Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7 (Christmas IV): The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Presentation of the Lord

The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Presentation of the Lord

Sancta Maria in Præsentatione Domini

This Mass commemorates the role of our Lady in the mystery of the presentation of the Lord (cf. Luke 2, 27-35). With due observance of the law, the opportune time for its celebration is on a Saturday or weekday around 2 February.

Our Lady, who is given the title of "virgin daughter of Zion" (Preface) in this mystery of salvation:

- in accordance with the Law of Moses (cf. Leviticus 12, 1-8) submitter to the ritual of purification after childbirth, although as the "purest of virgins" from her "chaste womb" she had "brought forth in purity the son of the eternal Father" (Entrance Antiphon);

- faithfully carried out the law of the firstborn (cf. Exodus 13, 1-2), redeeming with the offering of the poor (cf. Luke 2, 24; Prayer over the Offerings) her Son, "the author of the New Law" (Collect), "the Redeemer of us all" (Prayer over the Offerings), "the glory of" the "people Israel and the light of all nations" (Preface; cf. Luke 2, 32), "the Lord, the Savior of the world" (Communion Antiphon);

- as "the handmaid of [God's] plan of salvation" (Preface) saw in her Son "the spotless Lamb, to be sacrificed on the altar of the Cross for our salvation" (Preface) and offered him to the Father.

This Mass recalls the prophecy of Simeon, who foretold that the child would be a sign of contradiction and that a sword of sorrow would pierce his Mother's heart (cf. Luke 2, 34-35); it celebrates the close association between our Lady and her son in the work of salvation: "son and Mother are united in one undivided love, in the one shared suffering, in the single will to do what pleases you" (Preface).

In fulfilling these roles in the mystery of salvation, our Lady is the exemplar of the Church. So we ask the Father that the virgin Church, "like the Virgin Mary" (Prayer after Communion), the handmaid of the Lord (cf. Luke 1, 38), may "keep its faith unspotted, grow in hope of heaven, and  deepen its heartfelt love for you" (Collect), "serve you with undivided heart" (Prayer after Communion), and, "with the lamp of faith burning brightly, go out with joy to meet the Bridegroom" (Prayer after Communion; cf. Matthew 25, 1. 4).

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Entrance Antiphon
Hail, purest of virgins, from your chaste womb
you brought forth in purity the Son of the eternal Father.

Ave, Virgo purissima,

quæ e gremio virginali,

pure genuisti æterni Patris Fflium.

COLLECT
Lord, grant that the Church,
the chaste bride of Christ,
may keep unbroken the New Covenant of love
and, like your humble handmaid,
who presented to you in the temple
the author of the New Law,
may the Church keep its faith unspotted,
grow in hope of heaven,
and deepen its heartfelt love for you.
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.

Novum amoris fœdus, Domine,

virgo Ecclesia integrum custodiat

et, humilis Ancillæ tuæ exemplo,

quæ tibi novæ legis Auctorem in templo præsentavit,

intaminatam servet fidem,

supernam roboret spem,

ardentem nutriat caritatem.

Per Dominum.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading

Mal 3, 1-4

The Lord whom you seek will come to his temple.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Malachi

The LORD says:

   Lo, I am sending my messenger

   to prepare the way before me;

and suddenly there will come to the temple

   the LORD whom you seek,

and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.

   Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

But who will endure the day of his coming?

   And who can stand when he appears?

For he is like the refiner’s fire,

   or like the fuller’s lye.

He will sit refining and purifying silver,

   and he will purify the sons of Levi,

refining them like gold or like silver

   that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.

Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem

   will please the LORD,

   as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 24, 7. 8. 9. 10.

R. (cf. 10b) The Lord of hosts is king of glory.

Lift up your heads, O gates;

   rise up, you ancient portals,

   that the king of glory may enter. R.

Who is this king of glory?

The LORD, a mighty warrior,

   the LORD, mighty in battle. R.

Lift up your heads, O gates;

   rise up, you ancient portals,

   that the king of glory may enter. R.

Who is this king of glory?

   The LORD of hosts is the king of glory. R.

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesse's shoot has blossomed:
a virgin has given birth
to one who is truly God and truly human;
God has restored our peace,
reconciling in himself earth with heaven.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 2:27-35

A sword will pierce your very soul.

Simeon came in the Spirit into the temple;

   and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

   to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,

   Simeon took Jesus into his arms and blessed God, saying:

      “Now, Master, you may let your servant go

         in peace, according to your word,

      for my eyes have seen your salvation,

         which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,

      a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

         and glory for your people Israel.”

