from Saint Cyril of Alexandria
I see before me a joyful congregation of all the saints who, with willing hearts, have come together, at the bidding of holy Mary, the ever-virgin Mother of God. Be praise and glory unto Thee, O Holy Trinity! who hast summoned us all to this solemn feast. Praise be to thee also, O holy Mother of God! Thou art the priceless pearl of all the world; thou art the inextinguishable lamp; thou art the crown of virgins; thou art the sceptre of the true faith, the indestructible temple; thou art the limit of the Illimitable; thou art Mother and Virgin, through whom, as the holy Gospels tell, cometh the Blessed One who cometh in the name of the Lord.
Through thee is the name of the Trinity hallowed; through thee is the precious Cross proclaimed and worshipped all over the world. Through thee there is joy in heaven; the Angels and Archangels are made glad, devils are put to flight, and man himself is recalled to heaven. Through thee every creature, once held in bondage to idols, is converted to the knowledge of the truth, believers are brought to holy Baptism, and churches are built up over all the earth. By thy help the heathen come to repent.
And what more than this? Through thee the only-begotten Son of God, that true light, shone upon them who were sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. Through thee the Prophets prophesied; through thee the Apostles preached salvation to the Gentiles. Who can set forth fully thy titles to our praise, O Mary, Mother and Maiden? My dearly beloved Brethren, let us glorify her name, while we worship her Son, the spotless Bridegroom of the Church, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us pray
Almighty and everlasting God! who, by the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, didst prepare both the body and soul of the glorious Virgin and Mother, Mary, worthily to become the dwelling-place of Thy Son, grant that, as we rejoice in recalling her to mind, so, by her merciful intercession, we may be delivered from the evils that hang over us, and from everlasting death. 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