Hail, Full Of Grace

...the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, alleluia.

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics everywhere. We will go to the Latin Mass this evening.

"I will put enmities between thee and the woman." In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to our first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his power. The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil; the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary's Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from the holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the source of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited graces that she received from God; it was this that qualified her for her divine maternity, and raised her to her throne as Queen of heaven.
"O Queen, conceived without original sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee."
(The Roman Missal, 1962)

Ave Maris Stella

Hail, thou star of ocean,

Portal of the sky,

Ever-Virgin Mother

Of the Lord most High.

Oh! by Gabriel's Ave

Uttered long ago

Eva's name reversing

Peace confirm below.

Break the captive's fetters,

Light on blindness pour

Chase all evils from us,

Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother,

Offer Him our sighs,

Who for us incarnate

Did not thee despise.

Virgin all excelling,

Passing meek and lowly,

Freed from guilt, preserve us

Blameless chaste and holy.

Still as on we journey

Help our weak endeavour

Till we gaze on Jesus

And rejoice forever.

Father, Son and Spirit,

Three in One confessing.

Give we equal glory,

Equal praise and blessing.

Amen