The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

On 1 November, 1950, Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith: “We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.

The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated annually on 15 August and it is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Hail Mary, full of grace! the Lord is with thee; 

blessed art thou among women, 

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, 

pray for us sinners, now 

and at the hour of our death. 

Amen.

Thursday, 15 August, 2013
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

Reading 1

Revelation 11: 19
19	Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Psalm

Psalms 45: 10 - 12, 16
10	Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house;
11	and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12	the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts, the richest of the people
16	Instead of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.

Reading 2

1 Corinthians 15: 20 - 27
20	But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21	For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
22	For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
23	But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
24	Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
25	For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26	The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27	"For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him.

Gospel

Luke 1: 39 - 56
39	In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40	and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
41	And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42	and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43	And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44	For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.
45	And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
46	And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47	and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48	for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49	for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50	And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51	He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52	he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;
53	he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54	He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55	as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."
56	And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.