In Annuntiatione Beatæ Mariæ VirginisAnnunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

℣ O Lord, ✠ open my lips.

℟ And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

℣ O God, ✠ come to my assistance.

℟ Lord, make haste to help me.

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

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Praise to you, O Lord, King of eternal glory.

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

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

Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior. Let us anticipate his presence with confession, and let us sing joyfully to him with psalms.

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

For the Lord is a great God and a great King over all gods. For the Lord will not drive away his people. For in his hand are all the limits of the earth, and he beholds the heights of the mountains.

Ant. the Lord is with you.

For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands established the dry land. (kneel) Come, let us adore and fall prostrate before God, and let us weep before the Lord who made us. For he is the Lord our God, and we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

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

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested and saw my works.

Ant. the Lord is with you.

For forty years, I was near to that generation, and I said: These have always strayed in heart. But they have not known my ways. To them I swore in my wrath: They shall not enter into my rest.

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

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. the Lord is with you.

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

The God whom earth, and sea, and sky

Adore, and laud, and magnify,

Who o'er their threefold fabric reigns,

The Virgin's spotless womb contains.

The God, whose will by moon and sun

And all things in due course is done,

Is borne upon a maiden's breast,

By fullest heavenly grace possest.

How blest that mother, in whose shrine

The great artificer divine,

Whose hand contains the earth and sky,

Vouchsafed, as in his ark, to lie.

Blest, in the message Gabriel brought;

Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought;

From whom the great desire of earth

Took human flesh and human birth.

All honour, laud, and glory be,

O Jesu, Virgin-born to thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To Father and to Paraclete.

Amen.

Nocturn I

Ant. Blessed are you * among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Psalm 8 [1]

8:2a O Lord, our Lord, * how admirable is your name throughout all the earth!

8:2b For your magnificence is elevated * above the heavens.

8:3 Out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have perfected praise, because of your enemies, * so that you may destroy the enemy and the revenger.

8:4 For I will behold your heavens, the works of your fingers: * the moon and the stars, which you have founded.

8:5 What is man, that you are mindful of him, * or the son of man, that you visit him?

8:6 You reduced him to a little less than the Angels; † you have crowned him with glory and honor, * (7) and you have set him over the works of your hands.

8:8 You have subjected all things under his feet, * all sheep and oxen, and in addition: the beasts of the field,

8:9 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, * which pass through the paths of the sea.

8:10 O Lord, our Lord, * how admirable is your name throughout all the earth!

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Ant. Like choice myrrh, * you have given forth a fragrance of sweetness, O holy Mother of God.

Psalm 18 [2]

18:2 The heavens describe the glory of God, * and the firmament announces the work of his hands.

18:3 Day proclaims the word to day, * and night to night imparts knowledge.

18:4 There are no speeches or conversations, * where their voices are not being heard.

18:5 Their sound has gone forth through all the earth, * and their words to the ends of the world.

18:6a He has placed his tabernacle in the sun, * and he is like a bridegroom coming out of his bedroom.

18:6b He has exulted like a giant running along the way; * (7a) his departure is from the summit of heaven.

18:7b And his course reaches all the way to its summit. * Neither is there anyone who can hide himself from his heat.

18:8 The law of the Lord is immaculate, converting souls. * The testimony of the Lord is faithful, providing wisdom to little ones.

18:9 The justice of the Lord is right, rejoicing hearts. * The precepts of the Lord are brilliant, enlightening the eyes.

18:10 The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for all generations. * The judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves:

18:11 desirable beyond gold and many precious stones, * and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

18:12 For, indeed, your servant keeps them, * and in keeping them, there are many rewards.

18:13 Who can understand transgression? † From my hidden faults, cleanse me, O Lord, * (14a) and from those of others, spare your servant.

18:14b If they will have no dominion over me, then I will be immaculate, * and I will be cleansed from the greatest transgression.

18:15a And the eloquence of my mouth will be so as to please, * along with the meditation of my heart, in your sight, forever,

18:15b O Lord, my helper * and my redeemer.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Like choice myrrh, you have given forth a fragrance of sweetness, O holy Mother of God.

Ant. Before the couch * of this Virgin, strike up sweet songs of praise for us.

Psalm 23 [3]

23:1 The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord: * the whole world and all that dwells in it.

23:2 For he has founded it upon the seas, * and he has prepared it upon the rivers.

23:3 Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord? * And who will stand in his holy place?

