Mary, Mother of the Lord — Saint Mark's Fitzroy

First Reading: Revelation 11.19a; 12.1-6a,10ab: A woman clothed with the sun and with the moon under her feet

God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple.
A great portent appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was pregnant and was crying out in birthpangs,
in the agony of giving birth.
Then another portent appeared in heaven:
a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and seven diadems on his heads.
His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven
and threw them to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman
who was about to bear a child,
so that he might devour her child
as soon as it was born.
And she gave birth to a son, a male child,
who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.
But her child was snatched away
and taken to God and to his throne;
and the woman fled into the wilderness,
where she has a place prepared by God,
so that there she can be nourished
for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ.”

Responsorial Psalm: 45.9-10, 11+13b+14, 15 (R. 9b)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15.20-26: Christ has been raised from the dead; the first fruits of those who belong to Christ

Gospel Acclamation:

Gospel: Luke 1.39-56: The Mighty One has done great things for me; God has lifted up the lowly.

Reflection:

Hymn: Sing we of the blessèd Mother

[provided to YouTube by lardiop]

Tune: ABBOT’S LEIGH. Cyril Taylor (1907-1991)

1. Sing we of the blessèd Mother
who received the angel’s word,
and obedient to his summons
bore in love the infant Lord;
sing we of the joys of Mary
at whose breast that child was fed
who is Son of God eternal
and the everlasting Bread.

2. Sing we, too, of Mary's sorrows,
of the sword that pierced her through,
when beneath the cross of Jesus
she his weight of suffering knew,
looked upon her Son and Saviour
reigning high on Calvary’s tree,
saw the price of man’s redemption
paid to set the sinner free.

3. Sing again the joys of Mary
when she saw the risen Lord,
and in prayer with Christ's apostles,
waited on his promised word:
from on high the blazing glory
of the Spirit's presence came,
heavenly breath of God's own being,
manifest through wind and flame.

4. Sing the chiefest joy of Mary
when on earth her work was done,
and the Lord of all creation
brought her to his heavenly home:
Virgin Mother, Mary blessèd,
raised on high and crowned with grace,
may your Son, the world's redeemer,
grant us all to see his face.