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First Reading: Is 9:1-6 A son is given us.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, And the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains. By judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 113:1b -2, 3 -4, 5-6, 7
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Or: R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Or: R. Alleluia.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Or: R. Alleluia.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Or: R. Alleluia.
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
To seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Or: R. Alleluia.
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible."
Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.
Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
At the end of the Marian Year in 1954, Pope Pius XII established this feast with his encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam. Mary is Queen because of her divine maternity and because of her association with Jesus' redemptive mission. Today's feast is linked with that of the Assumption, celebrated eight days earlier, and it highlights Mary's spiritual motherhood in the Church. Her queenship is one of love, exercised in hearts, and reminds us that "if we persevere, we also shall reign with him" (2 Tm 2:12) as members of Christ's "royal priesthood" (1 Pt 2:9). Mary as queen is the eschatological icon of the Church in glory.At the end of the Marian Year in 1954, Pope Pius XII established this feast with his encyclical, Ad Caeli Reginam. Mary is Queen because of her divine maternity and because of her association with Jesus' redemptive mission. Today's feast is linked with that of the Assumption, celebrated eight days earlier, and it highlights Mary's spiritual motherhood in the Church. Her queenship is one of love, exercised in hearts, and reminds us that "if we persevere, we also shall reign with him" (2 Tm 2:12) as members of Christ's "royal priesthood" (1 Pt 2:9). Mary as queen is the eschatological icon of the Church in glory.
Introduction
“From this day on, all generations will call me blessed,” sings Mary. What does it mean, to call Mary, the humble virgin, blessed? It means nothing else than to be filled with admiration and to adore the marvel which God worked in her, to read from her that God looks to the humble one and lifts her up, that God’s coming into this world does not seek the heights but the depths, that God glory consists in making great what is small. To call Mary blessed means, together with her to ponder admiringly the ways of God, who lets his Spirit blow where he wants, to obey him and with Mary humbly to say: “As you have spoken, so be it.” (Bonhoeffer)
Entrance Antiphon
The queen stands at your right hand arrayed in cloth of gold. (Ps 44:10)
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
the unpretentious mother of your Son
wanted to be nothing more
than your humble servant.
Allow us to honor her as our model and queen
of sincere, deep faith
and unassuming faithful service
of your plans with your Son and the world.
May her prayers imbue us with her spirit.
We ask this through her Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in all simplicity we place before you
these signs of bread and wine.
May we learn from your Son and his mother
to accept any task you assign to us
and to say wholeheartedly
”Be it done to me as you say.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
with Mary we rejoice today
that you did great things in her and for her.
May our generation praise her and you
by living for your Son
and for our neighbor far and near
with a spirit of service and dedication
and with great and trusting faith.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
