Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 20 (Ordinary Time II): Holy Mary, the New Eve

As early as the second century, especially in the writings of St. Justin (d. c.163) and St. Irinaeus (d. c.200), the Blessed Virgin Mary is seen by the Church as the new Eve or the new woman, intimately associated with Christ, the new Adam (cf. 1 Corinthians 15, 45), in the work of salvation. By her faith and obedience she undoes the loss inflicted on the human race by the unbelief and disobedience of the first Eve: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by Mary's obedience. The bonds fastened by the virgin Eve through disbelief were untied by the Virgin Mary through faith" (St. Irinaeus, Adversus haereses 3: 22, 4: Sch, no.34, p.82).

In this formulary the saving "mystery of the woman" -of Mary and the Church- is commemorated. Mary, as "type of the Church" (cf. Lumen Gentium, no.63), is the woman promised in the Proto-Gospel (cf. Genesis 3, 15), greeted by Elizabeth as blessed among all women (cf. Luke 1, 42), from whom the Son of God became truly human (cf. Galatians 4, 4), anticipating the mysterious "hour" of Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana (cf. John 2, 4), fulfilling her role of mother at the foot of the Cross (cf. John 19, 26), resplendent in heaven as the woman clothed with the sun and crowned with stars (c. Revelation 12, 1).

Mary is thus celebrated as:

- the firstfruits of the new creation: "you chose the blessed Virgin, formed by the Holy Spiit, as the firstfruits of the new creation" (Collect; cf. Lumen Gentium, no. 56).

- the new earth, where, from the moment of her Immaculate Conception, "justice dwells" (cf. Responsorial Psalm).

- the firstfruits of the new people of God: "you made her the firstfruits of your new people" (Preface).

- a disciple of the New Law: "the first disciple of the New Law" (Preface).

- a woman given a new heart by God, in accordance with the prophecy of Ezekiel (cf. 1, 9): "you formed a new heart for the second Eve" (Prayer after Communion).

- a woman preparing the new wine for the Church: "Blessed are you, Virgin Mary... through you Christ has prepared the new wine for the Church." (Communion Antiphon, B).

- a faithful virgin: "we celebrate the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her complete self-giving to the sacrifice of the New Law" (Prayer over the Offerings).

- the new Jerusalem, the holy city, the dwelling-place of God (cf. 1st Reading, Revelation 21, 1-5a).

To sum up: Holy Mary, "Conceived without stain, enriched by gifts of grace... is indeed the new woman" (Preface), Mother and companion of Christ, author of the New Covenant (cf. Preface).

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Entrance Antiphon Revelation 12, 1

A great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

COLLECT

Lord our God, you chose the Blessed Virgin,
formed by the Holy Spirit,
as the firstfruits of the new creation;
grant that we may reject the old ways of sin,
embrace wholeheartedly the new life of the Gospel,
and honor faithfully the new commandment of love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading

I saw the new Jerusalem, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.

A reading from the Book of Revelation 21, 1-5a

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
   and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
   coming down out of heaven from God,
   prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
   “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
God will dwell with them and they will be his people
   and God himself will always be with them as their God.
God will wipe every tear from their eyes,
   and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
   for the old order has passed away.”

The One who sat on the throne said,
   “Behold, I make all things new.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Is 61, 10a-d & f. 11; 62, 2-3

R. O Mary, you are the new earth in whom justice dwells.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
   in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation,
   and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
   like a bride bedecked with her jewels. R.

As the earth brings forth its plants,
   and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
   spring up before all the nations.  R.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
   and all kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
   pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
   a royal diadem held by your God. R.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Glorious are you, holy Mary, the new Eve.
From you the new Adam, Christ Jesus, was born.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Hail, full of grace.

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke 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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Or:

The mother of Jesus said to the attendants: Do whatever he tells you.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 2, 1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,

and the mother of Jesus was there.

Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

When the wine ran short,

the mother of Jesus said to him,

“They have no wine.”

And Jesus said to her,

“Woman, how does your concern affect me?

My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servers,

“Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,

each holding twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus told them,

“Fill the jars with water.”

So they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them,

“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”

So they took it.

And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,

without knowing where it came from

— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,

the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,

“Everyone serves good wine first,

and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;

but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee

and so revealed his glory,

and his disciples began to believe in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

Lord,
as we celebrate the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and her complete self-giving
to the sacrifice of the New Law,
we offer you these gifts as a sign of our worship
and ask that by the power of your grace
we may walk all our days in the new life you have given us.
Through Christ our Lord.

PREFACE

Mary, the New Eve, is the First Disciple of the New Law

The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.

R. We lift them up to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

R. It is right and just.

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, through Christ our Lord.

For you gave to Christ, author of the New Covenant,
the Blessed Virgin Mary as his Mother and companion
and you made her the firstfruits of your new people.

Conceived without stain,
enriched by gifts of grace,
she is indeed the new woman,
the first disciple of the New Law.

She is a woman who finds joy in your service,
who is attentive to the voice of the Spirit,
who is always ready to obey your word.

She is a woman blest for her faith,
a woman blest in her child,
a woman raised up from among the lowly.

She is a woman standing firm in adversity,
keeping faith by the Cross of her Son,
entering into glory at the end of her days.

With the whole company of the Angels
we praise you with one voice:

Holy, Holy, Holy....

Communion Antiphon cf. Psalm 87, 3; Luke 1, 49 

Glorious things are spoken of you, O Virgin Mary,
for he who is mighty has done great things for you.

Or:

Blessed are you, Virgin Mary:
through you God has given us the Savior of the world,
through you Christ has prepared the new wine for the Church.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Lord our God,
in the Blessed Virgin Mary
you formed a new heart for the second Eve;
grant that by the grace of this Sacrament
we may be obedient to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
and grow more and more each day
in the likeness of Christ, the second Adam.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

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