The father and mother of Jesus were amazed at what was said about him;

   and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

   “Behold, this child is destined

   for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

   and to be a sign that will be contradicted

   (and you yourself a sword will pierce)

   so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord, let our prayers and offerings be acceptable to you
as we present them with joy in our hearts
on this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
who made the offering of the poor to redeem her Son,
himself the Redeemer of all.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Acceptæ sint tibi, Domine, preces et hostiæ

in commemoratione beatæ Virginis lætanter oblatæ,

quæ ad redimendum Filium,

omnium nostrum redemptorem,

pauperum munus obtulit.

Qui vivit.

PREFACE

Our Lady is the handmaid of God's plan of salvation

(Beata Virgo Maria, salvificæ dispensationis ministra)

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 to give you thanks,

truly just to give you glory, Father most holy,
as we celebrate this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She is the virgin daughter of Zion
who, in fulfilment of the Law,
presents to you her Son,
the glory of your people Israel
and the light of all nations.

She is the Virgin,
the handmaid of your plan of salvation,
who presents to you the spotless Lamb,
to be sacrificed on the altar of the Cross
for our salvation.

She is the Virgin Mother
who rejoices in this child of blessing,
is saddened by the prophecy of Simeon,
but who exults that your people
go out to meet their Savior.

Lord, we see your providence
as Son and Mother are united
in the one undivided love,
in the one shared suffering,
in the single will to do what pleases you.

In our joy we sing to your glory
with all the choirs of Angels:

Vere dignum est tibi gratias agere,

vere iustum est te glorificare, Pater sancte,

in hac memoria beatæ Virginis Mariæ.

Hæc est Virgo Filia Sion,

quæ legem adimplens, in templo tibi sistit Filium,

gloriam plebis tuæ Israel et lumen omnium gentium.

Hæc est Virgo, salvificæ dispensationis ministra,

quæ tibi Agnum immaculatum offert,

in ara crucis pro nostra immolandum salute.

Hæc est Virgo Mater,

gaudens de Prole benedicta,

dolens de Senis prophetia,

exsultans de populo tuo occurrente Salvatori.

Sic, Domine, te disponente,

Filium et Matrem unus sociat amor,

unus iungit dolor unaque tibi placendi movet voluntas.

Et ideo, choris angelicis sociati,

te laudamus, in gaudio confitentes

Holy, Holy, Holy....

Communion Antiphon

The Virgin stands, presenting her Son, born before the daystar;
Simeon takes him in his arms and proclaims to all peoples
that this is the Lord, the Savior of the world.

Subsistit Virgo,

adducens manibus Filium ante luciferum genitum,

quern accipiens Simeon in ulnas suas,

prædicavit populis Dominum esse et Salvatorem mundi.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Lord God,
grant that by the power of the Sacrament we have received
the virgin Church, like the Virgin Mary, may serve you with undivided heart,
be attentive to the voice of the Spirit,
and, with the lamp of faith burning brightly,
go out with joy to meet the Bridegroom.
Who lives and reins for ever and ever.

Percepti sacramenti virtute,

virgo Ecclesia, virgini Mariæ similis,

tibi sincero corde deserviat,

Spiritus vocem obaudiat,

ac, fidei lampade accensa,

venienti Sponso læta occurrat.

Qui vivit.

Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 6 (Christmas III): The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Epiphany of the Lord

The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Epiphany of the Lord

Beata Maria Virgo in Epiphania Domini

During Christmas Time the Church celebrates the mystery of the revelation or manifestation of the Word made flesh to all nations: first, to the Jews, represented by the humble shepherds, "the firstfruits of the Church from the people of Israel" (Preface), then to the Gentiles, represented byu the wise men, "the firstfruits of the Church from the Gentiles" (Preface).

The following points seem especially noteworthy in this Mass:

- the celebration of light, signifying not only the glory of God the father, which dawned upon Jerusalem (cf. 1 Reading, Isaiah 60, 1-6), bathing the shepherds in its glory (cf. Preface, cf. Luke 2, 9), and in a marvellous way leading the wise men "by a shining star" (cf. Preface, cf. Matthew 2, 2. 9-10) to Christ; but also Jesus Christ, "the glory of Israel and the light of all nations" (Collect, cf. Luke 2, 32), whom the Father revealed to the world (cf. Collect) and who in turn revealed to the world the glory of the Father (cf. Prayer over the Offerings);

- the celebration of the role of Christ as Savior. The many "christological titles" found in this formulary are of the greatest importance: Christ is the Son of God (cf. Collect, Prayer after Communion) and Son of the Virgin (cf. Prayer over the Offerings, Preface); the "surpassing greatness of God" and "God's power," "the Most High," who "has chosen to be born as a little child" (Entrance Antiphon); "the one Mediator and the Savior of the world" (Collect), by whose birth we are saved (cf. Prayer after Communion), who gave "his whole life for our salvation" (Prayer over the Offerings). So the shepherds "acknowledged Christ as the Savior" when they saw the Son of the humble handmaid of the Lord (cf. Pref), and the wise men, when they found the child with his Mother, "worshipped him as God, proclaimed him as King, and acknowledged him as Redeemer" (Preface);