23:4 The innocent of hands and the clean of heart, * who has not received his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor.

23:5 He will receive a blessing from the Lord, * and mercy from God, his Savior.

23:6 This is the generation that seeks him, * that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

23:7 Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. * And the King of Glory shall enter.

23:8 Who is this King of Glory? * The Lord who is strong and powerful; the Lord powerful in battle.

23:9 Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, eternal gates. * And the King of Glory shall enter.

23:10 Who is this King of Glory? * The Lord of virtue. He himself is the King of Glory.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Before the couch of this Virgin, strike up sweet songs of praise for us.

℣ In your beauty and your comeliness

℟ Press forward, prosper, and reign.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

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 also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. Hear the prayers of your servants, Lord Jesus Christ, and have mercy on us: You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the eternal Father bless us with his everlasting blessing.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 1

From the Prophet Isaiah

Isa 7:10-15

10 And the Lord spoke further to Ahaz, saying:

11 Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God, from the depths below, even to the heights above.

12 And Ahaz said, “I will not ask, for I will not tempt the Lord.”

13 And he said: “Then listen, O house of David. Is it such a small thing for you to trouble men, that you must also trouble my God?

14 For this reason, the Lord himself will grant to you a sign. Behold, a virgin will conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel.

15 He will eat butter and honey, so that he may know to reject evil and to choose good.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ The Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a Virgin betrothed to Joseph, announcing to her the word; and the Virgin trembles at the light: fear not, Mary, you have found grace with the Lord:

* Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called the Son of the Most High.

℣ The Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.

℟ Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called the Son of the Most High.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the Only Begotten Son of God be pleased to bless and assist us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 2

Isa 11:1-5

1 And a rod will go forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower will ascend from his root.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety.

3 And he will be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. He will not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears.

4 Instead, he will judge the poor with justice, and he will reprove the meek of the earth with fairness. And he will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and he will slay the impious with the spirit of his lips.

5 And justice will be the belt around his waist. And faith will be the warrior’s belt at his side.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Hail, Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with you:

* The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you: for what shall be born holy of you will be called the Son of God.

℣ How shall this come to pass, since I know not man? And the Angel answering said to her.

℟ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you: for what shall be born holy of you will be called the Son of God.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our minds and hearts.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 3

Isa 35:1-7

1 The desolate and impassable land will rejoice, and the place of solitude will exult, and it will flourish like the lily.

2 It will spring up and blossom, and it will exult with rejoicing and praising. The glory of Lebanon has been given to it, with the beauty of Carmel and Sharon. These will see the glory of the Lord and the beauty of our God.

3 Strengthen the lax hands, and confirm the weak knees!

4 Say to the fainthearted: “Take courage and fear not! Behold, your God will bring the vindication of retribution. God himself will arrive to save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be cleared.

6 Then the disabled will leap like a buck, and the tongue of the mute will be untied. For the waters have burst forth in the desert, and torrents in solitary places.

7 And the land that was dry will have a pond, and the thirsty land will have fountains of water.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Receive the word, O Virgin Mary, which has been sent to you from the Lord through the Angel: you shall conceive and bear both God and man,

* That you may be called blessed among all women.

℣ You shall indeed bear a son, and shall suffer no loss of your virginity: you shall become with child, and shall remain a mother ever untouched.

℟ That you may be called blessed among all women.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ That you may be called blessed among all women.

Nocturn II

Ant. In your beauty * and your comeliness, press forward, advance prosperously, and reign.

Psalm 44 [4]

44:2a My heart has uttered a good word. * I speak of my works to the king.

44:2b My tongue is like the pen of a scribe * who writes quickly.

44:3 You are a brilliant form before the sons of men. † Grace has been poured freely into your lips. * Because of this, God has blessed you in eternity.

44:4 Fasten your sword to your thigh, * O most powerful one.

44:5a With your splendor and your excellence * extended, proceed prosperously, and reign

44:5b for the sake of truth and meekness and justice, * and so will your right hand lead you wondrously.

44:6 Your arrows are sharp; the people will fall under you, * with the hearts of the enemies of the king.

44:7 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. * The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of true aim.

44:8 You have loved justice and hated iniquity. * Because of this, God, your God, has anointed you, before your co-heirs, with the oil of gladness.

44:9 Myrrh and balsam and cinnamon perfume your garments, from the houses of ivory. * From these, they have delighted you: (10a) the daughters of kings in your honor.

44:10b The queen assisted at your right hand, in clothing of gold, * encircled with diversity.

