from Saint Ambrose
Let the virginity and the whole life of the Blessed Mary be before your eyes in a word-picture, as it were, from which, as from a mirror, is reflected the beauty of chastity and the loveliness of all virtue. Hence you may take the model for your life; for here, for your learning, all matters of right and exemplary conduct - what to correct, what to avoid, and what to hold fast by - are set forth and are seen, The first incentive to the learner is the position of the teacher. But who is more noble than the Mother of God? who more glorious than she whom glory itself chose? what more chaste than she who gave birth to a body, while in her own person she remained inviolate?
What shall I say of the rest of her virtues? She was a virgin, not only in her body, but also in her mind, the purity of whose desires had not been deflowered by any deceitful wile. She was humble of heart, grave in word, prudent in thought, and sparing of speech, though fond of reading; she put her hope, not in the uncertainty of riches, but in the prayer of the poor; she was diligent at her work, modest in her conversation; she had no human respect, but only cared what God might think of her; she did harm to no one, and wished well to all; she shunned boasting, she followed reason, she loved whatsoever things were good.
Such was Mary that her single life is an example to every one of us. If, then, the doer displease us not, let us approve what she did; if any woman desires her reward, she ought to follow her example. In one only Maiden, how many virtues do shine forth! The secret of modesty was her own, and a high standard of faith, and a devotedness in good offices; she was a model maiden in her home, a model servant when away from it, a model mother in the Temple. Oh, to how many maidens shall she draw nigh! Oh, how many shall she take in her arms, and present to the Lord, saying, 'Here is one, here is one who has kept pure from spot the couch and nuptial chamber of my Son!'
Let us pray
O merciful God! give strength unto our frailty, that we, who commemorate the holy Mother of God, may, by the help of her intercession, rise again from our sins. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is, from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers - to Abraham and to His seed, for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Salve Regina!
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate! thine eyes of mercy towards us, and, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Petition
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin!
- from The May-Book of the Breviary, by Father John Fitzpatrick