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Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19


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THURSDAY OF THE GLORIOUS

The Joy of the Lord 


Let us ponder in our hearts that joy of the Lord 
kept in the heart of Mary, his Mother ever Virgin. 



First, The Lord Announced to the Virgin


On the large bead, a leader begins the Our Father: 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.
Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

On each bead of the decade, a leader begins by reading the verse:

Vs. 1   We announce to you the life eternal which was with the Father * and has appeared to us.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2  The love of God for us has appeared because God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, * that we may live through him.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …
 
Vs. 3  For God purposed in the dispensation of the fullness of time * to re-establish all things in Christ.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …
 
Vs. 4  Receive the word, O Virgin Mary, which has been sent to you by the Lord through his angel: * You shall conceive and bring forth God as well as man.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5  Fear not, Mary, for you shall indeed bring forth a son, but you shall suffer no loss of virginity, * for you have found grace with God.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6  The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. * You shall be with child and be a virgin mother.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7  The holy One that will be born of you shall be called the Son of the Most High, * and his reign will have no end.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8  And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to your word. * For no word shall be impossible with God.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  In those days and at that time, says the Lord, I will make the bud of justice to spring forth unto David. *  And this is the name they shall call him: the Lord our Justice. Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  The Lord himself shall give you a sign. * Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel: God-with-us.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Mary kept in mind all these words, *
and she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. She wondered at the things spoken of him, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. Mary kept in mind all these words, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart. 



Second, The Lord Blessed in the Virgin


On the large bead, a leader begins the Our Father: 
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.
Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

On each bead of the decade, a leader begins by reading the verse:

Vs. 1  The voice of my beloved! * Behold he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2  Behold, he stands behind our wall, looking through the lattices. * Behold he speaks to me: Arise, make haste, and come, O my love, my dove, my beautiful one.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3  And Mary rising up, went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda. * And she entered into the house of Zachariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 4   When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb. * And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5  And she cried out with a loud cry: * Blessed are you who have believed, that those things shall be accomplished which were spoken to you by the Lord.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6   And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord. * O magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name together.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7   Look towards him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be confounded. * The angel of the Lord shall encamp around them that fear him and shall deliver them.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8   I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be ever in my mouth. * In the Lord shall my soul glory: let the meek hear and rejoice.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  O taste and see that the Lord is sweet: * The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  Come, children, and listen to me: * and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Mary kept in mind all these words, *
and she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. She wondered at the things spoken of him, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. Mary kept in mind all these words, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart. 



Third, The Lord Born of the Virgin


On the large bead, a leader begins the Our Father: 
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.
Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

On each bead of the decade, a leader begins by reading the verse:

Vs. 1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, * and the Word was God.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: * for in him were all things made in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3  He is before all things, and in him all things abide , * and he upholds all things by the word of his power.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 4  And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. * And we have seen his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5  In him it well pleased all fullness to dwell, * and through him to reconcile all things to him, both the things that are on earth and the things that are in heaven.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. * That is the true light, which enlightens every man that comes into this world.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7  The light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. * He was in the world, and the world knew him not.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8   But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the children of God: * who are born neither of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  Great is the mystery of our devotion: * which has been manifested in the flesh; has been justified in the spirit; has appeared to angels.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  Which has been preached to the Gentiles; been believed in in the world; * been taken up into glory.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Mary kept in mind all these words, *
and she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. She wondered at the things spoken of him, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. Mary kept in mind all these words, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart. 



Fourth, The Lord Presented with the Virgin


On the large bead, a leader begins the Our Father: 
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.
Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

On each bead of the decade, a leader begins by reading the verse:

Vs. 1  Behold I send my messenger, * and suddenly the Lord whom you seek, and the angel of the testament whom you desire, shall come to his temple.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2  And the majesty of the Lord entered into the temple by the gate that looked to the east. * And behold the house was filled with the glory of the Lord.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3  Be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for your light is come; * and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 4  They carried Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: * And receiving the child into his hands, Simeon blessed God.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5  Now, O Lord, my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: * a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6  At the same hour comes in one Anna, a prophetess who departed not from the temple, in fastings and prayers serving day and night, *  who praised God and spoke of the child to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has  raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant; * as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8  To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament, * the oath which he swore to Abraham our father.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear: * in holiness and justice before him, all our days.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10   In the depths of the mercy of our God, the daybreak from on high has visited us: * to enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Mary kept in mind all these words, *
and she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. She wondered at the things spoken of him, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. Mary kept in mind all these words, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart. 



Fifth, The Lord Sought by the Virgin


On the large bead, a leader begins the Our Father: 
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.
Rs. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done ...

