FIRST READING (A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet.)

A reading from the Book of Revelation (11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab)

God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed One.”—The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (45:10, 11, 12, 16)

R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. (Ps 45:10bc)

Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. (R)

So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord. (R)

They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. (R)

SECOND READING (Christ, the firstfruits; then those who belong to him.)

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (15:20-27)

Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”—The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults. (R)

GOSPEL (The Almighty has done great things for me; he has raised up the lowly.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (1:39-56)

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.—The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayers

Celebrant:  Raised body and soul to glory, Mary shines forth as “a great sign” of our eternal destiny as the Church. But we are still pilgrims here on earth, and in a spirit of humility and trust, we bring our prayers, with her, to God our Father.

READER: For the Church, that we will look forward to the resurrection promised us by Christ, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For devotion to Mary, that Christians everywhere – especially in those nations that celebrate in a special way today’s feast – may find unity around the lowly handmaid exalted to glory, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For our families, that the gentle Queen of Peace may reign in every home, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For those who are sick and those suffering with terminal illnesses, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, their suffering be offered to her Son as a prayer of praise, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the deceased, that they will rise with Christ to rejoice forever with Our Lady and the saints, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT:  Lord of heaven and earth, our prayers come before you, with the help of the glorious ever-virgin Mary, the first believer called to share in the glory of your triumphant Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever,  (all) AMEN.