- the celebration of the mystery of the Church, which is foreshadowed in the holy city, Jerusalem (cf. 1 Reading, Isaiah 60, 1-6), and which seems to signify the house where the child is found with his Mother (cf. Gospel, Matthew 2, 11); the Church is founded on faith in Christ (cf. Collect), and is gathered equally from Israel and the Gentiles (cf. Preface), since the Father draws "the families of all peoples to faith in the Gospel" (Preface);

- the celebration of the ministry of the Virgin in the Epiphany of the Lord, as several texts make clear: "The surpassing greatness of God has shone around us, God's power has been revealed through a virgin" (Entrance Antiphon); "through the Blessed Virgin Mary you revealed your Son to the world" (Collect); "through the ministry of the Blessed Virgin Mary you draw the families of all peoples to faith in the Gospel" (Preface).

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Entrance Antiphon
The surpassing greatness of God has shone around us,
God's power has been revealed through a virgin;
the Most High has chosen to be born as a little child,
to show forth majesty and splendor in lowliness of birth.

Claruit magnitudo Dei,

et virtus apparuit per Virginem,

quoniam sic voluit Excelsus nasci humilis,

ut in ipsa humilitate ostenderet maiestatem.

COLLECT
Lord our God, through the Blessed Virgin Mary
you revealed your Son to the world
as the glory of Israel
and the light of all nations;
grant that as we follow his teaching and example
we may strengthen our faith in Christ
and acknowledge him to be the one Mediator
and the Savior of the world.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Deus, qui Filium tuum,

gloriam Israel et lumen gentium,

per beatam Virginem mundo manifestasti,

præsta, quæesumus, ut eius monita et exempla sectantes,

nostram fidem in Christum roboremus

et eum unum Mediatorem agnoscamus

et omnium Salvatorem.

Qui tecum vivit.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading

Is 60, 1-6

The glory of the Lord shines upon you.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,

   the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth,

   and thick clouds cover the peoples;

but upon you the LORD shines,

   and over you appears his glory.

Nations shall walk by your light,

   and kings by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about;

   they all gather and come to you:

your sons come from afar,

   and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,

   your heart shall throb and overflow,

for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,

   the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.

Caravans of camels shall fill you,

   dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;

all from Sheba shall come

   bearing gold and frankincense,

   and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 72, 1-2. 7-8. 10-11. 12-13.

R. (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, give your judgment to the king;

   your justice to the son of kings;

that he may govern your people with justice,

   your oppressed with right judgment. R.

That abundance may flourish in his days,

   great bounty, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

   from the river to the ends of the earth. R.

May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute,

   the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts.

May all kings bow before him,

   all nations serve him. R.

For he rescues the poor when they cry out,

   the oppressed who have no one to help.

He shows pity to the needy and the poor

   and saves the lives of the poor. R.

Alleluia 

Matthew 2, 2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We have seen his star in the East,

and have come to adore the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 2:1-12

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

   in the days of King Herod,

   behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

   “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?

We saw his star at its rising

   and have come to do him homage.”

When King Herod heard this,

   he was greatly troubled,

   and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,

   Herod inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,

   for thus it has been written through the prophet:

      ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

         are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

      since from you shall come a ruler,

         who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the magi secretly

   and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said,

   “Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word,

   that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king the magi set out.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,

   until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star,

   and on entering the house

   they saw the child with Mary his mother.

The magi prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures

   and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,

   the magi departed for their country by another way.

The Gospel of the Lord.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord God, through the power of the Holy Spirit
consecrate these gifts,
the offering of joyful hearts,
on this memorial of the blessed Virgin Mary;
let them become the Body and Blood of Christ,
who was born of the Virgin Mother
to reveal your glory
and to give his whole life for our salvation.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Consecra, Domine, virtute Spiritus Sancti,

munera in memoria sanctæ Mariæ tibi lætanter oblata,

ut nobis corpus et sanguis Christi fiant,

qui natus ex alma Virgine Matre,

tuam gloriam manifestavit

et totam vitam in hominum salutem impendit.

Qui vivit.

PREFACE

Christ is revealed to the world through the ministry of the Virgin

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.

For through the ministry of the blessed Virgin
you draw the families of all peoples
to faith in the Gospel.

The shepherds, bathed in your glory
and enlightened by choirs of Angels,
acknowledged Christ as the Savior
and became the firstfuits of the Church
from the people of Israel.

