Friday, August 14, 2009

Our Blessed Lady on 15 August


Whether one calls it the Assumption, the Dormition, or the Falling Asleep of Our Lady, or as we are styling it, 'Saint Mary the Virgin', may all have a truly joyful Feast of the Blessed and Glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, the Most Pure Mother of God.



From the 1962 Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church of Canada

O GOD Most High, who didst endue with wonderful virtue and grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Grant that we, who now call her blessed, may be made very members of the heavenly family of him who was pleased to be called the first-born among many brethren; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lesson. Acts 1. 12.

THEN the Apostles returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

The Gospel. St Luke 1. 39.

AND Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she spake with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour,
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me;
And holy is his Name.

From the 1929 Book of Common Prayer of the Scottish Episcopal Church

O ALMIGHTY God, who didst endue with singular grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to hallow our bodies in purity, and our souls in humility and love; through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lesson. Genesis 3. 9—15.
The Gospel. St. Luke 11. 27, 28.

From the 1954 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of the Province of South Africa

O GOD, who as on this day didst take to thyself the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of thine only Son: Grant that we who have been redeemed by his blood may share her glory in thine eternal kingdom, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lesson. I Samuel 2. 7

THE Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

The Gospel. St. Luke I. 46

MARY said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

1 comment:

Br. Dominic-Michael said...

Thanks for including the Canadian BCP. We also in the ACCC have a Proper Preface to the normal tune.

"It is very meet, right, ...etc... , and Preserver of all things. AND also on the Assumption of Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, we should praise, bless, and magnify thee; because by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost she conceived thine only-begotten Son: and, the glory of her virginity yet abiding, shed forth upon the world the Light eternal, Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore with Angels...etc... praising thee and saying:"

Lessons at Mattins are Gen 28:10-17 and Rev 12:1-6; Evensong Ezek 43:27 - 44:4 and Rev 7:9-12

Office hymn at Mattins (before the Benedictus): Aurora velut fulgida.
Office hymn at Evensong (before the Magnificat): Solis, O Virgo, radiis amicta.

Archbishop Donald Arden

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