Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Vigil Mass
Lectionary: 621
Lectionary: 621
David assembled all
Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD
to the place which he had prepared for it.
David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.
The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles,
as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites
to appoint their kinsmen as chanters,
to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals,
to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent
which David had pitched for it.
Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
to the place which he had prepared for it.
David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.
The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles,
as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites
to appoint their kinsmen as chanters,
to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals,
to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent
which David had pitched for it.
Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings,
he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
Responsorial PsalmPS 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14
R. (8) Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and
the ark of your holiness.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for her dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he prefers her for her dwelling.
“Zion is my resting place forever;
in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest, you and the ark of your holiness.
Reading 21 COR 15:54B-57
Brothers and
sisters:
When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
then the word that is written shall come about:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
then the word that is written shall come about:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
GospelLK 11:27-28
While Jesus was
speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied,
“Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied,
“Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass during
the Day
Lectionary: 622
Lectionary: 622
Reading 1RV 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.”
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.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 45:10, 11, 12, 16
R. (10bc) The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed
in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father’s house.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
Reading 21 COR 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.”
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.”
GospelLK 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.
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.
Meditation : "All
generations will call me blessed"
How strong is your hope in the promises of God?
Mary is a model of faith and hope for us. And she is among "the
first-fruits" of "all those who belong to Jesus" and who share
in his triumph (1 Corinthians15:20-24). There is a venerable tradition dating
back to the early church which marks Mary's "falling asleep" (called
the Feast of Dormition in many Eastern churches) and her heavenly birthday when
she was received into heaven. Her reception into heaven is seen as a sign to
all believing Christians of the promise Jesus made that we too would be
received into paradise. At the last supper Jesus told his disciples that he
would prepare a place for them in his Father's house. "And when I go to
prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that
where I am you may be also" (John 14:3).
What
enabled Mary to grow in faith and to persevere in hope in the face of obstacles
and trials? The Gospel of Luke reveals the presence and power of the Holy
Spirit in Mary's life. When Elizabeth and Mary greeted one another they were
filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfilment of
God's promise to give a Savior. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the
Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as
the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. The Holy
Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling
presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in
which God reigns within each of us. Mary accepted her mission with
uncompromising faith and obedience. She acted with unwavering trust and faith
because she believed that God would fulfill the word he had spoken. Her great
hymn of praise echoes the song of Hannah (see 1 Samuel 2:1-10) and proclaims
the favor of the Lord: God exalts the lowly and he fills the hungry.
The Holy Spirit is ever ready to renew your faith and hope in God's promises
and to make you strong in love for God and your neighbor. Do you live in the
joy and confidence of God's indwelling presence with you through his Holy
Spirit?
"Lord
Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more
closely. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joys of heaven,
and my love for You as my All."
 God Lifts Up the Lowly |
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Solemnity of the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Father Steven
Reilly, LC
Luke 1: 39-56
In those days Mary set out and went with
haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of
Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary´s greeting, the
child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and
exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of
my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child
in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would
be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from
now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done
great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear
him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has
scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the
powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the
hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his
servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made
to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." And Mary
remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in your wondrous, shining glory, although this
is hidden from my eyes. I hope in the peace and everlasting joy of the world
to come, for this world is a valley of tears. I love you, even though I am
not always able to discern the love in your intentions when you permit me to
suffer. You are my God and my all.
Petition: Lord, help me to be humble!
1. All Generations Will Call Me
Blessed: When Pius XII
defined the dogma of the Assumption, it was a cause of great joy throughout
the Catholic world. Believed for centuries, it entered the realm of official
Catholic dogma. Our Lady is brought to heaven to share in the glory and joy
of her Son and our Lord. We have always looked to Mary as our mother, and so
the feast of the Assumption continues to fill us with happiness. She is with
Christ, and she is our mother more than ever. We entrust ourselves to her in
the same way that Pope John Paul the Great did, “Totus Tuus.”
2. Scattering the Proud: Proud people are generally very focused on
whatever serves their best interests. So “scattering” is a very good verb to
use to indicate what happens to the proud when God goes into action. Mary
rejoices in that “scattering,” but who are the proud? Maybe we don’t have to
look any further than ourselves. How much we fight with that root sin of
pride! Mary is happy when pride gets scattered and the perspective we have
widens. Instead of just seeing things from our own myopic point of view, this
scattering opens up the “thoughts of our hearts” to see others and their
needs. Nothing is more Mary-like than that.