The wise men, inspired by grace
and led by a shining star,
entered a lowly house,
find the child with his Mother,
and, as the firstfruits of the Church from the Gentiles,
worshipped him as God,
proclaimed him as King,
and acknowledged him as Redeemer.

Through him the Angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.
May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutare,

nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere:

Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens æterne Deus:

Quia per beatæ Virginis ministerium

ad fidem Evangelii cunctas attrahis familias populorum:

pastores enim, Ecclesiæ ex Israel primitiæ,

tua claritate. circumfusi et angelicis vocibus moniti,

Christum Salvatorem agnoscunt.

Sed et magi, Ecclesiæ ex Gentibus prima virgulta,

gratia tua impulsi, Stella coruscante prævia, .

pauperem ingrediuntur domum,

ubi, Puerum cum Matre inventum

Deum adorant, Regem proclamant, Redemptorem fatentur.

Per quem maiestatem tuam adorat exercitus Angelorum,

ante conspectum tuum in æternitate lætantium.

Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur,

socia exsultatione dicentes:

Holy, Holy, Holy....

Communion Antiphon 

cf. Matthew 2, 2

We have seen his star in the East,
and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

May the mysteries we have received,
O Lord our God,
always show forth your mercy in us,
that we, who celebrate with steadfast love
this memorial of the Mother of your Son,
may be saved by his birth.
Who lives and reins for ever and ever.

Mysteria quæ sumpsimus, Domine Deus noster,

misericordiam tuam in nobis semper ostendant,

ut Filii tui nativitate salvemur,

qui Genetricis eius memoriam fideli mente celebramus.

Qui vivit.

Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 5 (Christmas II): The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior

Beata Maria Virgo, Mater Salvatoris

This Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, is found in the Roman Missal in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Christmas Time. Its texts are both ancient and full of beauty. The Preface is taken from the venerable Sacramentarium Veronense (Ve 1247).

This Mass, resounding with Christmas joy and light, celebrates:

- above all, the maternal role of Our Lady in relation to her Son, acknowledged as the King "whose name is eternal" (Entrance Antiphon), as the Son of God (cf. Collect, Preface, Prayer after Communion), as the "author of life" (Collect, cf. Acts 3, 15), as the "sign and source of our salvation" (Preface), as "a light for all nations" (Preface, cf. Luke 2, 32), as "the Bridegroom" (Preface, cf. Psalm 19, 6), and as the Word made flesh (cf. Communion Antiphon, cf. John 1, 14);

- the fruitful virginity of Our Lady (cf. Collect) and her virgin-motherhood, by means of which God gave to the human race the gift of "eternal salvation" (Collect), as well as the marvellous way in which "a mother's joy" coexists in her with "a virgin's honor" (Entrance Antiphon); this motherhood is the source of her unique status and dignity, for "none like her was seen before and none thereafter" (Entrance Antiphon);

- the unceasing intercession of the Virgin Mary for God's people, an intercession rooted in her divine motherhood: we ask to "experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son" (Collect);

-the example of the Mother of the Lord: like her the faithful are to "seek out and treasure things that are [God's]" (Prayer over the Offerings).

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Entrance Antiphon
In childbirth she brought forth the King, whose name is eternal.
She keeps a mother's joy with a virgin's honor.
none like her was seen before, and none thereafter.

Genuit puerpera Regem,

cui nomen æternum,

et gaudia matris habens cum virginitatis honore:

nec primam similem visa est.

nec habere sequentem.

COLLECT
O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary
bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation,
grant, we pray,
that we may experience the intercession of her,
through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life,
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.

Deus, qui salutis æternæ,

beatæ Mariæ virginitate fecunda,

humano generis præmia præstitisti,

tribue, quæsumus,

ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus,

per quam meruimus Filium tuum auctorem vitæ suscipere.

Qui tecum vivit.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading

Is 9, 1-3. 5-6

A son is given to us.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;

upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom

   a light has shone.

You have brought them abundant joy

   and great rejoicing,

as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,

   as people make merry when dividing spoils.

For the yoke that burdened them,

   the pole on their shoulder,

and the rod of their taskmaster

   you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.

For a child is born to us, a son is given 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,

from 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!

The word of the Lord.

Or:

Mi 5, 1-4a

This is the time when she who is in labor is to give birth.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Micah

The LORD says:

You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah,

   too small to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

   one who is to be ruler in Israel;

whose origin is from of old,

   from ancient times.

(Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time

   when she who is to give birth has borne,

and the rest of his people shall return

   to the children of Israel.)

He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock

   by the strength of the LORD,

   in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;

and they shall remain, for now his greatness

   shall reach to the ends of the earth;

   he shall be peace.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 2, 7-8. 10-11ab

R. (8a) I will give you all the nations for your heritage.

I will proclaim the decree of the Lord,

   who said to me, “You are my son;

   today I am your father.

