In those places where this Memorial is observed as a Solemnity or Feast, please use the texts found in the Common of Virgins 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, will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
O Crown of virgins, Jesus Lord,
whom that great Mother once conceived,
sole Virgin to have borne a child,
receive with mercy these our prayers.
You pasture where the lilies grow,
surrounded by your virgin choirs,
a glorious Bridegroom, fine and fair,
bestowing honors on your brides.
And so wherever you may go,
The virgins follow as they sing,
they hasten after you and run,
their hymns resound with sweetest praise.
Enrich, we ask you, holy Lord,
our mind and heart with gracious gifts,
that we may never know at all
the ways of sin that wound the soul.
To you, Lord Jesus, glory be,
who are the Virgin Mary’s Son,
with God the Father, ever blest,
and loving Spirit, evermore. Amen.
Tune: DANBY, 8 8 8 8
Music: English traditional melody
or Mode VIII, melody 100; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Iesu, corona virginum, attributed to Saint Ambrose, 340-397, © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.
Psalm 125
The Lord, guardian of his people
Peace to God’s true Israel (Galatians 6:16).
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 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
Surround your people, Lord, within the safety of your Church, which you preserve on its rock foundation. Do not let us stretch out our hands to evil deeds, nor be destroyed by the insidious snares of the enemy, but bring us to share the lot of the saints in light.
Ant. The Lord surrounds his people with his strength.
Ant. 2 Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Psalm 131
Childlike trust in God
Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29).
O Lord, my heart is not proud *
nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great *
nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul *
in silence and peace.
As a child has rest in its mother’s arms, *
even so my soul.
O Israel, hope in the Lord *
both now and 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
Lord Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, you declared that whoever receives a little child in your name receives you, and you promised your kingdom to those who are like children. Never let pride reign in our hearts, but may the Father’s compassion reward and embrace all who willingly bear your gentle yoke.
Ant. Unless you acquire the heart of a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Ant. 3 Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.
Canticle: Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12
Redemption hymn
O Lord our God, you are worthy *
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you have created all things; *
by your will they came to be and were made.
Worthy are you, O Lord, *
to receive the scroll and break open its seals.
For you were slain; *
with your blood you purchased for God
men of every race and tongue, *
of every people and nation.
You made of them a kingdom, †
and priests to serve our God, *
and they shall reign on the earth.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain *
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength, *
honor and glory and praise.
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. Lord, you have made us a kingdom and priests for God our Father.
READING
1 Corinthians 7:32b, 34
The unmarried man is busy with the Lord’s affairs, concerned with pleasing the Lord. The virgin—indeed, any unmarried woman—is concerned with things of the Lord, in pursuit of holiness in body and spirit.
RESPONSORY
The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
— The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
They are brought into the King’s dwelling place,
— amid gladness and joy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
— The virgins are led into the presence of the King, amid gladness and joy.
The antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the Intercessions may be taken from the Daily Office.
GOSPEL CANTICLE
Ant. Come, spouse of Christ, receive the crown the Lord has prepared for you from all eternity.
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. Come, spouse of Christ, receive the crown the Lord has prepared for you from all eternity.
INTERCESSIONS
Christ extolled those who practiced virginity for the sake of the kingdom. Let us praise him joyfully and pray to him:
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Christ, you presented the Church to yourself as a chaste virgin to her spouse,
— keep her holy and inviolate.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Christ, the holy virgins went out to meet you with their lamps alight,
— keep the fidelity of your consecrated handmaids burning brightly.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
Lord, your virgin Church has always kept its faith whole and untarnished,
— grant all Christians a whole and untarnished faith.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
You have given your people joy in celebrating the feast of your holy virgin Kateri,
— give us constant joy through her intercession.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
You have admitted the holy virgins to your marriage banquet,
— in your mercy lead the dead to your heavenly feast.
Jesus, example of virgins, hear us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught 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.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God, who willed the Virgin Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
to flower in a life of innocence
among the Native peoples of North America
grant, through her intercession,
that all gathered in your Church
from every nation, tribe and tongue,
may glorify you in a single canticle of praise.
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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