Feast day commemorating Mary’s ascension to heaven with “body and soul”.
Invitation
May I hereby draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation wants to share with you the joy of the Gospel.
Everyone, no one except,
can experience this joy by opening his heart
to the healing effect of God’s word.
Available every day
Opening words
The high feast we celebrate today
makes us gratefully look forward to the future, our own future.
Mary gave her yes to the Lord
and throughout her life, she surrendered herself to that Word.
Today we celebrate her receiving the garland of eternal life in heaven.
Let us open our hearts and pray
that we too try to live each day according to the Word of the Lord
and so too may one day come home to Him.
FIRST READING Apok. 11, 19a; 12, 1-6a.10ab
A Woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet.
From the Revelation of the holy apostle John
The temple of God in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant
became visible in his temple.
And there appeared in the heavens a great sign.
A Woman,
clothed with the sun, the moon beneath her feet
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was pregnant and crying out in her contractions.
Then appeared in the sky another sign:
A great, fiery red dragon.
He had seven heads and ten horns
and on each head a diadem.
And his tail
swept away one-third of the stars of the sky
and cast them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the Woman who was about to give birth,
to devour her child as soon as she had given birth.
And she brought forth a child,
a son,
who shall pasture all nations with a rod of iron?
And her child
was hastily carried off to God and his throne.
And the woman fled into the desert
where she has a place prepared by God.
And I heard a voice crying in heaven:
“Now has come the salvation and the power
and the kingship of our God
and the reign of his Anointed.”
Responsorial Ps. 45(44), 10-11, 12 and 16
Refrain
By your side stands the queen, adorned with gold.
Princesses come to meet thee there,
and by thy side stands the queen, adorned with gold from Ofir.
Now listen, daughter, be attentive,
forget thy people, forget thy father’s house.
Thy beauty doth arouse the love of the king,
pay him your tribute, for he is your lord.
They catch up with joy and jubilation,
they enter into the royal dwelling.
SECOND READING 1 Cor. 15, 20-26
First and foremost Christ, then those who belong to Christ.
From the First Letter of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Christians of Corinth
Brothers and sisters,
Christ was raised from the dead
as the first fruits of them that slept.
For since death came through a man,
through a man also comes the resurrection of the dead.
As all die in Adam,
all shall also be resurrected in Christ.
But each in his own order:
First and foremost, Christ,
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when Christ will hand over the kingship
to God the Father,
having dethroned all dominions
and all powers and authorities.
For it is established that He will exercise the kingship
until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Verse for the Gospel
Alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven:
The choir of angels jubilates.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Lk. 1, 39-56
He did unto me his wondrous works, and smite the proud in heart.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
In those days Mary travelled in haste to the mountain country,
to a city in Judah.
She went into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
As soon as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,
the child leapt up into her womb.
Elisabet was filled with the Holy Spirit
and cried out in a loud voice:
“Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
“To what do I owe it
that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
“Behold, as soon as the sound of thy greeting reached my ear,
the child sprang up in my womb with joy.
“Blessed is she who has believed that it will come to pass
what was said to her from the Lord.”
And Mary spoke:
“My heart praises the Lord on high.
“For joy, my spirit rejoices for God, my Saviour,
for He looked kindly on the smallness of His handmaiden.
“And behold, from this day forth every generation doth bless me
because He that is mighty hath done his wondrous works unto me,
and holy is his name.
“Merciful is He, from generation to generation,
to them that fear him.
“He showeth the power of His arm;
smiteth the proud in heart.
“He overthrows the rulers,
but exalts the humble.
“He lavishes gifts on the hungry,
He sends the rich away empty-handed.
“His servant Israel hath he taken unto himself,
remembering his mercy forever
toward Abraham and his generation,
as He had said to our fathers.”
After Mary had stayed with Elisabeth for about three months,
she returned home.
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Laudato Si
Encyclic of
POPE FRANCIS
On the Care of the Common Home
15. It is my hope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church’s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face. I will begin by briefly reviewing several aspects of the present ecological crisis, to draw on the results of the best scientific research available today, letting them touch us deeply and provide a concrete foundation for the ethical and spiritual itinerary that follows. I will then consider some principles drawn from the Judaeo-Christian tradition which can render our commitment to the environment more coherent. I will then attempt to get to the roots of the present situation, to consider not only its symptoms but also its deepest causes. This will help to provide an approach to ecology which respects our unique place as human beings in this world and our relationship to our surroundings. In light of this reflection, I will advance some broader proposals for dialogue and action which would involve each of us as individuals, and also affect international policy. Finally, convinced as I am that change is impossible without motivation and a process of education, I will offer some inspired guidelines for human development to be found in the treasure of the Christian spiritual experience.
To be continued
The Bible text in this edition is taken from De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Recitals from Liturgical Suggestions for the Week
Laudato Si Official English translation
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