Episode 2824: Explaining the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Sunday Prime with Sharon

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday Prime
Walt: Sharon and I are starting a new series around the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will start with “Primes” and explain what each 7 days of Primes means.
This first one is the Sunday Prime and the theme is
"God's Mercy, Our Redemption: A Journey Through Sacred Scripture and Tradition"
Sharon would you mind leading with a prayer?
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with contrite hearts, seeking Your mercy and wisdom. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Athanasius, and all the saints, open our minds and hearts to understand the depth of Your love and the path of redemption You have set before us. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Sharon: Welcome to today’s episode, and as Walt said we will reflect on God’s boundless mercy, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history, and the transformative power of the Incarnation. We will draw insights from Psalm 51, the Trisagion, the Angel’s Prayer at Fatima, and other sacred texts and prayers. Together, these highlight God’s justice, mercy, and the beauty of His plan for humanity.

Segment 1: Psalm 51 – A Cry for Mercy
11 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. [12] Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels. [13] Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me. [14] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. [15] I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.
Psalm 51 is King David’s heartfelt plea for forgiveness after his fall into grave sin. This psalm encapsulates the human condition our iniquities and need for God’s mercy. David’s words, "Create a clean heart in me, O God," remind us that true repentance is not a mere feeling of guilt but a transformative return to God.
The psalm also prefigures the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When David asks to be cleansed with hyssop, he alludes to the purification rites of the Old Testament, fulfilled in Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. This cleansing is now available to us through confession, where we are washed whiter than snow.
Walt can you take us through the 2nd segment?
Segment 2: The Trisagion and the Angel’s Prayer at Fatima – Acknowledging God’s Holiness
The Trisagion, which means Thrice Holy or "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal," is an ancient hymn that magnifies God’s transcendence and immanence. Coupled with the Angel’s Prayer at Fatima, it reminds us of our role in adoration and reparation. The Angel’s Prayer emphasizes our duty to believe, adore, hope, and love God not only for ourselves but on behalf of those who do not.
This juxtaposition of divine majesty and human responsibility teaches us humility. It’s a call to align our lives with God’s holiness, realizing our utter dependence on Him for grace and mercy.
Back to you Sharon for the third segment.
Segment 3: Mary’s Role in Redemption
Through the reflections of St. Sophronius, St. Athanasius, and St. Aelred, we see the pivotal role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history. St. Sophronius’ words, "Truly, you are blessed among women," emphasize Mary’s unique role in reversing the curse of Eve. She is the New Eve, whose obedience brought forth the Savior, the New Adam.
St. Athanasius reminds us that through Mary’s fiat, humanity’s mortal nature was elevated. The Word became flesh, and by assuming our humanity, Christ sanctified and redeemed it. This profound truth invites us to honor Mary not only as the Mother of God but as our spiritual mother who continually intercedes for us.
Walt can you speak about the fourth segment?
Segment 4: Psalms 118 and 150 – Songs of Triumph and Praise
Psalm 118 21-25: I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art become my salvation. [22] The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner. [23] This is the Lord's doing: and it is wonderful in our eyes. [24] This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein. [25] O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success.
Psalm 118 declares, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." This is fulfilled in Christ, who, though rejected, became the foundation of our salvation. The psalm’s triumphant tone reminds us that God’s mercy endures forever, even in the face of rejection and suffering.
Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power. [2] Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness. [3] Praise him with sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp. [4] Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs. [5] Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.
Psalm 150 calls us to praise God with every fiber of our being. From the sound of trumpets to the strings of harps, every element of creation is invited to glorify the Creator. As Catholics, our liturgical life embodies this call to worship, culminating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the highest form of praise.
Sharon since you do a much better job can you do segment 5?
Segment 5: Sirach 24 and the Wisdom of God
Sirach 24:24-25 I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. 25 In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue.
Sirach 24 beautifully portrays Mary as the vessel of God’s wisdom. “In me is all grace of the way and of the truth,” the text declares, prefiguring Christ’s words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Mary, as the Seat of Wisdom, leads us to her Son, the source of all grace and virtue.
Her role is further illuminated in the Eucharist. Just as she bore Christ in her womb, she invites us to receive Him into our lives through the sacrament. The fruit of her womb becomes the fruit of our salvation.
Back to you Walt for segment 6
Segment 6: Daniel 3 and the Universal Call to Worship
Daniel 3:57-60 All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [58] O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [59] O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [60] O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
The canticle from Daniel 3 exclaims, "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord." This universal call to worship reflects the harmony of creation when it is ordered toward God. It serves as a reminder that every aspect of our lives our work, relationships, and trials—should be acts of worship.
In the Incarnation, God’s glory was revealed in the flesh. This truth, proclaimed in the writings of St. Athanasius, assures us that our humanity, though fallen, is capable of redemption and sanctification when united to Christ.
So Sharon do you mind providing the closing reflections of the Sunday Prime?
Closing Reflection
As we meditate on these texts and prayers, we see the cohesive thread of God’s mercy and love running through salvation history. From King David’s repentance in Psalm 51 to the triumphant praise in Psalm 150, from Mary’s fiat to the Incarnation, we are called to recognize and respond to God’s work in our lives.
The path of redemption is one of humility, repentance, and praise. It is a journey where we, like Mary, say “yes” to God’s will, allowing Him to transform our hearts and guide us toward eternal union with Him.
Walt can you provide the closing prayer?

Closing Prayer
O God, we thank You for Your mercy, love, and the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, and all the saints, may we always live in accordance with Your will, praising You with our words, actions, and lives. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Sharon: I hope this helps you better meditate on the full Sunday Prime and we will see you on the next episode.