Introduction
Luke
presents Mary as the Ark of the Covenant coming to Jerusalem to show that God
is present among his people to bring them joy. This is why the child leaps
(that is, dances for joy) in Elizabeth's womb. With Christ, God comes to live
not in a temple of stone but in the hearts of people. Through Christ living in
Mary God's victory over evil has begun. A person in whom Christ lives - a
Christ-bearer, a Christopher - brings Christ to others, and with Christ, joy
and love.
Opening
Prayer
Lord our God, loving Father, Mary went with
haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth in her hour of need. May we too rejoice in
the Lord when we can hurry to see people
to bring them the Lord as we to share in their needs and their joys. With Mary, may we become a blessing to them. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
to bring them the Lord as we to share in their needs and their joys. With Mary, may we become a blessing to them. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer
over the Gifts
Lord our God, loving Father, through your Son
Jesus Christ you visit us in this Eucharist. Let it be a visit that changes us
as Jesus does great things in us and fills us with his love and compassion. May
we sing out our gratitude to praise your holy name through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, loving Father, take all
self-righteous pride out of our hearts so that you can do great things in us.
Make us available to you and to our neighbor, especially to the poor and the humble. Thank you for choosing us as disciples of your Son Jesus Christ, our brother and our Lord now and for ever.
Make us available to you and to our neighbor, especially to the poor and the humble. Thank you for choosing us as disciples of your Son Jesus Christ, our brother and our Lord now and for ever.
General
Intercessions
Priest: In union with Mary, the mother of our Lord,
let us pray together to God our Father and let us say: Lord, lift up your
humble people.
Our Response: Lord, hear our prayer
-For as Church of the poor that seeks
greatness in service to lead the whole person to God, we pray:
-For a heart that knows how to praise the
Lord and to find its joy in God our Savior, we pray:
-For a lifestyle of humility and service,
that the Lord may remember us in his kindness, we pray:
-For wisdom for the mighty of this earth,
that they may respect the dignity of the poor and attend to the needs of the
hungry, we pray:
-For trust in the prayers of the mother
of the Lord, who cares for us with a mother's love, we pray:
Priest:
Father, we offer you this prayer through Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ our
Lord and our mother.