Mary: Woman of Glory

Prayer Celebration Directions

GATHERING SONG
GATHERING PRAYER
Leader		Let us pray. Lord, we gather joyfully today to celebrate Mary, a woman whose life truly glorified you. Keep before us always a vision of the holiness of Mary to which we can all aspire. We pray in the name of Jesus.
All		Amen.
MARY'S PRAYER
Group 1		My heart is filled with praise for my God.
Group 2		God has called one as lowly as I to do marvelous things.
All		God is doing great things in me. Holy is God’s name!
Group 1		All people will know that I have been blessed.
Group 2		God will bless all those who fear the Lord.
All		God is doing great things in me. Holy is God’s name!
Group 1		God humbles the proud and sends the rich away with empty hands.
Group 2		God is merciful in helping all the faithful servants of the Lord.
All		God is doing great things in me. Holy is God’s name! (based on Luke 1:46-55)
READING
Reader		A reading from the Gospel of Luke. (Read Luke 1:46-55.) The Gospel of the Lord.
All		Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
Leader		We begin the Rosary in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All		Amen. (All make the Sign of the Cross.)
Leader		I believe in God,…to judge the living and the dead.
All		I believe in the Holy Spirit... (All complete the Apostles’ Creed.)
Leader		Our Father...as it is in heaven.
All		Give us this day... (All complete the Lord’s Prayer.)
Leader		Hail Mary, ….your womb, Jesus.
All		Holy Mary... (All complete three Hail Mary’s.)
Leader		Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
All		as it was in the beginning... (All complete the Glory Be.)
Leader		At the beginning of each decade, the Glorious Mystery will be announced. Listen to a brief reflection on the Mystery. Then, for each decade, say the Lord’s prayer on the large bead and ten Hail Mary’s on the smaller beads. After each decade, pray the Glory Be to the Father. (Participants offer reflections at the beginning of each mystery, or the following can be read.)
The Resurrection of Jesus Jesus rises from the dead on Easter morning.
The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven After being with his disciples for forty days, Jesus ascends to heaven.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles At Pentecost, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to the Apostles to give them strength and courage to preach the word to all people.
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven Mary is assumed up to heaven.
The Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven Mary is crowned Queen of all saints in heaven.
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader		Let us pray. Glorious God, we thank you for the fulfillment of all your promises. May the events we have recalled and meditated upon today be a continual source of strength and encouragement for all who have shared in this time of prayer. We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All		Amen.
CLOSING SONG