Only ask it of me,

   and I will make your inheritance the nations,

   your possession the ends of the earth.” R.

And now, kings, give heed;

   take warning, rulers on earth.

Serve the LORD with fear;

   with trembling bow down in homage. R.

Or:

Psalm 95, 12a. 2b-3. 11-12. 13

R. (cf. Luke 2, 11) Our Savior is born, Christ the Lord.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name. R.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. R.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. R.

They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy. R.

Alleluia
cf. Luke 2, 10-11

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Good news and great joy to all the world:
our Savior is born, Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 2:1-14

A savior is born for you

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus

   that the whole world should be enrolled.

This was the first enrollment,

   when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So all went to their own towns to be enrolled.

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth

   to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,

   because he was of the house and family of David,

   to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there,

   the time came for Mary to have her child,

   and she gave birth to her firstborn son.

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,

   because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields

   and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them

   and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

   and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to the shepherds,

   “Do not be afraid;

   for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy

   that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David

   a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

And this will be a sign for you:

   you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes

   and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,

   praising God and saying:

      “Glory to God in the highest

         and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Accept, O Lord, the offerings we bring you
and grant that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit
and encouraged by the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
our hearts may always seek out and treasure the things that are yours.
Through Christ our Lord.

Suscipe, Domine, munera quæ tibi offerimus,

et præsta,

ut corda nostra, Sancti Spiritus luce irradiata,

exemplo beatæ Virginis Mariæ,

tua semper valeant perquirere et conservare.

Per Christum.

PREFACE

The Savior comes forth from Mary as the Bridegroom of the Church

(Salvator ex Maria processit tamquam sponsus de thalamo)

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,
especially as we celebrate this holy season (of Christmas).

When Mary brought forth her child
form the secret shrine of her virginal womb
you revealed as a light for all nations
the sign and source of our salvation,
your Son, Jesus Christ.

Like the rising sun,
the Bridegroom of the Church
has dawned upon us to rescue us
from darkness and the shadow of death
and to make us a kingdom of unfailing light.

In our joy we sing to your glory
with all the choirs of Angels:

Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutare,

nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere:

Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens æterne Deus:

Hoe præsertim tempore,

quo ab uteri virginalis arcano

ipsum salutis nostræ sacramentum

in lucem gentium revelasti,

Iesum Christum Filium tuum;

qui, tamquam sponsus procedens de thalamo suo,

Salvator et Dominus illuxit nobis,

ut nos de tenebris et umbra mortis eriperet

et regnum perpetuæ lucis efficeret.

Et ideo, choris angelicis sociati,

te laudamus in gaudio confitentes:

Holy, Holy, Holy....

Communion Antiphon 

John 1, 14

The Word of God became flesh, and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.

Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis,

plenum gratiæ et veritatis.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Renewed by the Body and Blood of your incarnate Word,
we pray, O Lord, that these divine mysteries,
which we have joyfully received
on this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
may make us sharers for eternity in the divinity of your Son.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Incarnati Verbi tui corpore et sanguine refecti,

quæsumus, Domine, ut hæc divina mysteria,

quæ in memoria beatæ Virginis Mariæ lætanter accepimus,

eiusdem Filii tui divinitatis participes

nos semper efficiant.

Per Christum.

Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 4 (Christmas I): Holy Mary, Mother of God

Holy Mary, Mother of God

This Mass celebrates the "wonderful and inexpressible mystery" (Preface), by which the Father of mercies sent his Son "from heaven into the womb of the Blessed Virgin" (Collect, A; cf. St. Hippolytus, Traditio apostolica, 4: Sources chretiennes, 11 bis, p. 48) to be "[his] saving Word and our Bread of Life" (Collect, A). It also commemorates both the faith and the humility with which our Lady "conceived your only Son and bore [him] in her pure womb" (Preface). The humble Virgin of Nazareth is thus set before us as an example: like her we are to receive the Son of God by "treasuring his words in our hearts and celebrating with deep faith the mysteries of our redemption" (Collect, A), to reveal him in the holiness of our lives (cf. Collect, B), "profess him in words and hold fast to him in deeds" (Prayer after Communion).

The texts of this Mass echo the writings of the fathers of the Church and ancient liturgical prayers, and in particular:

- the thought of St. Augustine (d. 430) that our Lady "conceived him [Christ] in her heart before she conceived him in her womb" (Collect, B; Sermo 25, 7: Patrologiae cursus completus: Series latina 38, 937); Augustine praises her faith and obedience and sets before us her spiritual relationship with her Son;

- the saying of St. Bernard (d. 1153) that though Our Lady was pleasing to God because of her virginity, yet it was through her humility that she conceived him (cf. In laudibus Virginis Matris, I, 5: Opera omnia, IV, ed. Cistercienses, Rome, 1966, p.18).

