ENTRANCE ANTIPHONPsalm 44:10
Astitit Regina a dextris tuis in vestitu deaurato, circumdata varietate.
At your right stands the queen in robes of gold,
finely arrayed.
COLLECT
Deus, qui Filii tui Genetricem nostram constituisti Matrem atque Reginam, concede propitius, ut, ipsius intercessione suffulti, tuorum in regno caelesti consequamur gloriam filiorum.
O God, who made the Mother of your Son
to be our Mother and our Queen,
graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession,
we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom
the glory promised to your children.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READINGIsaiah 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who lived in a land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing;
They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest,
as they exult when dividing the spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
The rod of their taskmaster,
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for fire.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
By judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
RESPONSORIAL PSALMPs 113:1b -2, 3 -4, 5-6, 7
Collacavit eum Dominus cum principibus populi sui.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Or: R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever. R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Or: R. Alleluia.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory. R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Or: R. Alleluia.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Or: R. Alleluia.
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
To seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people. R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Or: R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIASee Luke 1:28
Ave, Maria, gratia plena; Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
GOSPELLuke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “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 called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Memoriam recolentes beatae Virginis Mariae, tibi, Domine, munera nostra offerimus, deprecantes, ut eius nobis succurrat humanitas, qui tibi oblationem seipsum in cruce obtulit immaculatam.
As we observe this Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we bring you our offerings, O Lord,
praying to be given strength by the humanity of Christ,
who offered himself to you on the Cross
as the unblemished oblation.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
PREFACE OF THE VIRGIN MARY I
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
and to praise, bless, and glorify your name
on the feast day of the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary.
For by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit
she conceived your Only Begotten Son,
and without losing the glory of virginity,
brought forth into the world the eternal Light,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him the Angels praise your majesty,
Dominions adore and Powers tremble before you.
Heaven and the Virtues of heaven
and the blessed Seraphim
worship together with exultation.
May our voices, we pray,
join with theirs in humble praise, as we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy...
Or:
PREFACE OF THE VIRGIN MARY II
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
to praise your mighty deeds
in the exaltation of all the Saints,
and especially, as we celebrate
the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
to proclaim your kindness
as we echo her thankful hymn of praise.
For truly even to the earth's ends
you have done great things
and extended your abundant mercy from age to age:
when you looked on the lowliness of your handmaid,
you gave us through her the author of our salvation,
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Through him the host of Angels adores your majesty
and rejoices in your presence for ever.
May our voices, we pray,
join with theirs in one chorus of exultant praise,
as we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy...
COMMUNION ANTIPHONCf. Luke 1:45
Beata es, quae credidsti, quoniam perficientur ea, quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino.
Blessed are you who have believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord will be fulfilled.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Sumptis, Domine, sacramentis caelestibus, te supplices deprecamur, ut, qui beatae Virginis Mariae memoriam venerando recolimus, aeterni convivii mereamur esse participes.
Having received this heavenly Sacrament,
we humbly pray, O Lord,
that we, who reverently celebrate the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
may merit to be partakers at your eternal banquet.
Through Christ our Lord.
INVITATORY Antiphon: Come, let us worship Christ, who crowned his mother as Queen of heaven and earth.
Morning Prayer
BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah) Antiphon: Mary, ever virgin, most honored Queen of the world, you gave birth to our Savior, Christ the Lord.
COLLECT
O God, who made the Mother of your Son
to be our Mother and our Queen,
graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession,
we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom
the glory promised to your children.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Evening Prayer
MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary) Antiphon: Blessed are you, Virgin Mary, because you believed that the Lord's word to you would be fulfilled; now you reign with Christ for ever.
COLLECT
O God, who made the Mother of your Son
to be our Mother and our Queen,
graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession,
we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom
the glory promised to your children.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Office of Readings
From a homily by St. Amadeus of Lausanne, bishop
(Hom. 7: SC 72, 188. 190. 192. 200)
Queen of the world and of peace
Observe how fitting it was that even before her assumption the name of Mary shone forth wondrously throughout the world. Her fame spread everywhere even before she was raised above the heavens in her magnificence. Because of the honour due her Son, it was indeed fitting for the Virgin Mother to have first ruled upon earth and then be raised up to heaven in glory. It was fitting that her fame be spread in this world below, so that she might enter the heights of heaven on overwhelming blessedness. Just as she was borne from virtue to virtue by the Spirit of the Lord, she was transported from earthly renown to heavenly brightness.
So it was that she began to taste the fruits of her future reign while still in the flesh. At one moment she withdrew to God in ecstasy; at the next she would bend down to her neighbours with indescribable love. In heaven angels served her, while here on earth she was venerated by the service of men. Gabriel and the angels waited upon her in heaven. The virgin John, rejoicing that the Virgin Mother was entrusted to him at the cross, cared for her with the other apostles here below. The angels rejoiced to see their queen; the apostles rejoiced to see their lady, and both obeyed her with loving devotion.
Dwelling in the loftiest citadel of virtue, like a sea of divine grace or an unfathomable source of love that has everywhere overflowed its banks, she poured forth her bountiful waters on trusting and thirsting souls. Able to preserve both flesh and spirit from death she bestowed health-giving salve on bodies and souls. Has anyone ever come away from her troubled or saddened or ignorant of the heavenly mysteries? Who has not returned to everyday life gladdened and joyful because his request had been granted by the Mother of God?
She is a bride, so gentle and affectionate, and the mother of the only true bridegroom. In her abundant goodness she has channelled the spring of reason's garden, the well of living and life-giving waters that pour forth in a rushing stream from divine Lebanon and flow down from Mount Zion until they surround the shores of every far-flung nation. With divine assistance she has redirected these waters and made them into streams of peace and pools of grace. Therefore, when the Virgin of virgins was led forth by God and her Son, the King of kings, amid the company of exulting angels and rejoicing archangels, with the heavens ringing with praise, the prophecy of the psalmist was fulfilled, in which he said to the Lord: At your right hand stands the queen, clothed in gold of Ophir.
RESPONSORY
A great sign appeared in the heavens:
a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
- and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
The queen, clothed in cloth of gold, stood on your right hand.
- And upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
COLLECT
O God, who made the Mother of your Son
to be our Mother and our Queen,
graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession,
we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom
the glory promised to your children.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.