Mary, Mother of the Church

Our Lady of the Cenacle, Mother of the Church

 Invitation to Worship

We celebrate the Motherhood of the Virgin Mary;

Let us adore her Son, who shares his Mother with the Church.

O Holy ONE + open my lips,

~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

Hail Holy Queen who gave birth to the King, alleluia!

~Who rules heaven and earth forever, alleluia!

 

MORNING HYMN — FEASTS OF MARY

What gleaming star of charity,
You are, O Mary, for the saints!
To us on earth, you are the fount
Of hope that cannot fade or fail.

 

Your pow’r such, exalted Queen,
To win the heart of Christ your Son,
That what we ask in faith, through you,
We know we surely shall obtain.

 

Your loving tenderness will aid
Not only those who pray and plead,
But sometimes favors yet unasked
Are granted to the souls in need.

 

Within your heart true mercy dwells,
In you are glory, greatness, pow’r;
All goodness that creation holds
Is found with plenitude in you.

 

To God our Abba glory be,
The Spirit and the Word be praised,
Who clothed you with a robe of grace,
Immaculate, untouched by sin. Amen.

Text: Quæ caritatis fulgidum, Anselmo Lentini, OSB, 1901-1989
Translation: © the Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK

Tune: BLESSED DAY L.M. (St. Meinrad Archabbey)

 

PSALMODY

 Antiphon

Of you are told glorious things,  O City of our God.

Psalm 86/87

On the holy mountain is the city

cherished by Adonai.

Adonai prefers the gates of Zion

to all of Jacob’s dwellings.

Of you are told glorious things,

O City of God!

 

“Babylon and Egypt I will count

among those who know me;

Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia,

These will be her children

and Zion shall be called ‘Mother’

for all shall be her children.” 

 

It is God, Adonai, Most High,

who gives each a place.

In the register of the peoples God writes:

“These are her children.”

and while they dance they will sing:

“In you all find their home.”

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love;

as always before,

so now and evermore. Amen.

Glorious things are told of you, O City of  God.

 

 

READING      ACTS 1: 12-14

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven,
the Apostles returned to Jerusalem
from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,a sabbath day’s journey away.

When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, …

All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women,
and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

 

Responsory

R. The Holy Spirit has come upon the Virgin Mary *And the Power of the Most High has overshadowed her V. Woman, Behold your children, and My Beloved Ones, behold your Mother. *And the Power of the Most High has overshadowed herV. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.

 

CANTICLE OF ZACHARY–  LUKE 1:68-79

 Antiphon

They devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,

together with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

 

Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,

Who visits this people to set us free

Raising for us a sign of salvation

In the house and family of David.

 

God promised throughout past ages

In words of holy prophets

To save us from our enemies,

And from the control of our oppressors.

 

Adonai favored our ancestors

And remembered the sacred covenant.

The pledge to Abraham and Sarah

Is now renewed for us;

 

That freed from the grip of our foes

We might worship without fear

And be both just and holy

For the rest of our days.

 

And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”

Will go ahead to prepare the way,

By teaching this people of salvation

Through forgiveness of their sins.

 

For the loving compassion of the Holy One

As the Rising Sun will shine upon us

To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow

To Guide our feet on the way of peace.

 

Glory to the ONE and to the WORD

And to the BREATH of Love!

As always before,

so now and evermore.  Amen

They devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,

together with Mary, the mother of Jesus.

 

Litany of Intercession

Incarnate Word of God and Son of Mary of Nazareth,

~In your compassion, hear our prayer.

 

Gabriel brought the invitation to Mary;

~ give us her courage to say “Let your will be done.”

 

She conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit;

~may your Spirit make us bearers of the Word.

 

You and your parents were migrants and refugees from violence;

~may we welcome all those who flee poverty and war.

 

Simeon and Anna recognized you and foretold the suffering your love would entail;

~help us to recognize you in others and comfort those whose hearts are pierced with sorrow.

 

You entrusted your Mother to the Beloved disciple;

~may we include all who suffer loss in our circle of prayer and concern.

 

You made the Beloved disciple and the whole church, the children of Mary;

~ help us to follow her example of discipleship and care for all who are in need.

 

 

 

Prayer of Jesus

Our Dear Abba …

 

Closing Prayer & Blessing

Holy One, Source of all light and life,
Your Beloved Son chose to make his Blessed Mother, Mary,
our Mother and the Mother of his Body, the Church.
Grant with the loving help of her prayers, that
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.
We ask this and all things in the name of your Incarnate Word, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in the power of love, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

 

May the  Word Made Flesh of the Virgin Mary full of grace and truth,

+ bless us and keep us.   Amen.

 

Let us bless the world with peace.

~Thanks be to God.