Immaculati Cordis Beatæ Mariæ VirginisImmaculate Heart 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.

Alleluia.

Ant. Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, * intercede for us.

Ant. Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, * intercede for us.

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. Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, * intercede for us.

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. intercede for us.

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. Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, * intercede for us.

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. intercede for us.

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. Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, * intercede for us.

℣ 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. intercede for us.

Ant. Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, * intercede for us.

He whom earth, sea, and stars

worship, adore, and proclaim,

who governs the threefold frame of the world,

the womb of Mary bears.

He whom moon, sun, and all things

serve through the ages,

poured through with the grace of heaven,

the maiden's womb carries.

Blessed is the Mother in her office,

whose heavenly Maker,

holding the world in his fist,

was enclosed under the ark of her womb.

Blessed at the announcement of heaven,

fruitful by the Holy Spirit,

he who was desired by the nations

was born from her womb.

To you, O Jesus, be glory,

who were born of a Virgin,

with the Father and the gracious Spirit

unto ages of ages.

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, * (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 words 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 hosts. 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 Proverbs of Solomon

Prov 8:12-17

12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.

13 The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.

14 Counsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.

15 Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.

16 Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.

17 I love those who love me. And those who watch for me at dawn shall discover me.

℣ 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 bore in your bosom.

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

℟ For him whom the heavens could not contain, you bore in your bosom.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

℟ Amen.

Lesson 2

Prov 8:18-25

18 With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.

19 For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

21 So that I may enrich those who love me, and thus fill their treasures.

22 The Lord will possess me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.

23 I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.

24 The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived;

25 Neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted, nor had the mountains, with their great mass, yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.

℣ 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 own womb I brought forth God and man.

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

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

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

℟ Amen.

Lesson 3

Prov 8:34-36; 9:1-5

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates everyday, and who observes at the posts of my doors.

35 He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.

36 But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.

1 Wisdom has built a house for herself. She has hewn seven columns.

2 She has immolated her victims. She has mixed her wine and set forth her table.

3 She has sent her maids to call out to the tower and to the fortified walls of the city,

4 If anyone is little, let him come to me. And to the unwise, she has said:

5 Approach. Eat my bread, and drink the wine that I have mixed for you.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who bore the Lord, the Creator of the world:

* You gave birth to him who made you, and you remain a Virgin for ever.

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

℟ You gave birth to him who made you, and you remain a Virgin for ever.

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

℟ You gave birth to him who made you, and you remain a Virgin for ever.

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 more beautiful in form than 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, * into 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 stood 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 rushing 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 still, 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 The dwelling of all who rejoice * is in 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. 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

A Sermon of Saint Bernardino of Siena

From Sermon 9 on the Visitation

What mortal man, unless secured by divine oracle, would presume with uncircumcised — nay, with polluted lips to name even slightly or greatly her who is the true Mother of God and of man: she whom God the Father predestined before ages to be a perpetual Virgin, whom the Son chose as his most worthy Mother, whom the Holy Spirit prepared as the dwelling-place of all grace? With what words shall I, a little man, express the loftiest thoughts of the virginal Heart, uttered by that most holy mouth, for which the tongue of all the Angels does not suffice? For the Lord says: The good man from the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things; and this word can itself be a treasure. Who among mere men can be conceived as a better man than she who merited to become the Mother of God, who for nine months received God himself as a guest in her heart and in her womb? What treasure is better than that divine love by which the furnace-hot heart of the Virgin was burning?

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon, and like a cypress on Mount Sion: like choice myrrh,

* I gave forth a sweet fragrance.

℣ And like cinnamon and aromatic balm.

℟ I gave forth a sweet fragrance.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

℟ Amen.

Lesson 5

From this Heart, then, as from a furnace of divine ardor, the Blessed Virgin brought forth good words, that is, words of most fervent charity. For just as from a vessel full of the finest and most excellent wine nothing can come forth but the finest wine; or just as from a furnace of supreme heat nothing goes forth but burning fire; so from the Mother of Christ no word could come forth but one of the highest and most divine love and ardor. It belongs also to a wise mistress and matron to have few words, yet solid and weighty; and accordingly seven times — as it were, seven words of wonderful import and power — are read to have been spoken by the most blessed Mother of Christ, so that it might be shown mystically that she herself was full of grace in sevenfold form. She spoke with the Angel only twice. With Elizabeth, likewise twice. With her Son also twice: once in the Temple, the second time at the wedding. With the servants, once. And in all of these she always spoke very little, except that in praise of God and in giving thanks she spoke at greater length, namely when she said: My soul magnifies the Lord. Where she spoke not with man, but with God. These seven words were uttered according to seven progressions and acts of love, in wondrous degrees and order; as though they were seven flames from the furnace of her Heart.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ Who is she that comes forth like the sun, and fair as Jerusalem?

* The daughters of Sion saw her, and called her blessed, and queens praised her.

