In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the proper texts below.
INTRODUCTION
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
O Virgin, Mother of the Church,
O glorious, everlasting gate,
come, be our refuge, plead for us,
before the Father and the Son.
O glorious Mother, Ark of God,
created by your hea’vnly Son,
remember us and pray for all
who honor you with praise this day.
Star of the sea, resplendent light,
and royal offspring, Mother blest,
beseech the Father and the Son
to send the Holy Paraclete.
O clement Virgin, gracious Queen,
most loving Virgin, Cause of joy,
sweet Virgin Mary, hear the prayers
of all who cry to you with love.
Pour forth these prayers to Christ your Son,
who, wounded, scourged, and crowned with thorns,
was given bitter gall to drink
and for our sake was crucified.
O Mother of the King of kings,
O light and gate to heav’n on high,
with gracious love bend down to those
who mourn and weep with sighs and tears.
Praise to the Father and the Son
and to the Holy Paraclete,
for by their gift you are proclaimed
the blessed Mother of the Church. Amen.
Tune: HEREFORD, 8 8 8 8
Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1810-1876
or Mode II, melody 30, Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Virgo, mater Ecclesiæ, based on a 15th c. trope on the Salve Regina, emended for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, 2018, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for his great love is without end.
Psalm 136
Easter Hymn
We praise God by recalling his marvelous deeds (Cassiodorus).
I
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, *
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods *
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
for his love endures for ever;
who alone has wrought marvelous works, *
for his love endures for ever;
whose wisdom it was made the skies, *
for his love endures for ever;
who fixed the earth firmly on the seas, *
for his love endures for ever.
It was he who made the great lights, *
for his love endures for ever,
the sun to rule in the day, *
for his love endures for ever,
the moon and the stars in the night, *
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Give thanks to the Lord, for his great love is without end.
Ant. 2 Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty.
II
The first-born of the Egyptians he smote, *
for his love endures for ever.
He brought Israel out from their midst, *
for his love endures for ever;
arm outstretched, with power in his hand, *
for his love endures for ever.
He divided the Red Sea in two, *
for his love endures for ever;
he made Israel pass through the midst, *
for his love endures for ever;
he flung Pharaoh and his force in the sea, *
for his love endures for ever.
Through the desert his people he led, *
for his love endures for ever.
Nations in their greatness he struck, *
for his love endures for ever.
Kings in their splendor he slew, *
for his love endures for ever.
Sihon, king of the Amorites, *
for his love endures for ever;
and Og, the king of Bashan, *
for his love endures for ever.
He let Israel inherit their land, *
for his love endures for ever.
On his servant their land he bestowed, *
for his love endures for ever.
He remembered us in our distress, *
for his love endures for ever.
And he snatched us away from our foes, *
for his love endures for ever.
He gives food to all living things, *
for his love endures for ever.
To the God of heaven give thanks, *
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Almighty God, remember our lowliness and have mercy. Once you gave our fathers a foreign land to inherit. Free us today from sin and give us a share in your inheritance.
Ant. Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty.
Ant. 3 God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.
Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10
God our Savior
Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
God chose us in him *
before the world began
to be holy *
and blameless in his sight.
He predestined us *
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure, †
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.
In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God’s favor to us.
God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.
READING
Galatians 4:4-5
When the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons.
RESPONSORY
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
— Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
— The Lord is with you.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. The Lord said to his mother: Woman, behold your son. And to the disciple: Behold your mother.
Canticle of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord
My + soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, †
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: †
the Almighty has done great things for me, *
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord said to his mother: Woman, behold your son. And to the disciple: Behold your mother.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us praise God our Almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need we ask:
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
O God, worker of miracles, you made the Immaculate Virgin Mary share body and soul in your Son’s glory in heaven,
— direct the hearts of your children to that same glory.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary our mother. Through her intercession grant strength to the weak, comfort to the sorrowing, pardon to sinners,
— salvation and peace to all.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary full of grace,
— grant to all men the joyful abundance of your grace.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
Make your Church of one mind and one heart in love,
— and help all those who believe to be one in prayer with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
— may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
Or:
Let us praise God our almighty Father, who wished that Mary, his Son’s mother, be celebrated by each generation. Now in need, we ask:
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary the mother of mercy,
— may all who are faced with trials feel her motherly love.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You wished Mary to be the mother of the family in the home of Jesus and Joseph,
— may all mothers of families foster love and holiness through her intercession.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You gave Mary strength at the foot of the cross and filled her with joy at the resurrection of your Son,
— lighten the hardships of those who are burdened and deepen their sense of hope.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You made Mary open to your word and faithful as your servant,
– through her intercession make us servants and true followers of your Son.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
— may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever.
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Remember us, Lord, when you come to your kingdom and teach us how to pray:)
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
O God, Father of mercies,
whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross,
chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother,
to be our Mother also,
grant, we pray, that with her loving help
your Church may be more fruitful day by day
and, exulting in the holiness of her children,
may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.
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.
— Amen.
DISMISSAL
If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:
The Lord be with you.
— And with your spirit.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
— Amen.
Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.
Then he adds:
Go in peace.
— Thanks be to God.
In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes:
May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
— Amen.
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