At noon today (Sunday, 29 March), England will be rededicated as the Dowry of Mary. While celebrations have been scaled back for obvious reasons, Catholics can still make join in at home by saying the prayers below. You can say the prayers at any time of day, although noon BST is preferable:
THE ANGELUS PROMISE
The Angelus is a spiritual exercise created to assist us to embrace the massage of Our Lady. We are invited now to ‘share in the joy of the Annunciation’ by following Mary’s obedience to God’s call, through her faith-filled “yes”. Through our own faith filled ‘yes’ this day many the Lord work wonders in our life. V: The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R: And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. As God once chose Mary to become the Mother of His Son, through the message of an angel, so he chooses me this day, and invites me through the ministry of the Church to seek and do his will at this moment in my life. V: ‘Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. R: Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. V: Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R: Be it unto me according to thy word. Mary’s response to her invitation ‘let it be done to me according to your word’ opened her heart to God’s grace and all things became possible. Let my ‘yes’ this day take away my fear as, like Mary, I embrace God’s will, and ‘ponder these things in my heart.’ V: ‘Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. R: Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. V: And the Word was made flesh. R: And dwelt among us. At a moment in history, Mary’s faith filled ‘yes’ to God conceived him, first in her heart, which then led to the birth of Our Saviour. Through accepting him this day in my heart, enable me to recognise my role in bringing Christ to my sisters and brothers this day. V: Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. R: Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. V: Pray for us most holy Mother of God R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: O Holy Mother of God, pray for us, and assist us as we dedicate ourselves this day. Your ‘yes’ at the Annunciation brought our Saviour Christ into the world, and you invite us to contemplate the great mystery of the Incarnation, sharing your joy in announcing that ‘the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us’. May our yes, this day, open our hearts to serve our brothers and sisters in this your dowry, that they too may share our joy in the Good News that God walks among us. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
