Introductory Rite:
God, come to my assistance R/ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
R/ as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Sing of Mary, pure and lowly,
Virgin Mother undefiled.
Sing of God’s own Son most holy,
who became her little child.
Fairest child of fairest Mother,
God the Lord who came to earth,
Word made flesh, our very brother,
takes our nature by his birth.
Sing of Jesus, son of Mary,
in the home at Nazareth.
Toil and labour cannot weary
love enduring unto death.
Constant was the love he gave her,
though he went forth from her side,
forth to preach, and heal, and suffer,
till on Calvary he died.
Sing of Mary, sing of Jesus,
holy Mother’s holier son.
From his throne in heav’n he sees us,
thither calls us ev’ry one,
where he welcomes home his Mother
to a place at his right hand,
there his faithful servants gather,
there the crowned victors stand.
Joyful Mother, full of gladness,
in your arms your Lord was borne.
Mournful Mother, full of sadness,
all your heart with pain was torn.
Glorious Mother, now rewarded
with a crown at Jesus’ hand,
age to age your name recorded
shall be blest in every land.
Glory be to God the Father;
glory be to God the Son;
glory be to God the Spirit;
glory to the Three in One.
From the heart of blessed Mary,
from all saints the song ascends,
and the Church the strain re-echoes
unto earth’s remotest ends.
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1:The angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary, who was engaged to be married to Joseph.
Psalm 63:2-9
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…
Antiphon 1: The angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary, who was engaged to be married to Joseph.
Antiphon 2 :Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. * All you winds, bless the Lord. Fire and heat, bless the Lord. * Cold and chill, bless the Lord. Dew and rain, bless the Lord. * Frost and chill, bless the Lord. Ice and snow, bless the Lord. * Nights and days, bless the Lord. Light and darkness, bless the Lord. * Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. * Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. * All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. * You sons of men, bless the Lord.
O Israel, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. * Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. * Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. * Let us praise and exalt him above all forever. Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. * Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
Antiphon 2:Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Antiphon 3: Trusting in the Lord’s promise, the Virgin Mary conceived a child, and remaining a virgin, she gave birth to the Savior.
Psalm 149
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…
Antiphon 3: Trusting in the Lord’s promise, the Virgin Mary conceived a child, and remaining a virgin, she gave birth to the Savior.
Gloria (please stand)
Opening Prayer
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
After the Homily:
INTERCESSIONS (Universal Prayer)
Today we celebrate the beginning of our salvation when the coming of the Lord was announced by the angel. Let us pray with joy in our hearts, saying:
May God’s holy Mother intercede for us.
Mary received God’s word with joy,
- may joy fill our hearts as we welcome our Saviour.
You looked with love on your lowly servant,
- in your mercy, Father, remember us and all your children.
Mary, the new Eve, was obedient to your word,
- may we echo her loving obedience.
May God’s holy Mother help all in distress, encourage the fainthearted, console the sorrowful,
- may she pray for your holy people, for the clergy, and for all women dedicated to your service.
- may we echo her loving obedience.
May God’s holy Mother help all in distress, encourage the fainthearted, console the sorrowful,
- in your mercy, Father, remember us and all your children.
Mary, the new Eve, was obedient to your word,
Presider:
God our Father,your Word became flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.May we become more like Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as our redeemer, God and man.We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,Who live and reigns with you and Holy SpiritOne God, forever and ever.
(All are seated for the Liturgy of the Eucharist)
Lord’s Prayer Pater noster, qui es in cælis Sanctificétur nomen tuum Advéniat regnum tuum Fiat volúntas tua Sicut in cælo et in terra Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie Et dimítte nobis débita nostra Sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem Sed libera nos a malo
After Holy Communion, all stand for the Benedictus.
BENEDICTUS/Canticle of Zachariah Benedictus – Luke 1: 68-79
Antiphon: In his great love for us, God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful nature. (alleuia)
(While making the Sign of the Cross, we pray the following)
Blest be the God of Israel who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us: a Branch for David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies and all who wish us harm
.
With promised mercy will God still the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness to serve God all our days.
My child, as prophet of the Lord you will prepare the way,
to tell God’s people they are saved from sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death and lead us into peace.
Antiphon: In his great love for us, God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful nature. (alleuia)
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.