Home Faith – Mary

Prayer — Canticle of Mary
This prayer–also called the Magnificat–is taken from Luke 1:46-55 and is recited during Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Song — Hail Mary, Gentle Woman

Scripture — Luke 1:38
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

Going Deeper — Matt Whitman
Part 1
Part 2

Scripture — John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Reflection — Fr. Mike Schmitz

Discussion

1. How does building a relationship with Mary help us grow closer to Jesus?
2. What can we do in our lives to foster that relationship with Mary? How can we honor her as our spiritual mother?

Scripture — John 2:1-5
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, Do whatever he tells you.”

Song — Mary Did You Know? by Pentatonix

Prayer — Salve Regina
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy towards us,
and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

Leader: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God
All: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.