I wrote this originally for the Immaculate Conception, and it's easy to see that great feast's influence here:
The first verse is taken from the definition of the Immaculate Conception, which I believe is paraphrased in the Preface of that day.
The second verse is taken from the Epistle of the day from Ephesians 1, which is also the Canticle for Evening Prayer on Mondays.
Verse 3 is the reason I thought it would be particularly appropriate for the new Memorial. I drew its ideas from the final chapter of Lumen Gentium, which speaks of the Blessed Mother's relationship of exemplarity for the Church as we travel through time. It has a special reference to the Alma Redemptoris Mater.
And the fourth verse is also drawn from Ephesians, and also from the very last page of the Bible, St. John's cry for the coming of the Lord.
I no longer hold the copyright to this text, but the book in which it is printed is inexpensive and the purchase of one copy includes permission to print all the hymns as many times as needed for a church or school. Details here.
1. Free from all stain of evil, From sin of any kind, Our holy Mother Mary Was born of lost mankind. The Father kept her pure To bear His Son, Christ Jesus, The Savior of our race.
2. Before the world was fashioned, Before the dawn of time, The holy God eternal Chose Christ’s beloved bride. He chose the Church in love To sing the praise of glory: The riches of His grace.
3. Mary shows forth the beauty Of God’s eternal plan, She guides the Church to heaven As stars guide ships to land. We follow her, secure, Though darkness seems prevailing, To God’s abiding place.
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