Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.— Psalm 98:1
Mass reading: Genesis 3:9-15,20 / Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12 / Luke 1:26-38
A fragment of first-century Greek graffiti that was discovered in Nazareth reads “Happy are you, Mary.” By the fourth century, addressing Mary in that way was being used as a prayer in the Eastern Church. Later, in Syria and Egypt, it was expanded to “Blessed are you, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Still later, Elizabeth’s words were added: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” The prayer in that form can be found on a seventh-century painting in Rome’s Sancta Maria Antigua Church. In the 15th century, the second part of the Hail Mary was written by St. Bernardine of Siena and Giralamo Savanarola, O.P.
Our devotion to Mary has deep roots. Deeper still, is her love for us.
Prayer: Dear Mother Mary, lead us ever closer to your son, Jesus.