Opening Prayer:
Let us pray,
[That through the prayers of the sinless Virgin Mary,
God will free us from our sins.]
Father,
You prepared the Virgin Mary
to be the worthy mother of your son.
You let her share beforehand
in the salvation Christ would bring by his death,
and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception.

Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Alternate Opening Prayer:
Let us pray,
[on this feast of Mary, who experienced the perfection of God's saving power.]

Father,
the image of the Virgin is found in the Church.
Mary had a faith that your Spirit prepared
and a love that never knew sin,
for you kept her sinless
from the moment of her conception.

Trace in our actions the lines of her love,
in our hearts her readiness of faith.
Prepare once again a world for your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God forever and ever.

The Readings

Daily Meditation:
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous deeds.

Today we want to let this feast be part of our Advent journey.
While we are listening to the prophesies and promises,
we pause to give thanks for God's love for us.
We thank God for the inspiring role of Mary,
for the way she completely says "yes,"
that we might know God's love more completely.
No matter our faith tradition, we can pause today
to say, with great meaning, our prayer to Mary:

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death.

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions
Let us praise God, our almighty Father,
who wished that Mary, his son's mother,
be celebrated by each generation.
Now in need we ask:
Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

O, God, worker of miracles,
you made the immaculate Virgin Mary share,
body and soul, in your Son's glory in heaven,
-  Direct the hearts of your children to that same glory.
You made Mary our mother.
Through her intercession, grant strength to the weak,
comfort to the sorrowing, pardon to the sinners,
-  Salvation and peace to all.
You made Mary the mother of mercy,
-  May all who are faced with trials, feel her motherly love.
You wished Mary to be the mother of the family
in the home of Jesus and Joseph,
-  May all mothers of families foster love and holiness
   through her intercession.
You crowned Mary Queen of Heaven,
-  May all the dead rejoice in your kingdom
   with the saints forever.

Closing Prayer:
God of us all,
Thank you for the gift of Mary in my life.
I rely on her to intercede for me with her son,
and to guide me, especially in my family.

Help me to learn the grace of humility,
and give me the courage to say "yes" to you
without always knowing where it will lead.

Release me from the fears that grip me,
the pride and stubbornness
that keep me from you and others.

Let me turn to Mary, so human,
for an example of how I might live my own life
more freely, more loving and more aware of you.

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

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