Today the rod from the shoot of Jesse went forth; today, Mary was conceived without any stain of sin; today, the head of the ancient serpent was crushed by her, alleluia. (The Antiphon at the Magnificat for Second Vespers)
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| The Immaculate Conception, by Francesco Maria Schiaffino, 1762; from the Palazzo Doria Lamba in Genoa, Italy. (image from Web Gallery of Art.) |
Ant. Hodie egressa est virga de radice Jesse; hodie sine ulla labe peccati concepta est Maria; hodie contritum est ab ea caput serpentis antiqui, alleluia.