Call to Worship

While making the sign of the cross:

Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your 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 forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Hail Mary (1)

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. We commemorate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a descendant of Abraham, born of the tribe of Judah and of David’s seed.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you, my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life;
in your name, I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet;
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed, I remember you.
On you, I muse through the night,
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings, I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. We commemorate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a descendant of Abraham, born of the tribe of Judah and of David’s seed.

Psalm Prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you, our lives proclaim your goodness, our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Canticle
Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Ant. When the most holy Virgin was born, the whole world was made radiant; blessed is the branch, and blessed is the stem which bore such holy fruit.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
All you human beings, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy ones of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt God above all for ever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt God above all for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all for ever.

Ant. When the most holy Virgin was born, the whole world was made radiant; blessed is the branch, and blessed is the stem which bore such holy fruit.

Psalm 149

Ant. Let us joyfully celebrate the birth of blessed Mary while she may intercede for us before Jesus Christ the Lord.

Sing a new song to the Lord,
God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker.
Let the people of Zion exult in their king.
Let them praise God’s name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in this people
and crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all God’s faithful

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. Let us joyfully celebrate the birth of blessed Mary while she may intercede for us before Jesus Christ the Lord.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(Is. 61:10)

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.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

The Lord has chosen her, God’s loved one, from the beginning.
The Lord has chosen her, God’s loved one, from the beginning.
God has taken her to live with him,
God’s loved one from the beginning.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
The Lord has chosen her, God’s loved one, from the beginning.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79
The Benedictus (2)

Ant. Mary, ever-virgin, most honored Queen of the world, you gave birth to our Savior, Christ the Lord.

While making the sign of the cross:

Blest be the God of Israel
who comes to set us free
and raises new hope for us:
a Branch from David's tree.
So have the prophets long declared
that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies
and all who wish us harm.

With promised mercy, will God still
the covenant recall:
the oath once sworn to Abraham,
from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear
and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness
before God all our days.

My child, as prophet of the Lord,
you will prepare the way,
to tell God's people they are saved
from sin's eternal sway.
Then shall God's mercy from on high
shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death
and lead us into peace.

Ant. Mary, ever-virgin, most honored Queen of the world, you gave birth to our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Intercessions

Let us glorify our Savior, who chose the Virgin Mary for his mother. Let us ask him:
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Sun of Justice, the immaculate Virgin was the white dawn announcing your rising.
Grant that we may always live in the light of your coming.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Eternal Word, you chose Mary as the uncorrupted ark of your dwelling place. Free us from the corruption of sin.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

Savior of humankind, your mother stood at the foot of your cross. Grant, through her intercession, that we may rejoice to share in your passion.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

With ultimate generosity and love, you gave Mary as a mother to your beloved disciple. Help us to live as worthy children of so noble a mother.
Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth.

For the sick who have asked us to accompany them with our prayers that they may experience your merciful and healing touch today.

Please pray aloud the names of those who are sick or in need of healing.

Christ Jesus, fill us with light and truth. (3)

The Lord’s Prayer

And now let us pray with confidence as Christ our Lord asked:

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.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly God,
You have given us the Mother of your Son
to be our Queen and Mother.
With the support of her prayers,
may we come to share the glory of her children
in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We ask this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessing

While making the sign of the cross:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Flos Carmeli (4)

Flos Carmeli
Vitis florigera
Splendor caeli
Virgo puerpera
—Singularis.

Mater mitis
Sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
Esto propitia
—Stella maris.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Pray for us.
Sant’Angelo,
Pray for us.

Let us spend this day in peace.
Thanks be to God.

Credits and Permissions

All text and music are in the public domain or used with permission:
OneLicense A-726188. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, all music is published by OCP or a division of OCP.

Julian Pardo produces all audio.
Michael J. Aguilar produces all videos.

1. Lyrics and Music: written by Carey Landry, arranged by Martha Lesinski,
   copyrights 1975, 1978.
   Vocals: Anna May Rudolph. 
   Percussion: Julian Pardo.

2. Lyrics: Based on Luke 1:68-79; “Blessed be the God of Israel”, Carl P. Daw. Jr., born 1944.
   Music: “Forest Green,” English Folk Tune; arr. Ralph Vaughn Williams (1871-1958).
   Vocals: The Carmelites and NickRitacco.
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.

3. Text: “Intercessions.” James A. Wilde, copyright 1996.
   Music: Michael Joncas, copyright 1996.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

4. Traditional.Carmelite Hymn.
   Vocals: The Carmelites, including Matthew Gummess, O.Carm., Carl Markelz, O.Carm., Ryan J. Resurreccion, O. Carm. and Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.