44:11 Listen, daughter, and see, and incline your ear. * And forget your people and your father’s house.

44:12 And the king will desire your beauty. * For he is the Lord your God, and they will adore him.

44:13 And the daughters of Tyre * will entreat your countenance with gifts: all the rich men of the people.

44:14 All the glory of the daughter of its king is inside, * in golden fringes, (15a) clothed all around with diversities.

44:15b After her, virgins will be led to the king. * Her neighbors will be brought to you.

44:16 They will be brought with gladness and exultation. * They will be led into the temple of the king.

44:17 For your fathers, sons have been born to you. * You will establish them as leaders over all the earth.

44:18a They will remember your name always, * for generation after generation.

44:18b Because of this, people will confess to you in eternity, * even forever and ever.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. In your beauty and your comeliness, press forward, advance prosperously, and reign.

Ant. God will help her * with his countenance: God is in her midst, she shall not be moved.

Psalm 45 [5]

45:2 Our God is our refuge and strength, * a helper in the tribulations that have greatly overwhelmed us.

45:3 Because of this, we will not be afraid when the earth will be turbulent * and the mountains will be transferred into the heart of the sea.

45:4 They thundered, and the waters were stirred up among them; * the mountains have been disturbed by his strength.

45:5 The frenzy of the river rejoices the city of God. * The Most High has sanctified his tabernacle.

45:6 God is in its midst; it will not be shaken. * God will assist it in the early morning.

45:7 The peoples have been disturbed, and the kingdoms have been bowed down. * He uttered his voice: the earth has been moved.

45:8 The Lord of hosts is with us. * The God of Jacob is our supporter.

45:9 Draw near and behold the works of the Lord: what portents he has set upon the earth, * carrying away wars even to the end of the earth.

45:10 He will crush the bow and break the weapons, * and he will burn the shield with fire.

45:11 Be empty, and see that I am God. * I will be exalted among the peoples, and I will be exalted upon the earth.

45:12 The Lord of hosts is with us. * The God of Jacob is our supporter.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. God will help her with his countenance: God is in her midst, she shall not be moved.

Ant. For so the dwelling place * of all of us rejoicing is within you, O holy Mother of God.

Psalm 86 [6]

86:1 Its foundations are in the holy mountains: * the Lord loves the gates of Zion above all the tabernacles of Jacob.

86:3 Glorious things are being said of you, * O City of God.

86:4 I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon * knowing me.

86:4 Behold, the foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians: * these have been there.

86:5 Will not Zion say that this man and that man were born in her? * And the Most High himself has founded her.

86:6 The Lord will explain, in the writings of peoples and of leaders, * about those who have been in her.

86:7 For so the dwelling place within you * is with all rejoicing.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. For so the dwelling place of all of us rejoicing is within you, O holy Mother of God.

℣ God will assist it with his countenance.

℟ God is in its midst; it will not be shaken.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

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 also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. May his loving kindness and mercy assist us, he who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May God the almighty Father be gracious and merciful to us.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 4

Sermon of Saint Leo, Pope

Sermon 2 on the Nativity of the Lord

Almighty and merciful God, whose nature is goodness, whose will is power, whose work is mercy, as soon as diabolical malice had put us to death with the venom of its envy, immediately signified, among the very beginnings of the world, remedies of his loving kindness predestined for the renewal of mortals; announcing to the serpent that a future seed of the woman would crush the pride of that harmful head by his own power — signifying Christ to come in the flesh, at once God and man — who, born of a Virgin, by an undefiled birth would condemn the violator of the human race.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Behold, a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, says the Lord:

* and his name shall be called Wonderful, God, Mighty One.

℣ He will sit upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom for ever.

℟ and his name shall be called Wonderful, God, Mighty One.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May Christ grant us the joys of eternal life.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 5

For the devil boasted that, having deceived man by his fraud, he had deprived him of the divine gifts, stripped him of the endowment of immortality, and brought upon him the harsh sentence of death, and that he had found in the ruin of the transgressor a kind of consolation for his own evil state; and that God, by the demand of his just severity, had changed toward man, whom he had created in such great honor, his former purpose: therefore, dearest ones, it was necessary, by the dispensation of a hidden counsel, that the unchangeable God, whose will cannot be deprived of its goodness, should fulfill the first design of his loving-kindness through a deeper mystery; and that man, led into sin by the cunning of diabolic iniquity, should not perish, contrary to God's purpose.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ A rod will go forth from the root of Jesse, and a flower will ascend from his root:

* and justice will be the belt of his loins, and faith the belt of his reins.

