Rejoice, Mary: an Advent invitation Advent 2 Year C

Voices Found # 3

Verbum bonum

Verbum bonum et suave personemus, illud Ave,

Per quod Christi fit conclave virgo, mater, filia;

Per quod Ave salutata mox concepit fecundata virgo, David                stirpenata, inter spinas lilia.

Ave, veri Salomonis mater, vellus Gedeonis, 

cuius magi tribus donis, laudant puerperium.

Ave, solem genuisti, ave, prolem protulisit, mundo lapso                    contulisit, vitam et imperium.

Ave, sponsa Verbi summi, maris portus, signum dummi, 

Aromatum virga fumi, angelorum domina;

Supplicamus, nos emenda, emendatos nos commenda tuo nato ad habenda simpiterna gaudia. Amen

Let us sound out the word pure and sweet,

That Ave, through which the virgin, a mother’s daughter,

Became the Chamber of Christ;

Through that Ave fruitful  she conceived, 

 a virgin born of David's lineage,

 a lily sweet  among the thorns.

 Ave, mother of the true Solomon, fleece of Gideon,

 Whose childbirth the Magi praised with three gifts.

 Ave, you who bore Daylight;

    Ave, you brought forth a Son into a fallen world

 You brought life and order.

Ave, Bride of the highest Word,

Safe harbour from the sea

Sign in the thornbush

Source of fragrant incense, Mistress of Angels

Amend us we plea.

And amended, commend us to your Son

That we might have eternal joy.

                                       

Words: Codex Las Heulgas, 14th C., tr. Mary H. Stewart.  rev. Lisa Neufeld Thomas

Music: The Las Heulgas Manuscript, 14th C. ed. Gordon A Anderson, arr. Robert A. M. Ross

Reflection:

 The first known Marian invocation goes back to the third century and begins with the words: "We fly to thy patronage (Sub tuum praesidium), O holy Mother of God...". However, since the 14th century the most common prayer among Christians has been the "Hail Mary".

By repeating the first words the angel addressed to Mary, it leads the faithful to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation. The Latin word "Ave" translates the Greek word "Chaire": it is an invitation to joy and could be translated "Rejoice". The Eastern hymn "Akathistos" repeatedly stresses this "rejoice". In the "Hail Mary" the Blessed Virgin is called "full of grace" and is thus recognized for the perfection and beauty of her soul.

From:

POPE JOHN PAUL II

GENERAL AUDIENCE

Wednesday, 5 November 1997

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1997/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_05111997.html

Luke 1:26-38 is the gospel lesson appointed in The Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church.  

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee, Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  And the name of the virgin was Mary.  And the angel came to Mary and said, "Rejoice, favored one! The Most High God is with you."

Luke 1:26-28, tr. Gafney

Meditation:

Mary when the angel's voice called you highly favored,

dread and joy in your heart mixed, pondered there and savored.

May we learn to welcome all that our life is bringing,

even when in pain we feel birth within us springing.

Voices Found # 64

Words: Carol Goodwin King

Music: Tempus ad adest floridum, melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582

Mary's response to Gabriel reflects mixed emotions new mothers feel with a first pregnancy: excitement, joy, fear, challenge, dread. Mary said yes to the Angel's invitation to joy.  She decided to "fear not!" the challenges. 

Prayer:

Mothering God, help me to rejoice in change and accept your invitation to joy.  Help me to "fear not!" the challenges of Advent and to welcome all that life is bringing in this  season of watching and waiting.