3. Lifting Up the Lowly: This feast of the Assumption is proof that
God literally lifts up the lowly. Like her Son and his Ascension, Mary is
lifted up by God into the realm of eternal life. Sometimes we cling to our
pride out of a sort of instinct of self-preservation—“If I don’t look out for
number one, who will?” But Mary’s humility is a lesson for us. Our true
self-fulfillment lies in becoming everyday more filled with God; we can only
do that if we are not filled with ourselves. Let’s ask Mary to help us to
live more like her and experience the true joy—the lifting up—that there is
in humility.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I thank you for giving us such a
wonderful mother. She helps me to stay on the path of fulfilling your will.
Help me to be able to sing a Magnificat in my own soul, “The Almighty has
done great things for me!”
Resolution: I will be generous and joyful when I am
asked to help out.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 15
LUKE 1:39-56
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
(Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27)
LUKE 1:39-56
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
(Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27)
KEY VERSE: "He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly" (v 52).
READING: When Mary came to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth, the infant John leaped for joy in his mother's womb before the divine presence within Mary's womb. Similarly, King David danced in jubilation before the presence of God when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2 Sm 6:14). Elizabeth was overwhelmed that Mary, the mother of her Lord, should come to her. She proclaimed that Mary was "blessed among women" who trusted that the Lord's promises to her would be fulfilled (Luke 1:42, 45). In an exultant hymn of praise, Mary rejoiced in the saving promises of her Mighty God. Through Mary's son, the meek and poor would be exalted, and the proud and powerful would be cast down. Mary recognized her own lowliness before God; she was God's humble handmaid, "servant Israel" (v 54), obedient to the Lord's command. All Christians hope that one day they willbe raised by God to join Mary and her son in heaven.
REFLECTING: Does Mary's assumption offer me hope in my own union with God?
PRAYING: Mary my mother, pray for me now and at the hour of my death.
Dogma of the Assumption
The Feast of the Assumption celebrates Mary being taken bodily into heaven upon her death. The assumption of Mary is a centuries-old tradition in the Church. Although its origin is unknown, it was celebrated in Palestine before 500. The Dogma of the Assumption was officially defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950. In his encyclical Munificentissimus Deus the Pope declared that Mary was "full of grace" (Lk1:28) from the time of her conception, and was thus preserved from the consequences of sin and corruption after death. Pope Piusstated that he was relying both on scripture and on 'apostolic tradition'. As an infallible pronouncement, the Dogma of the Assumption is thus a mandatory belief for Roman Catholics. No pope since has issued an infallible dogma. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians" [# 966]. The Feast of the Assumption is commemorated on August 15 as a holy day of obligation.
The Feast of the Assumption celebrates Mary being taken bodily into heaven upon her death. The assumption of Mary is a centuries-old tradition in the Church. Although its origin is unknown, it was celebrated in Palestine before 500. The Dogma of the Assumption was officially defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950. In his encyclical Munificentissimus Deus the Pope declared that Mary was "full of grace" (Lk1:28) from the time of her conception, and was thus preserved from the consequences of sin and corruption after death. Pope Piusstated that he was relying both on scripture and on 'apostolic tradition'. As an infallible pronouncement, the Dogma of the Assumption is thus a mandatory belief for Roman Catholics. No pope since has issued an infallible dogma. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians" [# 966]. The Feast of the Assumption is commemorated on August 15 as a holy day of obligation.
"Everything we affirm about Mary, we affirm
for the sake of her Son. Every grace we ascribe to Mary, we ascribe as coming
from her Son. Every privilege we acknowledge in Mary, we acknowledge as granted
by her Son.Exalting the Mother
does not diminish the Son in any way --- any more than the moon detracts from
the sun by reflecting its light. Rather, the moon reflects the light of the sun
and magnifies its radiant glory." --- from The Catholic Answer Book of
Mary by Rev. Peter M. Stravinskas
The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold
On this feast of the Assumption, it is appropriate to reflect on Mary’s words to Elizabeth. What a magnificent example she is, especially in this Year of Faith. Mary leaves no doubt that she loves to praise God in all circumstances. She remembers God’s mercy, power and faithfulness. There is no negativity in her words. She brings encouragement, support and love. Mary shines with the light of the child within her womb.
