All: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Leader: Though perplexed at her call to risk the sacred journey, Mary responds; “Here I am, the servant of the Lord, let it be according to your word.”

All: May our lives sing Yes to God with Mary.

Leader: At the prophecy of Simeon – “and a sword will pierce your own soul too” – Mary Braces herself, in faith and courage, to bear the pain that she will encounter as a disciple of her Son.

All: May the spirit of courage sustain our faith as it did Mary’s.

Leader: In response to the experience of losing Jesus, and then finding him in the temple, Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.”

All: May we, like Mary, learn to see more deeply into the events we encounter.

Leader: At the foot of the cross, Mary hears the dying words of her son, “Woman, here is your son…here is your mother.” 

All: O God, give us what you gave Mary, a hint of hope when things are dark.

Leader: Among the disciples, n the upper room after the resurrection, Mary is part of the community of prayer.

All: In company with Mary may prayer be the heart of our discipleship.

Leader: Gentle Mary, we pray

All: For hearts of courage to accept the risk of caring for all of earth’s life.

Leader: Attentive to Mary, we pray

All: To hear in the word God’s love for the earth and to respond to it in our lives.

Leader: Compassionate Mary, we pray

All: For a heart of love that expresses itself in service to all creation.

Leader: Mother Mary, we pray

All: For a heart that loves nourishes, and protects all forms of life on earth.

All: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of death. Amen.

Leader: God of the Universe, Guardian of all creatures, great and small, we bless you for this time together. Strengthen our spires and guide our steps.

May everything we accomplish begin with your grace, go forward with your assistance, and be completed in your name.

The light of Christ shines in our hearts, and so we raise our voices in praise. All honor and glory be yours, our Creator now and always.  Amen