The Blessed Virgin Mary

White
Invitation to Confession

We have done what was wrong in the Lord’s sight

and chosen what displeased him.

Yet as a mother comforts her child,

so shall the Lord himself comfort us.

So let us come to him who knows our every deed and thought.

(or)

Born of a woman, born under the law,

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of sin:

let us come to him that he may heal us and set us free:

Kyrie Confession

Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of Peace:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh and splendour of the Father;

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God,

who stooped to raise fallen humanity

through the child-bearing of blessed Mary:

grant that we, who have seen your glory

revealed in our human nature

and your love made perfect in our weakness,

may daily be renewed in your image

and conformed to the pattern of your Son

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Lectionary

Genesis 3.8-15,20; Isaiah 7.10-14; Micah 5.1-4

Psalms 45.10-17; 113; 131

Acts 1.12-14; Romans 8.18-30; Galatians 4.4-7

Luke 1.26-38 or 1.39-47; John 19.25-27

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

My soul magnifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

Luke 1.46,47

Alleluia.

(or)

Alleluia, alleluia.

My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour on

the lowliness of his servant.

Luke 1.47,48

Alleluia.

(or)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Greetings, favoured one. The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

cf Luke 1.28,42

Alleluia.

(or)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

cf Luke 1.28,42

Alleluia.

Intercession

As we pray to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we say with Mary:

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

Your prophet of old foretold a day when a virgin would conceive

and bear a son who would be called God-with-us.

Help us to look forward to your deliverance

and to seek the fullness of your kingdom.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

Your angel declared to Mary that she was to be

the mother of the Saviour.

Help [… and] every Christian person to be open to your word

and obedient to your will.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

Mary rejoiced with Elizabeth and sang your praise,

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.’

Help us to live joyful lives that sing your praise.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

Mary bore a son of David’s line,

a king whose reign would never end.

Bless [… and] all the nations of the world with Christ’s gift of peace.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

The child Jesus grew in wisdom and stature

in the home of Mary and Joseph.

Strengthen our homes and families,

and keep under your protection [… and] all those whom we love.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

At the foot of the cross of Christ stood his mother,

and from the cross she received his lifeless body in her arms.

Give comfort and healing to [… and] all who suffer

and all who watch the suffering of those they love.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

The apostle John saw a vision of a woman in heaven,

robed with the sun.

Bring us with [… and] all those who have died in the faith of Christ

to share the joy of heaven with Mary and all the saints.

Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.

Holy is your name.

Almighty and everlasting God,

your handmaid Mary magnified your name

and rejoiced in your saving love:

trusting in that same love,

we ask all these our prayers

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Introduction to the Peace

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,

and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9.6

Prayer at the Preparation of the Table

God our Father,

your handmaid Mary fed your Son at her virgin breast.

Nourish us at this table with the bread of heaven

and the cup of salvation.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Preface

And now we give you thanks

because, by the power of the Holy Spirit,

he took our nature upon him

and was born of the Virgin Mary his mother,

that being himself without sin,

he might make us clean from all sin.

(or)

And now we give you thanks

because in choosing the blessed Virgin Mary

to be the mother of your Son

you have exalted the humble and meek.

Your angel hailed her as most highly favoured;

with all generations we call her blessed

and with her we rejoice and magnify your holy name.

(or)

And now we give you thanks

that he is your eternal Son, the King of glory.

When he took our flesh to set us free

he did not abhor the Virgin’s womb.

Seated at your right hand in glory,

he will come to be our judge

and to bring us with the saints to glory everlasting.

(or)

And now we give you thanks

because he shared our life in human form

from the warmth of Mary’s womb

to the stillness of the grave.

Extended Preface

It is indeed right and good,

our duty and our salvation,

almighty Father, ever-living God,

to proclaim the wonders you have worked in all your saints,

and on the feast of Mary, ever blessed,

to echo her praise of your loving kindness.

For you have truly done great things

and holy is your name,

and your mercy is on those who fear you

in every generation.

When you looked with favour on your lowly servant

you remembered your promise of mercy

and gave the world through her

your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Through him the hosts of heaven adore you

and rejoice in your presence for ever.

May our voices join with theirs

in the triumphant hymn of praise:

(or)

It is indeed right and good,

our duty and our salvation,

almighty Father, ever-living God,

to give you thanks and praise

for the work of your grace in the Blessed Virgin Mary.

For by the overshadowing of your Holy Spirit

she conceived and bore the Word made flesh.

At the cross she kept her vigil,

and saw the saving work of your Son brought to its perfection.

She rejoiced in his resurrection,

and joining her prayers with those of the apostles,

was filled with the gift of your promised Spirit.

In her you show us the greatness of your love,

and the wonderful purpose you intend for all your children.

Therefore we join our voice with hers,

and all the company of heaven,

as they sing with joy the hymn of your glory:

(or)

All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere,

mighty creator, ever-living God.

We give you thanks and praise for your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who for love of our fallen race humbled himself,

was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of your Spirit,

and lived as one of us.

In this mystery of the Word made flesh

you have caused his light to shine in our hearts,

to give knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

In him we see our God made visible

and so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see.

Therefore with all the angels of heaven

we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name

and sing our joyful hymn of praise:

See also the Extended Preface for the Annunciation (here).

Post Communion

God most high,

whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh:

we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption

you visit us with your Holy Spirit

and overshadow us by your power;

strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience

and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Christ the Son of God, born of Mary,

fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

(or)

May the love of the Holy Family surround you.

May the joy that was Mary’s refresh you.

May the faithfulness that was Joseph’s encourage you.

May the peace of the Christ-child fill your lives.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

(or)

May the Father,

who has loved the eternal Son

from before the foundation of the world,

shed that love upon you his children.

Amen.

May Christ,

who by his incarnation gathered into one

things earthly and heavenly,

fill you with joy and peace.

Amen.

May the Holy Spirit,

by whose overshadowing Mary became the God-bearer,

give you grace to carry the good news of Christ.

Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

(or)

When the Word became flesh

earth was joined to heaven in the womb of Mary:

may the love and obedience of Mary be your example.

Amen.

May the peace of Christ

rule in your hearts and homes.

Amen.

May you be filled with the joy of the Spirit

and the gifts of your eternal home.

Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Acclamation

Blessed is she who had faith

that the Lord’s promise would be fulfilled.

All generations shall call her blessed.

So tenderly has he looked upon his servant.

All generations shall call her blessed.

Blessed is she among women and blessed is the fruit of her womb.

All generations shall call her blessed.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Holy is his name.

All generations shall call her blessed.

Short Passages of Scripture

Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord;

let it be to me according to your word.’

Luke 1.38

Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.

Luke 1.45

Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2.19

Jesus said,

‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’

Luke 11.28

Common Worship: Festivals, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2008 and published by Church House Publishing.

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