Saints Cosmas and Damian; Blessed Virgin Mary
Prayer for the Morning
In honor of Mary, the Mother of God,
let us give praise and thanks to the Lord!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
This hymn can be sung to the tune used for
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
O Mother of almighty God,
Forever blest in all your ways,
Give us your own tranquility,
And strength and comfort all our days.
You are a strong and lovely tree,
The fruit of which is purest gold,
Whose branches spread to shelter us,
Whose quiet leaves all peace enfold.
Pray for us now and when we die,
That we may live and ever praise
The Father, Son and Spirit blest
In endless light and timeless days.
PSALM 52:10-11
I bud forth delights like the vine,/ my blossoms become fruit fair and rich. (Sir 24:17)
One tradition holds that the tree of life in the garden of Eden was the olive tree. In the Mediterranean world of the Bible, its fruit provided food, as well as oil for light, heat, and healing. Mary bore the One who is the light of the world and the healing of the nations.
I am like a growing olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the goodness of God
for ever and ever.
I will thank you for evermore;
for this is your doing.
I will proclaim that your name is good,
in the presence of your friends.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Sirach 24:12-14)
I have struck root among the glorious people,/ in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.
Like a cedar on Lebanon I am raised aloft,/ like a cypress on Mount Hermon,/ Like a palm tree in Engedi,/ like a rosebush in Jericho,/ Like a fair olive tree in the field,/ like a plane tree growing beside the water.
Every tree is known by its own fruit.
(Lk 6:44)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. (Lk 1:42)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
INTERCESSIONS
Brought to life by the fruit of Mary’s womb, let us pray:
R/Give life, O Lord!
The Virgin Mary received your Word in faith and brought forth fruit in love:
– through her intercession, may your Church bear fruit that will last. R/
The Virgin Mary gave birth to your Son, our Savior:
– through her intercession, bring your Church to full maturity in your Kingdom. R/
The Virgin Mary is honored as the Mother of God:
– through her intercession, gather children from every land into your family through the proclamation
of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
O God, you give life to the world through the life, Death, and Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the intercession of his Mother, grant us the light and healing he brings, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
