Friday of the Second Week of Advent

Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19

Thus says the Lord, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I am the Lord, your God,
teaching you how to prevail,
leading you on the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17

Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea, thank you for guiding us through the stormy sea of life with wisdom and tranquility. 

If only you would attend to my commandments,
your peace would be like a river,

Isaiah 48:18a

Holy Virgin of Virgins who conceived the Son of the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit, by your prayers may peace like a river flow through us by that same Spirit.

your vindication like the waves of the sea,
Your descendants like the sand,
the offspring of your loins like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.

Isaiah 48:18b-19

Mother of our Creator and Gate of Heaven, the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be “as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore” was fulfilled in you (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). Pray for us that we may shine like stars with the Light of Christ in your tender and Immaculate Heart. 

Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, you are vindicated by all your children! (Luke 7:35)¹

-GMC

¹ Matthew’s Gospel reads, “But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Luke’s version preserves the original saying, according to scholarly analysis. See the New American Bible (Revised Edition) footnote to Matthew 11:16-19.