THE PROPER MASS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS

Here is the proper mass for the Feast of Mary Help of Christians.  I have included the collects from the version prepared by the Diocese of Hong Kong for this feast, the version of the Salesian family and lastly that of the Australian Church.

The Preface is taken from the Salesian proper with some revision.

At the end of the mass, the solemn blessing is a new version for the feast based on one of the blessings from the Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Prayer of Pope Benedict is also an abridgement of the original which was longer.


24 May
Mary Help of Christians
(Day of Prayer for the Church in China)

Optional memoria

Entrance Antiphon

All the disciples joined in continuous prayer, together with several women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.（cfr. Acts 1:14）

Collect (proper for China)

Almighty God, deepen in us the filial love and confidence to our Mother Mary, Help of Christians, through her prayers and her protection, may the light of Christ shine over the peoples of China, so that they would open their hearts to accept the Gospel of life; grant them harmony, reconciliation, unity, justice and peace. In their hour of trial, give them the grace to overcome all difficulties and perseverance in Your love, so that they can give witness to Your kingdom.  We ask this through Christ our Lord, Your Son who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Or  (proper of the Salesians)

O God, You chose the glorious Virgin Mary to be our mother and the help of all Christians; grant that through her prayers, strengthen your Church, so that she would accept all trials patiently, and overcome all obstacles through steadfast love, and in so doing, she would could manifest the truth of Jesus Christ to the world.  We ask this through Christ our Lord, Your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Or  (proper for Australia)

Lord, place deep in our hearts the love of Mary, our help; may we fight vigorously for the faith on earth and praise your victories in heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Your Son who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer over the gifts

Lord, receive the prayers and sacrifice which we offer on this feast in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Grant us the help we need and consolation we desire. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preface:   Proper of Mary Help of Christians

She continues her mission within the Church through her maternal help

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

On this feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, help of Christians, the hope and consolation of the Chinese people. For this we bless, praise and proclaim your name.

The Virgin’s love wholly reflects her humility and virtues; through her obedience in faith and ardent charity, she cooperated in the saving mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As the mother of all believers, the glorious Virgin, is intimately united with the new people of God; she continues her mission within the Church through her maternal help, protection and support for all her children in overcoming all challenges and difficulties, as they continue their pilgrimage towards  the heavenly Jerusalem.

And so in union with all the angels, we praise, we acclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Communion Antiphon（John 1:14）

The Word became man and dwelt among us; filled with grace and truth.

Post Communion

O God, Your Word took flesh and became man through the Blessed Virgin Mary.  As we receive nourishment from His body and blood, may this spiritual food lead us to share in the divine life of our Savior.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Solemn Blessing

May the Father of mercies
Who chose Blessed Mary, ever Virgin
to be the purest vessel of honor,
and bear the Savior to the world
bless you with health of mind and body.
R/: Amen.
May Jesus Christ
Who entrusted his nascent Church to his mother Mary,
making her the mother of all
and helper of those in need,
adorn you with his grace and virtue.
R/: Amen.
May the Holy Spirit
Who raised Mary
as the model of obedience and docility
Bestow upon you courage
and strength to withstand all trials
Joy and fidelity in the service of God and humanity.
R/: Amen.

And may Almighty God, bless you,

The Father, + and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
R/ : Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians
for the Church in China
Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother,
the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection,
Venerate and honor you as the Help of Christians!
We come before you today to implore your protection.

Look upon the People of God,

with a mother’s care,
guide them along the paths of truth and love,
so that they may always be a leaven
of harmonious coexistence among all citizens.

Oh Help of the Chinese people, sustain all those in China,
who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love.
May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world,
and of the world to Jesus.

Lift up your Son Jesus on high,
offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love.
Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love,
ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.

Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and forever. Amen!

 

Abridged version of the original.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
A reading from the Book of Genesis      (Gn 3:1-6,13-15)
I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers

Now, the snake was the most subtle of all the wild animals that Yahweh God had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’ The woman answered the snake, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, “You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death.” ‘ Then the snake said to the woman, ‘No! You will not die! God knows in fact that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil.’ The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was enticing for the wisdom that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then Yahweh God said to the woman, ‘Why did you do that?’ The woman replied, ‘The snake tempted me and I ate.’ Then Yahweh God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this, Accursed be you of all animals wild and tame! On your belly you will go and on dust you will feed as long as you live. I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; it will bruise your head and you will strike its heel. ——The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: (Lk 1:46-55)
R/:      My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
Because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. R/:

Holy is his name, and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him. R/:

He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly. He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty. R/:

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love-according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever. R/:

 Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hail Immaculate Virgin, praise for us to God.
Alleluia.
Or
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Hail Mother of Grace and Mother of mercy,  protect us now and forever.
Alleluia.
 

Gospel    

A reading from the Gospel of John (Jn 2:1-11)

Jesus performed his first miracle, in the presence of his mother.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited.

And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him,

 ‘They have no wine.’

Jesus said, ‘Woman, what do you want from me?
My hour has not come yet.’
His mother said to the servants,
‘Do whatever he tells you.’

There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’
and they filled them to the brim.

Then he said to them, ‘Draw some out now and

take it to the president of the feast.’ They did this;
the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine.
Having no idea where it came from
-- though the servants who had drawn the water knew –
the president of the feast called the bridegroom and said,
‘Everyone serves good wine first
and the worse wine when the guests are well wined;
but you have kept the best wine till now.’

This was the first of Jesus’ signs: it was at Cana in Galilee.

He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
--The Gospel of the Lord.