How do we bear witness to our love of God? Are we able to shine as brightly as Mary did - but only when life is progressing smoothly? Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, not on our problems, and we shall see our faith take a radical leap. Today is the perfect time to make a commitment to radiating God’s love to others, regardless of how we are feeling.
August 15
Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary
Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary
On November 1, 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 pope proclaimed this dogma only after a broad consultation of
bishops, theologians and laity. There were few dissenting voices. What the pope
solemnly declared was already a common belief in the Catholic Church.
We find
homilies on the Assumption going back to the sixth century. In following
centuries the Eastern Churches held steadily to the doctrine, but some authors
in the West were hesitant. However, by the 13th century there was universal
agreement. The feast was celebrated under various names (Commemoration,
Dormition, Passing, Assumption) from at least the fifth or sixth century. Today
it is celebrated as a solemnity.
Scripture
does not give an account of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Nevertheless,
Revelation 12 speaks of a woman who is caught up in the battle between good and
evil. Many see this woman as God’s people. Since Mary best embodies the people
of both Old and New Testament, her Assumption can be seen as an exemplification
of the woman’s victory.
Furthermore,
in 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul speaks of Christ’s resurrection as thefirstfruits of
those who have fallen asleep.
Since
Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not
surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to belief in Mary’s share in
his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him
body and soul in heaven.
Comment:
In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) with new meaning. In her glory she proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God her savior. God has done marvels to her and she leads others to recognize God’s holiness. She is the lowly handmaid who deeply reverenced her God and has been raised to the heights. From her position of strength she will help the lowly and the poor find justice on earth, and she will challenge the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as a source of happiness.
In the light of the Assumption of Mary, it is easy to pray her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) with new meaning. In her glory she proclaims the greatness of the Lord and finds joy in God her savior. God has done marvels to her and she leads others to recognize God’s holiness. She is the lowly handmaid who deeply reverenced her God and has been raised to the heights. From her position of strength she will help the lowly and the poor find justice on earth, and she will challenge the rich and powerful to distrust wealth and power as a source of happiness.
Quote:
“In the bodily and spiritual glory which she possesses in heaven, the Mother of Jesus continues in this present world as the image and first flowering of the Church as she is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise, Mary shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come (cf. 2 Peter 3:10), as a sign of certain hope and comfort for the pilgrim People of God” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 68).
“In the bodily and spiritual glory which she possesses in heaven, the Mother of Jesus continues in this present world as the image and first flowering of the Church as she is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise, Mary shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come (cf. 2 Peter 3:10), as a sign of certain hope and comfort for the pilgrim People of God” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 68).
LECTIO:THE
ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY
Lectio:
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The visit of Mary to Elizabeth
1. LECTIO
a) Opening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Wisdom, of Science, of Intelligence, of
Counsel, fill us, we pray, with the knowledge of the Word of God, fill us with
every kind of spiritual wisdom and intelligence, so as to be able to understand
it at depth. May we, under your guidance be able to understand the Gospel of
this Marian solemnity. Holy Spirit, we need you, you, the only one who
continually moulds in us the figure and the form of Jesus. And we turn to you,
Mary, Mother of Jesus and of the Church, you who have lived the inebriating and
totalising Presence of the Holy Spirit, you who have experienced the power of
his force in you, who has seen it operating in your Son Jesus from the time
when he was in the maternal womb, open our heart and our mind, so that they may
be docile to listen to the Word of God.
b) Reading of the Gospel:
Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into
the hill country to a town in Judah. She went into Zechariah's house and
greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's
greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit
from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the
child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the
promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love
-according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love
-according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.
c) Moments of prayerful silence:
Silence is a quality of the one who knows how to listen to God.
Try to create in yourself an atmosphere of peace and of silent adoration. If
you are capable to be in silence before God, you will be able to listen to his
breath which is Life.
