JUST BEFORE 12 NOON:
Find a place where you can be quiet and still; close your eyes, and simply try to quieten your inner self.
Join with Church leaders throughout the world as they and we join Pope Francis in praying together The Lord’s Prayer, a prayer for all globally caught-up
in the present crisis.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The following readings, prayers etc can be used either at Midday, or at any time today, on this The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
PSALM 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid, and though there rise up eminity against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
One thing have I asked of the Lord and that alone I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek his will in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he shall hide me in his shelter;
Glory to God, Source of all being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be for ever. Amen.
GOSPEL OF ST.LUKE 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’
Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Waiting,
waiting in silent stillness,
Pondering
the Word of God in her heart.
Mary listens
in attentive willingness
To His Word
that, in speaking,
acts.
THE MAGNIFICAT
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
2 From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
3 He has mercy on those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
4 He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,
5 Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
6 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
7 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,
8 The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to God, Source of all being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Joy in patiently waiting on God
That He will come is as sure as the dawn.
Each moment is a fresh coming.
Be ready in quiet contemplation
amidst all the turmoil and rush.
TIME FOR PRAYER
In quietness and trust
shall be your strength;
In returning and rest
you shall be saved.
Cast your burden upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you.
From pain and weariness,
God of Light, set us free
From heavy burdens,
God of Light, set us free
From pride and bitterness,
God of Light, set us free
From past regret,
God of Light, set us free
From painful memories,
God of Light, set us free
From anxiety about the future,
God of Light, set us free
From deep despair,
God of Light, set us free
From guilt and terror,
God of Light, set us free
In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, help us, heavenly Father, to trust your love, to serve your purpose, and to praise your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A paraphrase of The Lord’s Prayer
Most compassionate Life-giver,
may we honour and praise you:
may we work with you to establish
your new order of justice, peace and love.
Give us what we need for growth,
and help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgiveness.
Strengthen us in the time of testing,
that we may resist all evil.
For all the tenderness,
strength and love are yours, now and forever.
Amen. (W Wallace)
As we pray The Angelus, we remember especially those whose livelihoods have been seriously affected by the present crisis; All whose businesses have been wiped out overnight, those struggling because of loss of wages, fearful for the long- and the short-term future…..Mary and Joseph, pray for all facing hardship as a result of this virus, and all who are concerned for their livelihood.
THE ANGELUS
The angel of the Lord brought tidings unto Mary. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death. Amen.
And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt amongst us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts,
that as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ
by the message of an angel, so by his Cross and Passion
we may be brought unto the glory of his Resurrection;
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord;
Thanks be to God.
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