¹ I was glad when they said to me, *
 ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’
² And now our feet are standing *
 within your gates, O Jerusalem;
³ Jerusalem, built as a city *
 that is at unity in itself.
⁴ Thither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, *
 as is decreed for Israel,
   to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
⁵ For there are set the thrones of judgement, *
 the thrones of the house of David.
⁶ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
 ‘May they prosper who love you.
⁷ ‘Peace be within your walls *
 and tranquillity within your palaces.’
⁸ For my kindred and companions’ sake, *
 I will pray that peace be with you.
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, *
 I will seek to do you good.

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.

Antiphon:You are all beautiful, O Mary; in you there is no trace of original sin.

Antiphon:You are the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel; you are the fairest honor of our race.

Psalm 127

¹ Unless the Lord builds the house, *
 those who build it labour in vain.
² Unless the Lord keeps the city, *
 the guard keeps watch in vain.
³ It is in vain that you hasten to rise up early
   and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil, *
 for he gives his beloved sleep.
⁴ Children are a heritage from the Lord *
 and the fruit of the womb is his gift.
⁵ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, *
 so are the children of one’s youth.
⁶ Happy are those who have their quiver full of them: *
 they shall not be put to shame
   when they dispute with their enemies in the gate.

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.

Antiphon: You are the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel; you are the fairest honor of our race.

First Reading
Song of Songs 2:8-14

The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Canticle – Ephesians 1:3-10
Antiphon:The robe you wear is white as spotless snow; you face is radiant like the sun.



Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him *
before the world began
to be holy *
and blameless in his sight.

He predestined us *
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure, †
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God's favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.

A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth.

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.

‘No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.’ Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’

Second Canticle
Magnificat

Antiphon:Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, alleluia.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon:Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, alleluia.

Responsory
By this I know you have chosen me.
By this I know you have chosen me.
You have not let my enemy triumph over me.
You have chosen me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to he Holy Spirit
By this I know you have chosen me.

Collect
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.


Kontakion:
Today creation celebrates Anna's conception which was effected by God./ For she conceived the Maiden who conceived the Word/ Who is beyond all words.

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:
(R.)Mary, full of grace, intercede for us.

O God, worker of miracles, you made the immaculate Virgin Mary share in your Son's glory in heaven,
- direct the hearts of your children to that same glory.(R.)

You made Mary our mother. Through her intercession grant strength to the weak, comfort to the sorrowing, pardon to sinners,
- salvation and peace to all.(R.)

You made Mary the mother of mercy,
- may all who are faced with trials feel her motherly love. (R.)

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. (R.)

You crowned Mary queen of heaven,
- may all the dead rejoice in your kingdom with the saints for ever. (R.)


Our Father…

Closing Prayer:
God, by her Immaculate Conception you made the Virgin a fit habitation for your Son. You preserved her from the stain of the Fall by the merits of your Son's future death: through her intercession, make us pure and permit us to come to you at last.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,