[lightman]

My favorite Annunciation hymn: My parish will use this tomorrow as the Gospel acclamation:

1. The angel Gabriel from Heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow,
His eyes as flame; `All hail,' said he,
`Thou lowly maiden Mary,'
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

2. `For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,'
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

3. Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
`To me be as it pleaseth God,' she said,
`My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.'
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

4. Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

Words: Basque carol;
trans. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
Tune Gabriel's Message

Another, gentler rendition of the tune in folk midi

[murphE]

The Angelus

V: The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary

R: And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

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 done unto me according to thy word.

V: Hail Mary ...

R: Holy Mary ...

V: And the Word was made flesh

R: And dwelt among us.

V: Hail Mary ...

R: Holy Mary ...

V: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V: Let us pray.

All: Pour forth, we beseech the, O Lord, thy grace unto our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, our Lord, Amen.

[Salvation]

Beautiful!