2 My flesh also faints for you, *
as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
3 So would I gaze upon you in your holy place, *
that I might behold your power and your glory.
4 Your loving-kindness is better than life itself *
and so my lips shall praise you.
5 I will bless you as long as I live *
and lift up my hands in your name.
6 My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, *
and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
7 When I remember you upon my bed *
and meditate on you in the watches of the night.
8 For you have been my helper *
and under the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.
9 My soul clings to you; *
your right hand shall hold me fast.
Ant. 1: We commemorate the birth of the blessed Virgin Mary, a descendent of Abraham, born of the tribe of Judah and of David's seed.
Ant. 2: When the most holy Virgin was born, the whole world was made radiant; blessed is the branch and blessed is the stem which bore such holy fruit.
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord,
O sing praises, you that are his servants *
O praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be blessed *
from this time forward and for ever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its going down *
let the name of the Lord be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations *
and his glory is above the heavens.
5 Who can be likened to the Lord our God *
in heaven or upon the earth,
6 Who has his dwelling so high *
yet condescends to look on things beneath?
7 He raises the lowly from the dust *
and lifts the poor from out of the dungheap;
8 He gives them a place among the princes *
even among the princes of his people.
9 He causes the barren woman to keep house *
and makes her a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
Ant. 2: When the most holy Virgin was born, the whole world was made radiant; blessed is the branch and blessed is the stem which bore such holy fruit.
Ant. 3: Let us joyfully celebrate the birth of blessed Mary so that she may intercede for us before Jesus Christ the Lord.
Psalm 147:12-20
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
sing praises to your God, O Zion.
13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates *
and blessed your children within you.
14 He makes peace within your borders *
and satisfies you with the finest wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth *
and his word runs very swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool *
and scatters the hoar-frost like ashes.
17 He sprinkles his ice like morsels of bread *
and the waters harden at his frost.
18 He sends out his word and melts them *
he blows with his wind and the waters flow.
19 He made his word known to Jacob *
his statutes and judgements to Israel.
20 He has not dealt so with any other nation *
nor have they knowledge of his laws.
Praise the Lord.
Ant. 3: Let us joyfully celebrate the birth of blessed Mary so that she may intercede for us before Jesus Christ the Lord.
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.
First Reading
Isaiah 28:15-18
Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter";
therefore thus says the Lord GOD, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: "One who trusts will not panic."
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.
Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through you will be beaten down by it.
Canticle
Te Deum Laudamus
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!"
The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.
You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father's eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin's womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God's right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.
And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.
Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.
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.
Second Reading
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.