First reading
Apocalypse 11:19, 12:1–6, 10
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 44(45):10–12, 16
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Second reading
1 Corinthians 15:20–26
Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him.
Gospel acclamation
Mary is taken up to heaven, and the angels of God shout for joy.
Gospel
Luke 1:39–56
The Almighty has done great things for me.
Images from the Word
- Fruit of your womb
- My spirit exalts
- Sanctuary of God
- First fruits
- Under his feet
Liturgical notes
Particularly recommended is the Saturday commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because it is to the Mother of the Redeemer that in the Liturgy of the Church firstly and before all the Saints veneration is given.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §378
Usually we would not be celebrating a Marian feast on a Sunday because of the priority of Sunday as the day of Resurrection. However, this year the day of the very solemnity of Our Blessed Mother, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven, falls on a Sunday. This provides us with the opportunity to take up the invitation of the General Instruction to venerate the Mother of our Redeemer. There is a full allocation of texts for today’s solemnity. We can focus our celebration upon the model of Mary as a living model of Church in her attentiveness to the Word of God.
‘A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars’ —entrance antiphon