On each bead of the decade, a leader begins by reading the verse:

Vs. 1  God, who at various times and in various ways in times past spoke to the fathers by the prophets, *  last of all has spoken to us by his Son.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 2  For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us: * and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, God the Mighty, Prince of Peace.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 3  And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: * and the grace of God was in him.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 4   And they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, hearing them and asking them questions. * And all who heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.   Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 5  I was found by them that did not seek me. I appeared openly to them that asked not after me. * Here am I; I am here!   Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 6  And his mother said to him: Son, why have you done so to us? * Behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 7  And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? * Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 8  Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be said; * but Christ is the Son in his own house, which house are we.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 9  For you are the temple of the living God, as God says: * I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. 10  For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, instructing us: * that he might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, pursuers of good works.  Hail Mary, hail Full of grace, the Lord is with thee: Rs. Blessed art thou …

Vs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Mary kept in mind all these words, *
and she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. She wondered at the things spoken of him, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart.

Rs. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
Vs. Mary kept in mind all these words, *
Rs. And she pondered them in her heart. 


Concluding Prayers After the Decades


Intercessions for the Church




Vs. Lord, have mercy.   
Rs. Lord, have mercy. 

Vs. Christ, have mercy.   
Rs. Christ, have mercy. 

Vs. Lord, have mercy.   
Rs. Lord, have mercy. 

Vs. Christ, hear us.
Rs. Christ, graciously hear us. 


Vs. God, the Father of heaven:   
Rs. Have mercy on us. 

Vs. God the Son, Redeemer of the world:   
Rs. Have mercy on us. 

Vs. God the Holy Spirit:   
Rs. Have mercy on us. 

Vs. Holy Trinity, one God:   
Rs. Have mercy on us. 


Vs. Watch over your Church, O Lord. 
 Rs. O Lord, watch over our Holy Father. 

Vs. Preserve your Church, O Lord. 
Rs. O Lord, preserve our Holy Father. 

Vs. Uphold your Church, O Lord. 
Rs. O Lord, uphold our Holy Father. 


Vs. Grant the pastors of your Church and its laborers
ever to renew, O Lord. 
 Rs. O Lord, grant your people ever to renew. 

Vs. Grant religious life in the Church and the consecrated
ever to renew, O Lord. 
Rs. O Lord, grant your people ever to renew. 

Vs. Grant the life of the faithful in the family and in the world 
 ever to renew, O Lord. 
 Rs. O Lord, grant your people ever to renew. 


Vs. Draw to the bosom of the Church 
all the peoples of the world, O Lord: 
 Rs. And in your mercy hear the Holy Father’s intentions 
for all the peoples of the world, O Lord. 

Vs. Holy Mary, holy Mother of the Church, pray for her: 
 Rs. That she be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 


The Seasonal Antiphon 
to the Blessed Virgin Mary


CHRISTMAS




Hail, guiding Star of seafarers,
portal to eternal light!
Ever-virgin mother of God,
shine on us thy light from light.

By the grace of Gabriel's Ave, 
overturning Eva's name,
God's peace confer upon us all 
in our journey 'mid the waves.

Our captive fetters unloosing, 
his light on our darkness pour.
All our ills below expelling, 
blessings from above implore.

To him who took you for his own,
in taking from you his own flesh,
offer him our prayers, we pray thee, 
thou our Mother by his address.

Most gentle one, make us gentle. 
Most chaste one, make us most chaste.
Peerless virgin, be our shelter 
against the flesh's sin and taint.

Our way here keep immaculate,
keep our footsteps pure and sure,
till we enter thy Son's sweet joy 
one with thee forevermore.

Glory be to God the Father, 
glory be to God the Son, 
glory to the Holy Spirit,
glory to the Three in One:

From the heart of blessed Mary, 
from all saints one praise ascends: 
let the Church the praise reecho 
unto earth's remotest ends.


 Vs. Pray for us, holy Mother of God: 
 Rs. That we be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

The concluding prayer is recited by a leader of the prayers: 

 Lord Holy Father, 
 as in the heart of Mary Immaculate 
you did prepare a fit dwelling for your Holy Spirit, 
grant us that by pondering all the words she kept in hers
our hearts too may be found a worthy dwelling for your Word. 
Through the same Christ our Lord: 
 Rs. Amen 

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

The leader invokes the final blessing: 

Vs. May the Lord our God bless us, 
and defend us from all evil, 
and lead us to eternal life: 

 They conclude, kissing the crucifix and making the sign of the cross with it: 

 Rs. In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. 
 Amen






Haec dies quam fecit Dominus, Alleluia, alleluia!
Exsultemus et laetemur in ea, Alleluia, alleluia!

 


Vs.  This is the day
the Lord has made, 
Alleluia, alleluia!

Rs.  Let us rejoice in it 
and be glad, 
Alleluia, alleluia!














Vs. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God: 
Rs. That we be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

The concluding prayer is recited by a leader: 

Lord Holy Father, 
as by the resurrection of your beloved Son
 you gladdened the heart of his blessed Mother, 
once pierced through with sorrow 
but now glorified with ineffable joy: 
grant us also to enter into that joy of our Lord which 
she keeps in her heart perpetually. 
Through the same Christ our Lord: 
 Rs. Amen. 

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

 The leader invokes the final blessing: 

Vs. May the Lord our God bless us, 
and defend us from all evil, 
and lead us to eternal life: 

They conclude, kissing the crucifix and making the sign of the cross with it: 

Rs. In the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. 
 Amen