The Preface should be noted: it admirably extols the virginal and salvific motherhoodof our Lady: "What joy is hers at [God's] twofold gift: she is full of wonder at her virgin-motherhood and full of joy at giving birth to the Redeemer." Experts in liturgy rank this among the oldest Prefaces in honor of Our Lady: it is found in the Sacramentarium Paduense (Pa, 387).

----------

Entrance Antiphon
O Virgin Mother of God,
he whom the whole world cannot contain
cloistered himself within your womb, made man for us.

Virgo Dei Genetrix,

quem totus non capit orbis,

in tua se clausit viscera factus homo.

or:

Sedulius

Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King
who rules heaven and earth for ever.

Salve, sancta parens, enixa puerpera Regem,

qui cælum terramque regit in sæcula sæculorum.

COLLECT
Lord our God,
you sent your Son from heaven
into the womb of the Blessed Virgin
to be your saving Word and our Bread of Life.
Grant that like Mary we may welcome Christ
by treasuring his words in our hearts
and celebrating with deep faith
the mysteries of our redemption.
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.

Deus, qui Filium tuum, verbum salutis et panem vitæ,

e cælo in alvum sanctæ Virginis misisti,

concede ut Christum sicut ipsa accipiamus,

eius verba corde retinentes

et salutis mysteria fide celebrantes.

Per Dominum.

or:

Lord God,
when your Son came down from heaven
Mary conceived him in her heart
before she conceived him in her womb.
Grant that by holy and just deeds
we may show forth in our lives
the Christ, whom we have received by faith.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Deus, cuius Filiμm e cælo egressum

sancta Maria prius mente quam ventre suscepit,

concede nobis ut Christum,

quem fide suscepimus,

dignis iustitiæ operibus manifestemus.

Qui tecum vivit.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading

Gal 4, 4-7 11

God sent his Son, born of a woman.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians

Brothers and sisters:

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,

   born of a woman, born under the law,

   to ransom those under the law,

   so that we might receive adoption.

As proof that you are children,

   God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts,

   crying out, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave but a child,

   and if a child then also an heir, through God.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 21,  4-6. 10-11. 23-24

R. (cf. 11b) From my mother's womb, O Lord, you are my God.

Lord, you are enthroned as the Holy One;

   you are the glory of Israel.

In you our ancestors trusted;

   they trusted and you rescued them.

To you they cried out and they escaped;

   in you they trusted and were not disappointed. R.

Yet you drew me forth from the womb,

   made me safe at my mother’s breast.

Upon you I was thrust from the womb;

   since birth you are my God. R.

Then I will proclaim your name to the assembly;

   in the community I will praise you:

“You who fear the Lord, give praise!

All descendants of Jacob, give honor;

   show reverence, all descendants of Israel!” R.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Happy are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 2, 15b-19

The shepherds found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, lying in the manger.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

The shepherds said to one another,

   “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem

   to see this thing that has taken place,

   that the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,

   and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,

   they made known the message

   that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed

   by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,

   reflecting on them in her heart.

The Gospel of the Lord.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
May the offerings your people make
on this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
be acceptable to you, O Lord,
for by her virginity she pleased you
and in humility conceived your Son, our Lord.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Accepta sint tibi, Domine, munera populi tui,

in memoria beatæ Virginis oblata,

quæ tibi virginitate placuit

et humilitate concepit Filium tuum Dominum nostrum.

Qui vivit.

PREFACE

Holy Mary rejoiced because as a Virgin she gave birth to the Redeemer

(Sancta Maria lætatur quod virgo edidit Redemptorem)

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.

For by a wonderful and inexpressible mystery
the Blessed Virgin conceived your only Son
and bore in her pure womb the Lord of heaven.

She who knew not man becomes a mother;
she who has given birth remains a virgin.
What joy is hers at your twofold gift:
she is full of wonder at her virgin-motherhood
and full of joy at giving birth to the Redeemer.

Through him the Angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.
May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:

Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salutare,

nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere:

Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens æterne Deus:

Quia per mirabile mysterium et inenarrabile sacramentum

Unigenitum tuum Virgo sacra concepit,

et cæli Dominum clausis portavit visceribus:

quæ virum non cognovit, mater est,

et post partum virgo est.

Duobus enim gavisa est muneribus:

miratur quod virgo concepit,

lætatur quad edidit Redemptorem.

Per quem maiestatem tμam adorat exercitus Angelorum,

ante conspectum tuum in æternitate lætantium.

Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti iubeas, deprecamur,

socia exsultatione dicentes:

Holy, Holy, Holy....

Communion Antiphon

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary,
which she bore the Son of the eternal Father.

