The Mother of God
ary, Mother of
God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence,
you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy,
an indestructible temple, the place that held him whom no place can contain,
mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation,
was confined. Because of you the holy Trinity is glorified and adored;
the cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the
heavens exult; the angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to
flight; the devil, that tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen
race of man is taken up on high; all creatures possessed by the madness
of idolatry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy
baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established throughout
the world; pagans are brought to repentance.
What more is there to say? Because of you the light of the only begotten
Son of God has shone upon those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of
death; prophets pronounced the word of God; the apostles preached salvation
to the Gentiles; the dead are raised to life, and kings rule by the power
of the holy Trinity.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from
Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
