When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung.

WELCOME PRAYER
(All Stand)

The minister makes the sign of the cross, saying:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

INVITATION TO PRAY
The minister invites those present to pray in these words:

Come, let us worship Christ, the Son of Mary.

All: Let us give praise and thanks to the Lord
as we keep this day in loving memory of
the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Presider: Let us greet the Blessed Virgin

MARY, our dearest Mother and Queen,
by praying the Angelic Salutation, the
“HAIL MARY”…

ALL : “HAIL MARY, full of grace …”

Presider: Let us pray as if Our Blessed Lady herself,

instead of her Statue, were visibly present
among us.

ALL : For the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

let us pray slowly and from the heart.

Presider: “Jesus told them a parable on the

necessity of praying always and not losing
heart.”(Luke 18:1)

ALL : Lord Jesus, savior of the world, “teach us

to pray” (Luke 11:1)
Presider: And Jesus answered them: “Therefore I
tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall
be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

ALL : We humbly ask all the Holy Angels and

Saints to join us now in prayer.

INVOCATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

(All Kneel)

Presider: Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the

fire of Your love and the light of your truth.
Send forth your spirit and you shall make
all things new.

ALL : BREATHE in us, O Holy Spirit, that our

thoughts may all be holy. ACT in us, O
Holy Spirit, that our works too may be
holy. DRAW our hearts, O Holy Spirit, that
we may LOVE what is holy,
STRENGTHEN us, O Holy Spirit that we
may depend all that is holy, GUARD us
then, O Holy Spirit, that we always may
be Holy. (St. Augustine)

WELCOME TO MARY
(All Stand|)

Presider: The Mother of Jesus has come to our

Seminary. Let us give her a warm
welcome.

ALL : “Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord Jesus

is with you.” (Luke 1:28)

Presider: Mary always greets God’s children with

words of love. Listen!

ALL : “Mary entered Zechariah’s house and

greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard
Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her
womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:40-41)
Presider: How beautiful it is that the Mother of my
Lord should come to this Diocese / Parish.
Let us humbly say to Mary.

ALL : “And how does this happen to me, that

the Mother of my Lord should come to
me?” (Luke 1:43)

Presider: There can be but one reason for Mary’s

visit.

ALL : “His mother said to the servers, ‘Do

whatever Jesus tells you’” (John 2:5)

Presider: Is this not the way that the most obedient

Virgin Mary, beloved daughter of Our
Heavenly Father always speaks? How didshe answer God’s messenger,
Gabriel?
Listen!

ALL : “Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of

the Lord. May it be done to me according
to your word!’” (Luke 1:38)

Presider: “Blessed are you who believed that what

was spoken to you by the Lord would be
fulfilled.”
ALL : And blessed are those who love and
honor the Mother of Jesus Christ, Our
Lord and Savior, Mary the Immaculate
Virgin of Nazareth.

Presider: “And Mary said:

ALL : “My soul proclaims the greatness of the

Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my
Savior. For He has looked upon His
handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now
on will all ages call me blessed. The
Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is His name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who
fear Him. He has shown might with His
arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and
heart. He has thrown down the rulers
from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry He has filled with good things;
the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel His servant,
remembering His mercy, according to His
promise to our Father, to Abraham and to
his descendants forever!”

Presider: “Mary remained with her about three

months…” (Luke 1:56)

The image will be incensed while singing the Hymn.

Presider: ACT OF CONSECRATION TO MARY IMMACULATE
(by St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe)

ALL : O Immaculate Queen of heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our
Most loving Mother, whom God made the treasurer of His mercy, I an
unworthy sinner, throw myself at your most holy feet and humbly beseech you
to accept me, whole and entire, as your property! To you Mother, I offer all
the faculties of my soul and body and place my life, my death, my eternity in
your hands, that you may use my entire being according to your will. Use me,
O Immaculate Virgin as you will to fulfill that which was written of you “She
shall crush the head, and You have destroyed all heresies throughout the
world.” Deign that I may become in your most pure and merciful hands a
useful instrument to make you known and loved by so many erring and
indifferent souls, and also to increase as much as possible the number of those
who truly admire and love you, in order that the Kingdom of the Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus may spread throughout the world. “This I can do, O Most Holy
Mother Immaculate, only with your help for whatever you bestow your grace,
there alone can the Kingdom of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be
established.”

Presider: O Holy Virgin, make me worthy to praise you.

ALL: Give me strength against your enemies

Presider: Let us pray,

Father, As your Son was raised on the cross,
his mother Mary stood by him, sharing his sufferings.
May your Church be united with Christ in his suffering and death
and so come to share in his rising to new life,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

The praying of mid-day follows in a usual manner.