Priest:

Let us adore the infinite love of God, sent to us in his beloved Son.

Your mercy, 0 Lord, reaches to heaven, your faithfulness touches the clouds and the tiny blade of grass. Your righteousness fills the earth, your justice is more profound than the depths of the sea; you have brought us salvation.

How precious, 0 Lord, is your grace; your children find refuge in the shadow of your wings. You are the source of life; in you we find truth and the light.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit

All: As it was in the beginning ... Amen.

Deacon:

Mary is our model. She said yes to you, Lord. You made yourself dependent on her free and loving yes. She said yes from the moment of your conception, and never took back her yes at any time. We know well that her yes led her to experience everything that is bitter on life’s journey; nevertheless, because you were with her the bitter journey was transformed to a journey of joy.

All:

Mary, we believe that in our baptism our destiny may one day reflect your destiny. The great things that the Lord has done for you, he is ready to do for us if we do what he commands. Help us cooperate with the grace that he wishes to bestow on us.

Deacon:

The crown symbolizes all the dignity and beauty that God himself has bestowed upon you! The crown also symbolizes your right to act as a queen and leader, as a mother and educator in and for the kingdom of God on earth.

All:

We wish to crown you because of our personal helplessness in facing the deep distress of our times. Take our flowers for your crown. Let them represent our wish to encircle you with a wreath of joy and thanksgiving for the coming era. Let us work with you, our sister in faith, to make the coming millennium a Christ-centered age in which our people will do what he tells us! Be our queen! Teach us what immense dignity there is our Christian calling. Grant peace and joy to our hearts grant peace and joy to our families, grant peace and joy to our parish. Lead our nation to follow paths of justice, and assist each of us to be worthy to wear the crown of our calling that the Lord has prepared for us at the end of our journey.

First Communion Class Crowns Mary

All Sing:

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing.

You reign now in heaven with Jesus our King.

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria!

In heaven the blessed your glory proclaim;
On earth we your children invoke your fair name.

We pray for our mother, the Church upon earth,

And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth.

Ave, Ave, Ave Maria! Ave, Ave, Maria!

All Sing:

Bring flowers of the fairest, bring flowers of the rarest, From garden and woodland and hillside and vale;

Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling

The praise of the loveliest Rose of the vale.
O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

Our voices ascending, in harmony blending,
0h, thus may our hearts turn, dear Mother, to thee.
0h, thus shall we prove thee how truly we love thee;

How dark without Mary life’s journey would be.

Procession continues to front of church.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society Crowns Mary.

Procession continues around church, back up the ramps and inside.

Closing Prayer: Hail Mary

All Sing:

Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria

Hail, Mother of mercy and of love, O Maria

Triumph, all ye cherubim; Sing with us, ye seraphim! Heaven and earth resound the hymn;

Salve, salve, salve Regina!

Our Life, our sweetness here below, O Maria!

Our hope in sorrow and in woe, O Maria!