On the church calendar, yesterday was the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – and today is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These two feasts always come as a pair. Here’s a litany for our prayer today. I especially like Fr. Lackner’s version (below) because all the « titles » by which he names Mary are so accessible and easy to understand…
God chose you as the mother of his Son
and called all nations and generations
to bless the gift of grace he gave you.
In the company of those who have gone before us,
with people of all races and languages,
we call upon you in prayer…
Holy Mary,
pray for us…
Mother of God
Mother of our redemption
Mother of a lost child
Mother of comfort and understanding
Mother who shares our joys
Mother who endures our sorrows
Mother whose heart was pierced by a sword
Mother most merciful…
pray for us…
Mother of God
Mother of our redemption
Mother of a lost child
Mother of comfort and understanding
Mother who shares our joys
Mother who endures our sorrows
Mother whose heart was pierced by a sword
Mother most merciful…
Woman responsive to God’s word,
pray for us…
Woman willing to believe the impossible
Woman who rejoices in her lowliness
Woman with an undivided heart
Woman of perfect freedom
Woman wrapped in mystery
Woman moved by the Spirit
Woman champion of the poor and lowly
Woman graced by a husband’s love
Woman widowed by a husband’s death
Woman at the cross
Woman patient and waiting
Woman clothed with the sun
Woman willing to believe the impossible
Woman who rejoices in her lowliness
Woman with an undivided heart
Woman of perfect freedom
Woman wrapped in mystery
Woman moved by the Spirit
Woman champion of the poor and lowly
Woman graced by a husband’s love
Woman widowed by a husband’s death
Woman at the cross
Woman patient and waiting
Woman clothed with the sun
Queen of the fullness of times,
pray for us…
Queen of beauty unalloyed
Queen of integrity
Queen of painful meetings
Queen of all our heart’s treasure
Queen of our destiny
Queen of peace
Let us pray…
you are mother and virgin, wife and widow,
peasant and queen, blessed for all time.
We need the comfort of your prayers.
Remember us always to our Father
through Jesus, child of your womb
who is our Lord for ever and ever.
Song of Mary by Dan Schutte
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Let us sing the praises of Mary,
daughter of David's holy line,
she who heard the voice of an angel
telling the plan of God's design,
how in wisdom's holy sight
she would mother heaven's Christ.
Blessed be the name of Mary,
she who trusted the love of God.
Let us sing the praises of Mary, chosen as blessed from the least, she who heard the song of the angels filling the night with heaven's peace. When the promised time had come she gave birth to God's own Son. Blessed be the name of Mary, she who trusted the love of God.
Let us sing the praises of Mary,
woman of strong and steadfast love.
She who raised the Savior of nations
held in her arms the Son of God.
She who knew the Father's grace
taught her Son to know God's face.
Blessed be the name of Mary,
she who trusted the love of God. Let us sing the praises of Mary,
pierced by the sword of sorrow's pain,
she who saw the child of her loving
nailed on a cross to die in shame.
Though his friends would flee in fear
she remained forever near.
Blessed be the name of Mary,
she who trusted the love of God. Let us sing the praises of Mary,
friend of the poor in ev'ry age,
she who saw her Son and her Savior
risen in glory from the grave.
Sin and death shall reign no more;
Christ has opened heaven's door.
Blessed be the name of Mary,
she who trusted the love of God.
