(December 1)
Introductory Prayer
in your plan for our salvation
your Word became man,
announced by an angel
and born of the Virgin Mary.
May we who believe
that she is the Mother of God
receive the help of her prayers.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading: Lk 1:26-33
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Consideration
"When we read that the messenger addresses Mary as ‘full of grace,' the gospel context, which mingles revelations and ancient promises, enables us to understand that among all the ‘spiritual blessings in Christ,' this is a special ‘blessing.' In the mystery of Christ she is present even ‘before the creation of the world,' as the one whom the Father ‘has chosen' as Mother of his Son in the Incarnation. And, what is more, together with the Father, the Son has chosen her, entrusting her eternally to the Spirit of holiness. In an entirely special and exceptional way, Mary is united to Christ, and similarly she is eternally loved in this ‘beloved Son,' this Son who is of one being with the Father, in whom is concentrated all the ‘glory of grace.' At the same time, she is-and remains-perfectly open to this ‘gift from above' (cf. Jas 1:17). As the Council teaches, Mary ‘stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently await and receive salvation from him.'"39
The Holy Rosary may be prayed.
Concluding Prayer
Lord God,
you prepared a worthy dwelling place for your
Son by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin;
grant, we pray,
that, as you preserved her from all stain of sin
in your foreknowledge of his death,
so we, by her intercession,
may come to you with pure hearts.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