℣ And the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude.

℟ and justice will be the belt of his loins, and faith the belt of his reins.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May God kindle the fire of his love in our hearts.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 6

When therefore the times had come, most beloved, that had been appointed for the redemption of humanity, Jesus Christ our Lord enters these lowly depths, descending from his heavenly seat yet not withdrawing from his Father's glory, born by a new order and a new birth: by a new order, because, invisible in his own nature, he was made visible in ours; incomprehensible, he willed to be comprehended; remaining before time, he began to exist in time; the Lord of all things assumed the form of a servant, the dignity of his majesty being overshadowed; God impassible, he did not disdain to be passible man; and the immortal, to be subject to the laws of death.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Holy and undefiled virginity, with what praises I may extol you, I know not:

* For him whom the heavens could not contain, you have brought forth in your womb.

℣ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

℟ For him whom the heavens could not contain, you have brought forth in your womb.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ For him whom the heavens could not contain, you have brought forth in your womb.

Nocturn III

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary: * you alone have destroyed all heresies throughout the whole world.

Psalm 95 [7]

95:1 Sing to the Lord a new song. * Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

95:2 Sing to the Lord and bless his name. * Announce his salvation from day to day.

95:3 Announce his glory among the Gentiles, * his miracles among all peoples.

95:4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. * He is terrible, beyond all gods.

95:5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, * but the Lord made the heavens.

95:6 Confession and beauty are in his sight. * Sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary.

95:7 Bring to the Lord, you natives of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor. * Bring to the Lord glory for his name.

95:8 Lift up sacrifices, and enter into his courts. * Adore the Lord in his holy court.

95:9 Let the entire earth be shaken before his face. * Say among the Gentiles: The Lord has reigned.

95:10 For he has even corrected the whole world, which will not be shaken. * He will judge the peoples with fairness.

95:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved. * The fields and all the things that are in them will be glad.

95:12 Then all the trees of the forest will rejoice before the face of the Lord: for he arrives. * For he arrives to judge the earth.

95:13 He will judge the whole world with fairness * and the peoples with his truth.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary: you alone have destroyed all heresies throughout the whole world.

Ant. Grant me to be worthy * to praise you, O holy Virgin: give me strength against your enemies.

Psalm 96 [8]

96:1 The Lord has reigned, let the earth exult. * Let the many islands rejoice.

96:2 Clouds and mist are all around him. * Justice and judgment are corrections from his throne.

96:3 A fire will precede him, * and it will enflame his enemies all around.

96:4 His lightnings have enlightened the whole world. * The earth saw, and it was shaken.

96:5 The mountains flowed like wax before the face of the Lord, * before the face of the Lord of all the earth.

96:6 The heavens announced his justice, * and all peoples saw his glory.

96:7 May all those who adore graven images be confounded, * along with those who glory in their false images.

96:7 All you his Angels: Adore him. * Zion heard, and was glad.

96:8 And the daughters of Judah exulted * because of your judgments, O Lord.

96:9 For you are the Most High Lord over all the earth. * You are greatly exalted above all gods.

96:10 You who love the Lord: hate evil. * The Lord watches over the souls of his holy ones. He will free them from the hand of the sinner.

96:11 The light has risen for the just, * and joy for the upright of heart.

96:12 Rejoice in the Lord, you just ones, * and confess to the memory of his sanctuary.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Grant me to be worthy to praise you, O holy Virgin: give me strength against your enemies.

Ant. The Angel of the Lord * announced to Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 97 [9]

97:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, * for he has performed wonders.

97:1 His right hand has accomplished salvation for him, * with his holy arm.

97:2 The Lord has made known his salvation. * He has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations.

97:3 He has remembered his mercy * and his truth toward the house of Israel.

97:3 All the ends of the earth have seen * the salvation of our God.

97:4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth. * Sing and exult, and sing psalms.

97:5 Sing psalms to the Lord with stringed instruments, with strings and the voice of a psalmist, * with subtle wind instruments and the voice of woodwinds.

97:6 Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king. * Let the sea be moved and all its fullness, the whole world and all who dwell in it.

97:8 The rivers will clap their hands, the mountains will exult together, before the presence of the Lord. * For he comes to judge the earth.

97:9 He will judge the whole world with justice, * and the peoples with fairness.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. The Angel of the Lord announced to Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

℣ God has chosen her and has chosen her before all others.