Beata viscera Mariæ Virginis,

quæ portaverunt æterni Patris Filium.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Renewed with this heavenly food,
we humbly implore you, Lord,
that having received your Son, born of the tender Virgin,
under sacramental signs,
we may profess him in words
and hold fast to him in deeds.
Who lives and reins for ever and ever.

Refecti, Domine, cælestibus alimoniis,

te supplices exoramus

ut Filium tuum, ex alma Virgine natum,

quem Sacramento suscepimus

confiteamur verbis et moribus teneamus.

Qui vivit.

Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 3 (Advent III): The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Visitatio Beatæ Mariæ Virginis

On more than one occasion the Roman Liturgy celebrates the grace-filled mystery in the unfolding of salvation when the Virgin Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and bearing the Word of God, visits Elizabeth: on the Feast itself (May 31), before the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (June 24); during Advent, because of its close connection with the Solemnity of Christmas, on December 21; and in particular on the 4th Sunday of Advent of Year C.

The Mass of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is appropriate during Advent when a memorial of the Mother of the Lord is to be celebrated for a reasonable cause.

Our Lady in visiting her kinswoman Elizabeth s an image of the mystery of salvation, in which God "has come to his people and set them free" (Ent Ant, Luke 1,68). Mary is also the model for the Church, which God nourishes with his gifts and on which he pours out his Holy Spirit (cf. Prayer after Communion) as it brings the message of Joy to the whole world so that all peoples may "acknowledge Christ as their Saviour" (cf. Prayer after Communion).

In this Mass our Lady is honored as:

- the new daughter of Zion, who in her womb ("in your midst") bears the Lord, the King of Israel (1 Read, Zephaniah 3, 14-18a);

- the new ark of the covenant, who, bearing the Word of God, brings "salvation and joy to the home of Elizabeth" (Collect, cf. 1 Chronicles 13,14);

- a new creation, formed by the Holy Spirit (cf. Prayer over the Offerings & Lumen Gentium, no. 56), who is bathed in the dew of heavenly grace (cf. Prayer over the Offerings), and bears the fruit of salvation, Jesus Christ;

- the Mother of the Lord, whom Elizabeth recognises in words inspired by the Holy Spirit (cf. Preface) and who gives herself completely to the mystery of the redemption;

- a holy woman, who, hearing the words of an angel, hastens to play her part in the work of salvation, proclaims God's greatness in her song of praise and thanksgiving (cf. Gos, Luke 1, 39-56); a paragon of loving service (cf. Preface), she is rightly hailed as blessed "because she believed in your [God's] promise of salvation" (Preface, cf. Alleluia, Luke 1, 45), whose humility is looked upon with favor by God (cf. Communion Antiphon, Luke 1,48) and will be acclaimed by all generations.

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Entrance Antiphon Luke 1, 68-69a. 70
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
as his holy prophets promised of old.

Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel,

quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suæ

et erexit cornu salutis nobis,

sicut locutus est per os sanctorum,

qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum eius.

COLLECT
Lord our God, Savior of the human family,
you brought salvation and joy
to the home of Elizabeth
through the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the ark of the New Covenant.
We ask that, in obedience
to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
we too may bring Christ to others
and proclaim your greatness
by the praise of our lips and the holiness of our lives.
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.

Salvator hominum Deus,

qui per beatam Virginem Mariam, novi fœderis arcam,

salutem et gaudium domui Elisabeth attulisti,

concede, quæsumus, ut, afflanti Spiritui obsequentes,

et nos Christum fratribus valeamus portare

et te laudibus magnificare et morum sanctitate.

Per Dominum.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading

Zep 3:14-18a

The Lord, the King of Israel, is among you.

A reading from the book of the prophet Zephaniah 

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!

   Sing joyfully, O Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart,

   O daughter Jerusalem!

The Lord has removed the judgment against you

   and turned away your enemies;

the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,

   you have no further misfortune to fear.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:

   Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

   a mighty savior;

the LORD will rejoice over you with gladness,

   and renew you in his love,

the LORD will sing joyfully because of you,

   as one sings at festivals.

The word of the Lord.

Or:

Sg 2, 8-14

See, my lover comes leaping across the mountains.

A reading from the Song of Songs

Hark! my lover—here he comes

   springing across the mountains,

   leaping across the hills.

My lover is like a gazelle

   or a young stag.

Here he stands behind our wall,

   gazing through the windows,

   peering through the lattices.

My lover speaks; he says to me,

   “Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

   and come!

“For see, the winter is past,

   the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth,

   the time of pruning the vines has come,

   and the song of the dove is heard in our land.

The fig tree puts forth its figs,

   and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.

Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,

   and come!

