from Saint Epiphanius
Blessed Mary, the Mother of God, was prefigured by Eve, who bore the mystic name of 'the mother of all the living.' Eve was called the mother of all the living even when, because of her transgression, the words had been said to her, 'Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return' (Genesis 3:19). And it is strange that, after her sin, she should have been called by that great name. It is true that, so far as things of sense are concerned, all the generations of men upon the earth are descended from Eve; but it was verily of Mary that life was born into the world, for she gave birth to Him who liveth, and it was in this way that Mary became the Mother of all the living.
To Eve was given the wherewithal to cover and clothe herself; but to Mary God granted that she should bring forth for us a Lamb, yea, a shearling, and that from what was its glory - I mean its fleece - should be wrought for us with wisdom, and by its very own virtue, the vesture of immortality. For Eve became the cause of death to man, since it was through her that death entered into the world; but Mary is the cause of life indeed, of whom life was begotten unto us, for it was through her that the Son of God came into this world. 'Where sin abounded, grace did more abound' (Romans 5:20), and whence came death, thence also came forth life, that life should take the place of death; and He who, through a woman, was made our life, cast out death, which by a woman had been brought in. On the one hand, the virgin Eve sinned through disobedience; on the other, it was through a Virgin that that obedience was given unto grace, to which was owing the annunciation of His coming in the flesh and life everlasting.
In what way or in what words shall I speak of the most illustrious and holy Virgin? For, next after God, she is of all things the highest in excellence; she is in herself more beautiful than the very Cherubim and Seraphim and all the angelic host, and, to tell her praise, neither earthly speech nor heavenly, not even that of Angels, will at all suffice. O Blessed Virgin! O Mary, pure Dove and Bride of Heaven! nay, in one, the heaven, the temple, and the throne of the Godhead, whose own is the Christ, the sun that shines in heaven and on earth! Bright cloud from whom came forth the Christ, as splendid lightning comes from heaven, to light up the world! Hail, gate of heaven! full of grace, of whom the prophet, in the Canticle of Canticles, plainly and openly speaks in the course of his song, exclaiming: 'My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed - a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up' (4:12). The Virgin is the stainless Lily who brought forth the Christ, that Rose who fadeth not away. O holy Mother of God! O spotless Ewe! who hast borne the Word, who took flesh of thee, even Christ the Lamb. O most holy Virgin, who hast dazzled the angelic hosts! 'A great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun' (Apocalypse 12:1), bearing in her arms the Light; a great sign in heaven - the Son of Man dwelling in the chamber of the Virgin's womb; a great sign in heaven - the Lord of the Angels become the Virgin's Child! The Angels accused Eve, but now they celebrate the praise of Mary, who raised up again the fallen Eve and gained admission to heaven for Adam, who had been driven forth from Paradise. For she is the Mediatress of heaven and earth, and has brought them together in a natural way.
The grace of this holy Virgin is very great. Hence, Gabriel at once salutes the Maiden, saying to her, 'Hail, full of grace!' thou who art a heaven of glory. 'Hail, full of grace!' thou Virgin adorned with many virtues. 'Hail, full of grace!' thou golden urn that containest the heavenly manna, 'Hail, full of grace!' that slakest them who thirst from the fountain of thy never-failing sweetness. Hail, most holy and immaculate Mother! who gavest birth to the Christ who was before thee. Hail, Royal Purple, who didst to be the King of heaven and earth! Hail, uncomprehended Book! who didst set forth the Word and the Son of the Father for all the world to read.
Let us pray
O lord! we beseech Thee, that the glorious intercession of the blessed, and glorious, and ever-virgin Mary, may protect us, and may bring us to life everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. 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