For the Faithful

Lord God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs and of all the Saints; even as of thy most loving mercy thou gavest them the will to come to thee, even so, most merciful Father, give unto thy servants understanding, virtue and the means to serve thee according to thy will. Let thy good Spirit lead us in the right way. Give perfection to beginners. Give understanding to thy little ones, give help to those who are running their course. Give penitence to the negligent; give fervour to the lukewarm; give to the perfect a good end. let our mouths speak thy praise, and let us bless thee every day and praise thy name evermore.

Gallican Sacramentary

The Visitation to Elizabeth

from Ramsho for
The Third Sunday of Announcement
Maronite Catholic Church Liturgy


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as we begin and until we conclude,
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory for ever.
Amen.

O Lord,
with joyous hearts and souls,
may we glorify you in memory of that blessed day
when your Mother visited her cousin Elizabeth.
Mary's greeting put joy into Elizabeth's heart.
With Elizabeth may we say to the Virgin:
"Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
We shall give you glory and praise,
now and for ever.

Peace be with the Church and her children.

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth and good will to all.
Praise the Lord all you nations,
glorify him, all you peoples!
For steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and tot hte Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever, and peace on earth and good will to all.

FIRST PRAYER

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.

Most High and hidden God,
for our salvation you became flesh in the Virgin Mary
and visited John your Forerunner when he was still
in the womb of his mother.
In your love, O God, visit our souls and bodies.
Enable us to give you thanks in purity and to adore you in sanctity,
and we shall praise you with your Father and your Holy Spirit
now and for ever.
Amen.

. . .

SECOND PRAYER

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.

Mary,
you are the glorious vessel in which the Light manifested itself in glory.
We ask you to petition the eternal Light which was placed within you
to remove from our souls the darkness of sin
and to fill us with the light of grace and sanctity.
Then, in justice and purity,
we shall celebrate the memory of your Visitation
and give glory to the One who was placed within you,
now and for ever.
Amen.

THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
according to the Maronite Liturgical Year
1982