2. MEDITATIO
a) Key to the Reading:
Blessed are you among women
In the first part of today’s Gospel, the words of Elizabeth
resound: “Blessed are you among women”, preceded by a spatial movement. Mary
leaves Nazareth, situated in the North of Palestine, to go to the South,
approximately fifty kilometres, to a place which tradition has identified as
the present day Ain Karem, not too far from Jerusalem. The physical movement
shows the interior sensibility of Mary, who is not closed on herself, to
contemplate, in a private and intimate way, the mystery of the Divine Maternity
which is being accomplished in her, but she is projected to the path of
charity. She moves in order to go and help her elderly cousin. Mary’s going to
Elizabeth has the added connotation ‘in haste’ which Saint Ambrose interprets
as follows: “Mary set out in haste to the hill country, not because she did not
believe the prophecy or because she was uncertain of the announcement or
doubted of the proof, but because she was pleased with the promise and desirous
to devotedly fulfil a service, with the impulse that she received from her
intimate joy… The grace of the Holy Spirit does not entail slowness”. The
reader, though, knows that the true reason of the trip is not indicated, but
can get it through information deduced from the context. The angel had
communicated to Mary the pregnancy of Elizabeth, already in the sixth month
(cfr. v. 37). Besides the fact that she remained there three months (cfr. v.
56), just the time so that the child could be born, allows us to understand
that Mary intended to help her cousin. Mary runs, and goes where there is an
urgent need, the need for help, showing, in this way, a clear sensibility and
concrete availability.
Together with Mary, Jesus, in his mother’s womb, moves with her.
From here it is easy to deduce the Christological value of the episode of the
visit of Mary to her cousin: above all, the attention is for Jesus. At first
sight, it could seem to be a scene concentrated on the two women, in reality,
what is important for the Evangelist is the prodigious fact present in their
conceiving. Mary moving tends, in last instance, to have the encounter between
the two women.
As soon as Mary enters into the house and greets Elizabeth, the
small John leaped in her womb. According to some this leaping is not comparable
to the changing place of the foetus, which is experienced by every pregnant
woman. Luke uses a particular Greek verb which precisely means “jumping”.
Wishing to interpret the verb a bit literally, it could be indicated with
“dancing”, thus excluding a physical phenomenon only. Someone has thought that
this ‘dance’ could be considered as a form of ‘homage’ which John renders to
Jesus, inaugurating, though not yet born, that attitude of respect and of
subjection which will characterize his life: “After me is coming someone who is
more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his
sandals” (Mk 1, 7). One day, John himself will give witness: “it is the
bridegroom who has the bride; and yet the bridegroom’s friend, who stands there
and listens to him, is filled with joy at the bridegroom’s voice. This is the
joy that I feel and it is complete. He must grow greater, I must grow less” (Jn
3, 29-30). Thus Saint Ambrose comments: “Elizabeth was the first one to hear
the voice, but John is first to perceive the grace”. We find a confirmation of
this interpretation in the words themselves of Elizabeth which, repeating the
same Greek verb in v. 44. which was already employed in v. 41, says: “The child
in my womb leapt for joy”. Luke, with these particular details, has wished to
evoke the prodigies which took place in the intimacy of Nazareth. It is only
now, thanks to the dialogue with an interlocutor, the mystery of the divine
maternity leaves aside its secrecy and its individual dimension, to become a
notable fact, and object of appreciation and of praise.
The words of Elizabeth, “Blessed are you among women and blessed
is the fruit of your womb! Why should I be honoured with a visit from the
mother of my Lord?” (vv. 42-43). With a Semitic expression which is equivalent
to a superlative (“among women”), the Evangelist wishes to attract the
attention of the reader on the function of Mary: to be the “Mother of the
Lord”. And, then, a blessing is reserved for her (“Blessed are you”) and a
blessed Beatitude. In what does this one consist? It expresses Mary’s adherence
to the Divine Will. Mary is not only the receiver of a mysterious design which
makes her blessed, but also a person who knows how to accept and adhere to
God’s will. Mary is a creature who believes, because she trusts in a plain,
simple word and which she has vested with her “yes” of love. And Elizabeth
acknowledges this service of love, identifying her as “blessed as mother and
blessed as believer”.
In the meantime, John perceives the presence of his Lord and
exults, expressing with that interior movement the joy which springs from that
contact of salvation. Mary will be the interpreter of that event in the hymn of
the Magnificat.
b) A song of love:
In this song Mary considers herself part of the anawim, of the
“poor of God”, of those who “fear God” placing in Him all their trust and hope
and who, on the human level, do not enjoy any right or prestige. The
spirituality of the anawim can be synthesized with the words of Psalm 37, 79:
“In silence he is before God and hopes in him”, because “those who hope in the
Lord will possess the earth”.
