Mass Reading for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

 FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL JULY 16

Liturgical Colour: White.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King who rules heaven and earth for ever.

COLLECT

May the venerable intercession of the glorious Virgin Mary come to our aid, we pray, O Lord, so that, fortified by her protection, we may reach the mountain which is Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING ZECHARIAH 2:14-17

Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you  it is the Lord who speaks. Many nations will join the Lord, on that day; they will become his people. But he will remain among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. But the Lord will hold Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and again make Jerusalem his very own. Let all mankind be silent before the Lord! For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM LUKE 1:46-55

Response: The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!

or

Response: Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

My soul glorifies the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

Response: The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!

or

Response: Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

He looks on his servant in her nothingness;

henceforth all ages will call me blessed.

The Almighty works marvels for me.

Holy his name!

Response: The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!

or

Response: Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

His mercy is from age to age,

on those who fear him.

He puts forth his arm in strength

and scatters the proud-hearted.

Response: The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!

or

Response: Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

He casts the mighty from their thrones

and raises the lowly.

He fills the starving with good things,

sends the rich away empty.

Response: The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!

or

Response: Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

He protects Israel, his servant,

remembering his mercy,

the mercy promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his sons for ever.

Response: The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!

or

Response: Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION LUKE 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Alleluia!

GOSPEL MATTHEW 12:46-50

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Receive, O Lord, we ask, the prayers of your people with the sacrificial offerings, that, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, the Mother of your Son, no petition may go unanswered, no request be made in vain. Through Christ our Lord.

OR

May the humanity of your Only Begotten Son come, O Lord, to our aid, and may he, who at his birth from the Blessed Virgin did not diminish but consecrated her integrity, by taking from us now our wicked deeds, make our oblation acceptable to you. Through Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON cf. LUKE 11: 27

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

As we receive this heavenly Sacrament, we beseech, O Lord, your mercy, that we, who rejoice in commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary, may by imitating her serve worthily the mystery of our redemption. Through Christ our Lord.