMELI
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden;
Splendour of heaven,
Child-bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmel’s children
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
V. Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto you
[A priest or deacon adds:
V. The Lord be with you
R. And also with you]
Let us pray
By a special privilege Lord,
you have adorned our Order with the name of your Mother,
the most glorious Virgin Mary:
grant as we faithfully remember this honour,
that in these days we may receive her protection
and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness,
and this we ask of you, who are living and reigning for ever.
R. Amen
V. May the blessed Virgin Mary help us in every trial and danger.
R. Amen.
V. May God grant us peace.
R. And everlasting life. Amen.
EASTERTIDE
REGINA CAELI
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia!
Has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, alleluia
Let us pray
O God,
you give joy to your family
through the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:
grant, we beseech you, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
R. Amen.
Back to Sunday Monday Saturday
First Readings:
Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; 11:1-9
Gal 3:22-4:7
Second Readings:
From the Sermons of St. Sophronius
From the Sermons of St. Aelred of Rievaulx
From the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council
FIRST READING
Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; 11:1-9
From the book of the Prophet Isaiah
Emmanuel, king of peace
The Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, for God is with us.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. hey shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
RESPONSORY
R. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, * and he shall be called Wonderful, God Almighty (E.T. Alleluia)
V. He shall sit on the throne of David and rule over his kingdom for ever, * and he shall be called wonderful, God Almighty. (E.T. Alleluia)
Back to appendix.
FIRST READING
Gal 3:22-4:7
From the epistle to the Galatians
Through faith we are sons and heirs of God
Scripture represents us as all under the bondage of sin; it was faith in Jesus Christ that was to impart the promised blessing to all those who believe in him. Until faith came, we were all being kept in bondage to the law, waiting for the faith that was one day to be revealed. So that the law was our tutor, bringing us to Christ, to find in faith our justification.
When faith comes, then we are no longer under the rule of a tutor; through faith in Jesus Christ you are all now God's sons. All you who have been baptized in Christ's name have put on the person of Christ; no more Jew or Gentile, no more slave and freeman, no more male and female; you are all one person in Jesus Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are indeed Abraham's children; the promised inheritance is yours.
Consider this; one who comes into his property while he is still a child has no more liberty than one of the servants, though all the estate is his; he is under the control of guardians and trustees, until he reaches the age prescribed by his father.
So it was with us; in those childish days of ours we toiled away at the schoolroom tasks which the world gave us, till the appointed time came. Then God sent out his Son on a mission to us. He took birth from a woman, took birth as a subject of the law, so as to ransom those who were subject to the law, and make us sons by adoption.
To prove that you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out in us, Abba, Father. No longer, then, are you a slave, you are a son; and because you are a son, you have, by divine appointment, the son's right of inheritance.
RESPONSORY
R. Behold, the appointed time is here: God has sent his own Son into the world, born of a woman, born under the law, * to redeem those under the law. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. For the great love he bore us, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, * to redeem those under the law. (E.T. Alleluia)
Back to appendix.
SECOND READING
From the Sermons of St. Sophronius
Or 2.21-22.26
The blessings of the Father shone upon men through Mary
Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.’ Could anything transcend the joy that is yours, O Virgin Mother? Could anything surpass this race granted by God to you alone? Is it possible to think of anything more gratifying and more splendid? Nothing can even approach the marvel that we see in you. All things lie far below the grace that is yours; in comparison, even the best of them take second place and their brilliance is overshadowed.
‘The Lord is with you’ and who has dared to strive against you? God has been born of you; who would stand in your way and not gladly give you first place and supremacy? For this reason, when I contemplate the privileges that put you above all creatures I cry out to you in highest praise. ‘Hail O favoured one, the Lord is with you.’ The joy that comes from you is shared not only by mankind but also by the powers of heaven.
Truly, ‘you are blessed among women’ for you have changed the condemnation of Eve into a blessing. Because of you, and through you, Adam who hitherto was cast down and condemned received a blessing.
Truly, ‘you are blessed among women’ for through you the blessing of the Father came to mankind and reprieved them from the age-old sentence.
Truly, ‘you are blessed among women’, because through you your ancestors found salvation. You were to give birth to the Saviour who would win for them God’s salvation.
Truly, ‘you are blessed among women’ for without the seed of man you bore the fruit that gives a blessing to the whole earth and frees it from being condemned to produce only thorns.
Truly, ‘you are blessed among women’, for though you are a woman like any other woman you will in actual fact become the Mother of God. If the one to be born of you is in truth God incarnate, you rightly deserve to be called ‘she who gave birth to God’, inasmuch as you truly did give birth to God.