℣ And as on spring days, flowers of roses and lilies of the valleys surrounded her.

℟ The daughters of Sion saw her, and called her blessed, and queens praised her.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

℟ Amen.

Lesson 6

From ecclesiastical documents

The liturgical worship by which due honor is rendered to the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, and for which many holy men and women prepared the way, was first approved by the Apostolic See itself at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when Pope Pius VII established the feast of the Most Pure Heart of the Virgin Mary, to be devoutly and holily observed by all dioceses and religious families that had petitioned for it; which feast Pope Pius IX subsequently enriched with a proper Office and Mass. The burning zeal and desire, which had arisen in the seventeenth century and was growing day by day, that this feast might be made, with greater solemnity, common to the whole Church, was graciously received by the Supreme Pontiff Pius XII, who in the year 1942, as a most cruel war was spreading over nearly the whole world, taking pity on the endless afflictions of the peoples, out of his devotion and trust in the heavenly Mother, earnestly commended the whole human race to her most benign Heart by a solemn prayer, and appointed the feast of that same Immaculate Heart, with its proper Office and Mass, to be celebrated everywhere in perpetuity.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ The Lord desired the daughter of Jerusalem adorned with jewels:

* And the daughters of Sion, seeing her, proclaimed her most blessed, saying: * Your name is as ointment poured out.

℣ The queen stood at your right hand in golden vesture, clothed in many colors.

℟ And the daughters of Sion, seeing her, proclaimed her most blessed, saying:

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

℟ Your name is as ointment poured out.

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 families 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 the establishment of 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 remembrance of his holiness.

℣ 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. After childbirth, * O Virgin, you remained inviolate: O Mother of God, intercede for us.

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 the harp and the sound of a psalm, * with hammered trumpets and the sound of the horn.

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. After childbirth, O Virgin, you remained inviolate: O Mother of God, intercede for us.

℣ 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 John

John 19:25-27

At that time: There stood by the cross of Jesus his Mother, and his Mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. And so forth.

A Homily of Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop

On the Seven Words of Christ on the Cross, chapter 12

The burden and yoke laid by the Lord upon holy John, to take care of the Virgin Mother, was truly a sweet yoke and a light burden. For who would not most gladly have dwelt with that Mother who carried the incarnate Word in her womb for nine months, and dwelt with him most devoutly and sweetly for a full thirty years? Who would not envy the beloved of the Lord, who, in the absence of the Son of God, obtained the presence of the Mother of God? But, unless I am mistaken, we too can obtain by our prayers, through the goodness of our Word who took flesh for our sake and was crucified out of exceeding love for us, that he may say to us as well: Behold your Mother; and may say to his Mother concerning us: Behold your son.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ For you are blessed, O holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise:

* For from you arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God.

℣ Pray for the people, intercede for the clergy, plead for the devout female sex: let all feel your help, whoever celebrate your holy feast.

℟ For from you arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God.

℣ 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

Our good Lord is not avaricious of his graces, if only we approach the throne of grace with faith and confidence, with a true and sincere but not a false heart. He who desireth to have us co-heirs in the kingdom of his Father, will certainly not disdain to have us co-heirs in the love of his Mother. Nor will the most benign Virgin herself take it amiss to have many children, since she hath an heart capable of embracing all of us, and ardently desireth that not even one of those souls should perish whom her Son redeemed with such precious Blood and such a precious death. And so let us approach with confidence the throne of the grace of Christ, and with tears let us humbly beg of him to say to his Mother for each of us: Behold thy son; and to each one of us concerning his Mother: Behold thy Mother.

℣ But you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

℟ Thanks be to God.

℟ All generations shall call me blessed,

* Because the Lord who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

℣ And his mercy is from generation to generation upon those who fear him.

℟ Because the Lord who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

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

℟ Because the Lord who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

℣ Grant a blessing, O Lord.

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

℟ Amen.

Lesson 9

How secure shall we be under the protection of such a Mother? Who will dare to drag us from her bosom? What temptation can overcome us if we confide in the protection of the Mother of God and of our Mother? Nor will we be the first who have secured such a great favour. Many have preceded us; many, I say, have placed themselves under the singular and really maternal protection of so powerful a Virgin, and no one hath been cast off by her ashamed or sorrowful, but all who confide in the patronage of such a Mother are happy and contented. For of her it is written: She shall crush thy head, and so those who trust in her shall tread safely upon the asp and basilisk, the lion and the dragon shall they tread under their feet. Nor doth it seem that he can perish, of whom Christ said to the Virgin: Behold thy son, provided he is not deaf to the words of Christ: Behold thy Mother.

℣ 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.

Almighty ever-living God, who prepared the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a worthy dwelling place of the Holy Spirit: graciously grant that, as we devoutly call to mind the feast of that Immaculate Heart, we may be able to live according to your own Heart.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son: who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the same 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.