Holy Mother of God, Mary ever-Virgin, you are the temple of the Lord
and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
Beyond all others, you were pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Magnificat Antiphon for Vespers
Maria, Virgo Regia
Hymn for the Office of the Presentaiton of the Blessed Virgin Mary
O Mary, royal virgin pure,
Both Spouse and daughter of the King,
God's wisdom chose you for His own
Before the world and time began.
O Virgin, without smallest taint,
God's peerless tower of ivory
The Holy Spirit from above
Selected you as sanctuary.
You are the image of all good,
And seal of love most beautiful,
The dawn indeed of very light,
The ark containing manna true.
Within the house of God Most High
You overflow with His delights,
The flow'ring rod from Jesse's root,
Your soul is filled with grace untold.
O Pearl, far fairer than the rest,
O Star with luster all your own,
Make us true temples of the Lord
In whom the Spirit loves to dwell.
All glory to the Trinity,
O Virgin of all virgins blest,
Who shed on you with lavish love
Such treasury of gifts and grace. Amen.
"O God, Who didst will that this day the every blessed Virgin Mary, dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, should be presented in the temple: grant, we beseech Thee, that through her intercession, we may be worthy to be presented in the temple of Thy glory." - Collect: Mass of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary







