Announcement to Mary readings

Ephesians 1:15-23
Paul’s Prayer
Brothers and Sisters:
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Praise be to God always!

Luke 1:46-56
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Prayer of the Faithful, vol. 1
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to the eternal One,
who in the beginning said:
“Let there be light,” and there was light;
he lifted the veil of darkness that covered the world,
and dispersed it;
to the Most High, who was manifested in the evening
of he world for our salvation
in order to drive away the darkness of unfaithfulness
from our souls
and bring us closer to the new Light of the world.
He is the Good One to whom is due glory and honor this night, and all the days of our lives,
now and for ever. Amen.

Saint of the Day:
Saint Cleopatra (died 327) was a Christian saint who lived between the 3rd century and 4th century.
Cleopatra originally came from a village called Edra near Mount Tabor. Mount Tabor is located in Lower Galilee, at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, west of the Sea of Galilee.
Cleopatra was a contemporary to the holy martyr Saint Varus. She had witnessed the suffering and execution of Saint Varus. After Varus’ execution Cleopatra had taken Varus’ remains to her home in Daraa, Syria. When Cleopatra returned she had buried Varus’ remains with reverence.
At this time Cleopatra was widowed and had a son, her only child, John. In 319 John had attained the officer rank of centurion. To her great sorrow, her son died suddenly. Cleopatra in grief turned to the relics of Saint Varus, begging the saint to return her son.
Cleopatra dreamt that Varus and John appeared to her as radiant in bright attire with crowns upon their heads. She took this to mean that the Lord had received John into the Heavenly Kingdom and was comforted.
After Cleopatra had her blessed dream, she moved to live by a church. This church that Cleopatra built was over the relics of Saint Varus and her son. The relics of Saint Varus and her son are reputed to have effected many miracles. Cleopatra spent her remaining years in the service of God. She gave her property to the poor and spent her time praying and fasting. Cleopatra died in 327.

Meditation:
I see here a joyful company of Christian men met together in ready response to the call of Mary, the holy and ever-virgin Mother of God. The great grief that weighed upon me is changed into joy by your presence, venerable Fathers. Now the beautiful saying of David the psalmist: How good and pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity (Psalm 133) has come true for us.
Therefore, holy and incomprehensible Trinity, we salute you at whose summons we have come together to this church of Mary, the Mother of God.
Mary, 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 was confined him who is beyond all limitation. 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.
Who can put Mary’s high honor into words? She is both mother and virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Of course no one could be prevented from living in the house he had built for himself, yet who would invite mockery by asking his own servant to become his mother?
Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the holy temple of God, and of God himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

From a homily of Saint Cyril of Alexandria delivered at the Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus, 431 AD) (Homily 4, PG77, 992.995-996)