THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF PERPETUAL HELP
June 27 - Feast
Introductory Rites O Mother of God, shield us under your wings from all dangers. You are our refuge, our greatest hope. Destroy and bring to naught those who would harm us because of our sins. O most blessed One, lead us to yourself who are our haven of salvation. (From the Syriac Liturgy)
The hymn Glory to God in the highest is sung or said.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, you have given us your own Mother Mary, whose wonderful image we venerate, to be our Mother ever ready to help us. Grant, we beseech you, that we who continually seek her motherly aid may be found worthy to enjoy unceasingly the fruit of your redemption. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
READING I Isaiah 61, 10-17
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah
Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name shall be called Immanuel.
The Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." And he said, "'Hear then, 0 house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
"He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-the king of Assyria. The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 71, 1-4a, 5a, 12
R. Help me, 0 Lord, in my distress.
In you, 0 Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, free me:
pay heed to me and save me.
R. Help me, 0 Lord, in my distress.
Be a rock where I can take refuge,
a mighty stronghold to save me;
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
R. Help me, 0 Lord, in my distress.
Free me from the hand of the wicked,
It is you, 0 Lord, who are my hope,
my trust, 0 Lord, since my youth.
R. Help me, 0 Lord, in my distress.
0 God, do not stay far off:
my God, make haste to help me!
R. Help me, 0 Lord, in my distress.
READING II Rev 12, 1-6, 10
A reading from the book of Revelation
A great portent appeared in heaven
A great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God." The Word of the Lord.
GOSPEL Jn 19, 25-27
Alleluia Jn 19, 25, 27
Alleluia. By the cross of Jesus there stood his Mother. And Jesus said: Behold your Mother!" Alleluia.
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
Behold your son! Behold your Mother!
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, 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 own home. The gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
0 Lord,
through your kindness and through the intercession of the blessed Virgin and Mother, Mary, may this offering redound to our present and eternal prosperity and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Preface I or II of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Communion Rite Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray.
Pause for silent prayer, if this has not preceded.
We beseech you, 0 Lord:
may the glorious intercession of your Immaculate Mother and ever-virgin Mary help free us from all dangers and by her goodness bring together in love those upon whom she showered her never-failing benefits. You live and reign for ever and ever.
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