December 31

Eve of the Feast of Mary, Mother of God

Mother benign of our redeeming Lord,
Star of the sea and portal of the skies,
Unto thy fallen people help afford –
Fallen, but striving still anew to rise.
Thou who dids’t once, while wond’ring
worlds adored,
Bear thy Creator, Virgin then as now,
O by thy holy joy at Gabriel’s word,
Pity the sinners who before thee bow.

-Roman Breviary, Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin

For Reflection

Spend some quiet moments with Mary by reflecting on this antiphon. Journal your reflections.