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| Our Lady of the Expectation, ora pro nobis |
O Virgo virginum, quomodo fiet istud?
Quia nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequentem.
Filiae Jerusalem, quid me admiramini?
Divinum est mysterium hoc quod cernitis.*
December 18th is the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mother of God. With only a week left before Christmas, let us use the remaining graces of Advent wisely and meditate on Our Lady’s Maternity in preparation for the coming great Solemnity of Our Lord’s Nativity.
In joyous celebration, we’re posting a prayer to Our Lady of the Expectation. The accompanying photo of the Annunciazione by Andrea Malinconico (Napoli 1624-1689) was taken at Museo Civico di Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino) in 2010 in Naples.
Collect
O God, Who did will that Thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the message of the Angel, grant to us, Thy humble servants and handmaids, that we who truly believe Her to be the Mother of God may be helped by Her intercession with Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
* The Great Antiphon to Our Lady
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be?
For before you there was none like you, nor shall there be after.
Daughters of Jerusalem, why do you marvel at me?
What you behold is a divine mystery.