℟ He makes her dwell in his tabernacle.

The Our Father is said silently as far as And lead us not into temptation:

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 also forgive those who trespass against us:

℣ And lead us not into temptation:

℟ But deliver us from evil.

Absolution. May the almighty and merciful Lord absolve us from the bonds of our sins.

℟ Amen.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the evangelical reading be our salvation and protection.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 7

A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Luc 1:26-38

At that time: the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. And so forth.

A Homily of Saint Ambrose, Bishop

Book 2 on Luke

The divine mysteries are hidden, and not easily — according to the prophetic saying — can any man know the counsel of God. Yet from the other deeds and precepts of the Lord our Savior we can understand that it was the design of a more deliberate counsel that she was chosen above all others to bear the Lord who was betrothed to a man. But why was she not made pregnant before she was betrothed? Perhaps so that it might not be said that she had conceived as a result of adultery.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Rejoice with me, all you who love the Lord: for when I was little, I pleased the Most High,

* And from my womb I brought forth God and man.

℣ All generations shall call me blessed, because God regarded his humble handmaid.

℟ And from my womb I brought forth God and man.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May she whose feast we celebrate, the Virgin of virgins, intercede for us to the Lord.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 8

And the Angel entered to her. Learn the virgin in her ways, learn the virgin in her modesty, learn in the oracle, learn in the mystery. It is the way of virgins to tremble, and to be afraid at every entrance of a man, to be in awe of every address of a man. Let women learn to imitate the purpose of chastity. Alone in her innermost chambers, whom no man had seen, the Angel alone found her; alone without a companion, alone without a witness, lest she be corrupted by some base address, she is greeted by the Angel.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, you alone have destroyed all heresies, you who believed the words of the Archangel Gabriel:

* When as a Virgin you bore God and man, and after childbirth, O Virgin, remained inviolate.

℣ Blessed are you who believed, for the things spoken to you by the Lord have been fulfilled.

℟ When as a Virgin you bore God and man, and after childbirth, O Virgin, remained inviolate.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ When as a Virgin you bore God and man, and after childbirth, O Virgin, remained inviolate.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

Benediction. May the King of Angels lead us to the company of the citizens on high.

℟ Amen.

Lesson 9

For the mystery of so great a message was not to be proclaimed by the mouth of a man, but by that of an Angel. Today for the first time there is heard: The Holy Spirit shall come upon you. And it is heard, and believed. Finally she says: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word. See the humility, see the devotion. She calls herself the handmaid of the Lord, she who is chosen to be his mother; nor was she lifted up by the sudden promise.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

Te Deum

O God, we praise you; * O Lord, we acclaim you.

Eternal Father, * all the earth reveres you.

To you all the Angels, * the heavens and all the Powers of heaven:

To you the Cherubim and Seraphim * cry out in endless praise:

(A bow is made) Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of hosts;

Heaven and earth are filled * with the majesty of your glory.

The glorious choir of Apostles * sings to you,

the noble company of Prophets * praises you,

the white-robed army of Martyrs * glorifies you.

Holy Church throughout the earth * proclaims you,

the Father * of boundless majesty;

your true and only Son, * worthy of adoration;

and the Holy Spirit, * the Paraclete.

You, O Christ, * are the King of glory.

You are * the Father's everlasting Son.

(A bow is made) When you resolved to save the human race, * you did not spurn the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death * and opened the Kingdom of Heaven to those who put their faith in you.

You are seated at the right hand of God * in the glory of the Father.

We believe you are the Judge * who is to come.

(The following verse is said kneeling) And so we beg you, help your servants, * redeemed by your most precious blood.

Number them * among your Saints in eternal glory.

Save your people, Lord, * and bless your inheritance.

Shepherd them * and raise them to eternal life.

Day by day * we bless you,

(A bow is made, according to custom) and we praise your name * for endless ages evermore.

Be gracious, Lord, on this day, * and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, * have mercy.

May your mercy be upon us, Lord, * as we place our trust in you.

In you, O Lord, I rest my hope: * let me never be put to shame.

The rest is omitted unless Lauds is said separately.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

Let us pray.

O God, who willed that your Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the announcement of the Angel: grant to your suppliants that we, who truly believe her to be the Mother of God, may be aided by her intercession before you.

Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

℟ Amen.

℣ O Lord, hear my prayer.

℟ And let my cry come before you.

℣ Let us bless the Lord.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℣ May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

℟ Amen.