O my dove in the clefts of the rock,

   in the secret recesses of the cliff,

let me see you,

   let me hear your voice,

for your voice is sweet,

   and you are lovely.”

The word of the Lord.

Or:

Zec 9:9-10

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah

The LORD says:

Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,

   shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king shall come to you;

   a just savior is he,

meek, and riding on an ass,

   on a colt, the foal of an ass.

He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,

   and the horse from Jerusalem;

the warrior’s bow shall be banished,

   and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.

His dominion shall be from sea to sea,

   and from the River to the ends of the earth.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

O God, give your judgment to the king;

   your justice to the son of kings;

that he may govern your people with justice,

   your oppressed with right judgment. R.

That abundance may flourish in his days,

   great bounty, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

   from the river to the ends of the earth. R.

For he rescues the poor when they cry out,

   the oppressed who have no one to help.

He shows pity to the needy and the poor

   and saves the lives of the poor. R. 

May his name be blessed forever;

   as long as the sun, may his name endure.

May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name;

   may all the nations regard him as favored. R.

Or:

Isaiah 12, 2-3. 4bcd. 5-6

R. (6b) Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

God indeed is my savior;

   I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the Lord,

   and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

   at the fountain of salvation. R. 

Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;

   among the nations make known his deeds,

   proclaim how exalted is his name. R. 

Sing praise to the Lord, for his glorious achievement;

   let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! R. 

Alleluia cf. Lc 1, 45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, for firmly believing
that the promises of the Lord would be fulfilled.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 1, 39-56

Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Mary set out

   and traveled to the hill country in haste

   to a town of Judah,

   where she entered the house of Zechariah

   and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

   the infant leaped in her womb,

   and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,

   cried out in a loud voice and said,

   “Most blessed are you among women,

   and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me,

   that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

   the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed

   that what was spoken to you by the Lord

   would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

   “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

      my spirit rejoices in God ,my savior.”

   For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;

      behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.

   The Mighty One has done great things for me,

      and holy is his name.

   The Lord’s mercy is from age to age

      to those who fear him.

   He has shown might with his arm,

      dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.

   He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones

      but lifted up the lowly.

   The hungry he has filled with good things;

      the rich he has sent away empty.

   The Lord has helped Israel his servant,

      remembering his mercy,

   according to his promise to our ancestors,

      to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months

   and then returned to her home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord,
may our gifts be sanctified by the Holy Spirit,
who formed the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be a new creation,
and bathed her with the dew of heavenly grace,
so that she might bear the fruit of salvation.
Through Christ our Lord.

Munera nostra, quæsumus, Domine,

Spiritus ille sanctificet,

qui beatam Virginem Mariam novam plasmavit creaturam,

ut ex ipsa, cælesti rore perfusa,

fructus oriretur salutis, Iesus Christus Filius tuus.

Qui vivit.

PREFACE

Holy Mary, Blessed for her belief in the promise of salvation.

(Sancta Maria beata ob fidem in promissam salutem)

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 by your Holy Spirit
you inspired Elizabeth
to reveal the surpassing honor
you have given to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary is rightly hailed as blessed
because she believed in your promise of salvation;
in her act of loving service
she is greeted as Mother of the Lord
by the Mother of Christ's herald.

We make our own the canticle of joy
on the lips of God's Virgin Mother,
and in our lowliness we too proclaim your greatness
in the never-ending hymn
of the whole company of Angels and Saints
as they cry out:

Vere dignum et iustum est, requum et salutare,

nos tibi Semper et ubique gratias agere:

Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens æterne Deus,

per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Qui, propheticis Elisabeth verbis Spiritu movente prolatis,

fastigium nobis sanctæ Mariæ Virginis manifestas

Beata enim ob fidem in promissam salutem,

ipsa merito salutatur,

et in caritatis servitio

mater Domini a matre Præcursoris agnoscitur.

Unde Deiparæ Virginis cantico

cum exsultatione coniungimur,

tuamque magnificamus humiliter maiestatem,

cum angelorum sanctorumque turmis

sine cessatione clamantes:

Holy, Holy, Holy....

Communion Antiphon cf. Luke 1, 48

The Lord has looked on his lowly handmaid;

behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Respexit humilitatem ancillre sure,

ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Lord our God,

you have nourished the Church with your sacramental gifts

and poured out on it your Holy Spirit;

may it hasten to bring your message of joy to the whole world,

so that all peoples who receive your saving word

may rejoice in your redeeming love

and acknowledge Christ as their Savior.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Ecclesia tua, Domine,

divinis instructa sacramentis et Spiritu Sancto repleta,

ad cunctos populos læta festinet,

ut, eius verbum salutis audientes,

de peracta redemptione exsultent

et Christum tuum omnium gentium Salvatorem agnoscant.

Qui vivit.