You have God enclosed within your womb. He lives in you according to the flesh and comes forth from you like a bridegroom, giving joy to all and sharing his divine light with all mankind.
In you, O Virgin, as in the clear brightness of heaven, God ‘has placed his tent’, and he ‘will come forth from you like a bridegroom from his chamber’. Like a giant he will run the course of his life to bring salvation to all living things. That course ‘will stretch from one end of the heavens to the other’ filling all things with the life-giving warmth of God’s radiance.
RESPONSORY
R. You are truly blessed among women, for you have changed Eve’s condemnation into a blessing; * through you the Father’s favour was bestowed on all mankind (E.T. Alleluia)
V. Through you your ancestors find salvation; * through you the Father’s favour was bestowed on all mankind (E.T. Alleluia)
Back to appendix.
Back to Te Deum
SECOND READING
From the sermons of St. Aelred of Rievaulx
Sermon 20
Mary, our Mother
Let us come to his bride, let us come to his mother, let us come to the best of his handmaidens. All of these descriptions fit Blessed Mary.
But what are we to do for her? What sort of gifts shall we offer her? O that we might at least repay to her the debt we owe her! We owe her honour, we owe her devotion, we owe her love, we owe her praise. We owe her honour because she is the mother of Our Lord. He who does not honour the mother, will without doubt dishonour the son. Besides, scripture says: ‘Honour your father and your mother.’
What shall we say, brethren? Is she not our mother? Certainly, brethren, she is in truth our mother. Through her we are born, not to the world but to God.
We all, as you believe and know, were in death, in the infirmity of old age, in darkness, in misery. In death because we had lost the Lord; in infirmity of old age , because we were in corruption; in darkness because we had lost the light of wisdom, and so we had altogether perished.
But through blessed Mary we all underwent a much better birth than through Eve, inasmuch as Christ was born of Mary. Instead of the infirmity of old age, we have regained youth, instead of corruption incorruption, instead of darkness, light.
She is our mother, mother of our incorruption, of our light. The Apostle says of our Lord, ‘Whom God made our righteousness, our sanctification and our redemption.’
She therefore who is the mother of Christ is the mother of our wisdom, mother of our righteousness, mother of our sanctification, mother of our redemption. Therefore she is more our mother than the mother of our flesh. Better therefore is our birth which we derive from Mary, for from her is our holiness, our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption.
Scripture says, ‘Praise the Lord in his saints’. If the Lord is to be praised in those saints through whom he performs mighty works and miracles, how much more should he be praised in her in whom he performs mighty works and miracles, how much more should he be praised in her in whom he fashioned himself, he who is wonderful beyond all wonder.
RESPONSORY
R. Blessed is the holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise; * through her has risen the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, by whom we are saved and redeemed. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. Let us joyfully celebrate the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary. * through her has risen the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, by whom we are saved and redeemed. (E.T. Alleluia)
Back to appendix.
Back to Te Deum
SECOND READING
From the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council
(Nn 61-62)
The Motherhood of our Lady in God’s Plan of Salvation
From all eternity, together with the Incarnation of the divine Word, the Blessed Virgin was predestined to be the Mother of God. By the will of divine Providence, she was the loving mother of the divine Redeemer here on earth, and above all others in a unique way she was the willing partner and the humble handmaid of the Lord. She conceived, brought forth and nourished Christ. She presented Him to the Father in the temple, and shared the suffering of His Son as He died on the cross. In an utterly singular way she co-operated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the Saviour’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.
This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace began with the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross; it will last without interruption until the eternal fulfilment of all the elect. Once assumed into heaven, she did not set aside this saving role, but with her numerous prayers of intercession continues to win for us the gifts of eternal salvation.
By her maternal charity, Mary cares for the brethren of her Son who still wander through this world in the midst of dangers and difficulties until they are led to the happiness of their heavenly home.
For this reason the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjustrix and Mediatrix; but they are titles which must be understood in a way that neither detracts from, nor adds anything to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator.
For no creature could ever be counted as equal with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer. Just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by sacred ministers and by the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is really communicated in different ways to His creatures, in the same way the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise among creatures to a manifold co-operation which is but a sharing in this one source.
The Church does not hesitate to profess this subordinate role of Mary. She knows it through unfailing experience of it and commends it to the hearts of the faithful, so that encouraged by this maternal help they may follow the Mediator and Redeemer more clearly.
RESPONSORY
R. I know not how to praise you, holy and immaculate Virgin. * Heaven itself cannot contain the One whom you bore in your womb. (E.T. Alleluia)
V. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. * Heaven itself cannot contain the One whom you bore in your womb. (E.T. Alleluia)
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Back to Te Deum.