In Psalm 86, 6 the one who prays, turning to God says: Give your servant your force”: Here the term ‘servant’ expresses his being subjected, as well as the sentiment of belonging to God, of feeling secure with him.
The poor, in the strictly Biblical sense, are those who place their trust unconditionally in God; this is why they are to be considered, qualitatively, the best part, of the People of Israel.
The proud, instead, are those who place all their trust in themselves.
Now, according to the Magnificat, the poor have a thousand reasons to rejoice, because God glorifies the anawim (Psalm 149, 4) and humbles the proud. An image taken from the New Testament, which expresses very well the attitude of the poor of the Old Testament, is that of the Publican who with humility beats his breast, while the Pharisee being complacent of his merits is being consumed by his pride (Lk 19, 9-14). Definitively, Mary celebrates all that God has done in her and all that he works in every creature. Joy and gratitude characterize this hymn to salvation which recognizes the greatness of God, but which also makes great the one who sings it.
In Psalm 86, 6 the one who prays, turning to God says: Give your servant your force”: Here the term ‘servant’ expresses his being subjected, as well as the sentiment of belonging to God, of feeling secure with him.
The poor, in the strictly Biblical sense, are those who place their trust unconditionally in God; this is why they are to be considered, qualitatively, the best part, of the People of Israel.
The proud, instead, are those who place all their trust in themselves.
Now, according to the Magnificat, the poor have a thousand reasons to rejoice, because God glorifies the anawim (Psalm 149, 4) and humbles the proud. An image taken from the New Testament, which expresses very well the attitude of the poor of the Old Testament, is that of the Publican who with humility beats his breast, while the Pharisee being complacent of his merits is being consumed by his pride (Lk 19, 9-14). Definitively, Mary celebrates all that God has done in her and all that he works in every creature. Joy and gratitude characterize this hymn to salvation which recognizes the greatness of God, but which also makes great the one who sings it.
c) Some question for meditation:
- Is my prayer, above all, the expression of a sentiment or
celebration and acknowledgement of God’s action?
- Mary is presented as the believer in the Word of the Lord. How much time do I dedicate to listening to the Word of God?
- Is your prayer nourished from the Bible, as was that of Mary? Or rather am I dedicated to devotions which produce a continuous tasteless and dull prayer? Are you convinced that to return to Biblical prayer is the assurance to find a solid nourishment, chosen by Mary herself ?
- Are you in the logics of the Magnificat which exalts the joy of giving, of losing in order to find, of accepting, the happiness of gratuity, of donation?
- Mary is presented as the believer in the Word of the Lord. How much time do I dedicate to listening to the Word of God?
- Is your prayer nourished from the Bible, as was that of Mary? Or rather am I dedicated to devotions which produce a continuous tasteless and dull prayer? Are you convinced that to return to Biblical prayer is the assurance to find a solid nourishment, chosen by Mary herself ?
- Are you in the logics of the Magnificat which exalts the joy of giving, of losing in order to find, of accepting, the happiness of gratuity, of donation?
3. ORATIO
a) Psalm 44 (45)
The Psalm in this second part, glorifies the Queen. In today’s
Liturgy these verses are applied to Mary and celebrate her greatness and
beauty.
In your retinue are daughters of kings,
the consort at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
the consort at your right hand in gold of Ophir.
Listen, my daughter,
attend to my words and hear;
forget your own nation
and your ancestral home,
then the king will fall in love with your beauty;
he is your lord, bow down before him.
attend to my words and hear;
forget your own nation
and your ancestral home,
then the king will fall in love with your beauty;
he is your lord, bow down before him.
Her companions are brought to her,
they enter the king's palace with joy and rejoicing.
they enter the king's palace with joy and rejoicing.
b) Final Prayer:
The prayer which follows is a brief meditation on the maternal
role of Mary in the life of the believer: “Mary, woman who knows how to
rejoice, who knows how to exult, who allows herself to be invaded by the full
consolation of the Holy Spirit, teach us to pray so that we may also discover
the source of joy. In Elizabeth’s house, your cousin, feeling accepted and
understood in your most intimate secret, you burst out in a hymn of exultation
of the heart, speaking of God, of you about your relationship with him, and of
the unprecedented adventure already begun of being the Mother of Christ and of
all of us, holy people of God. Teach us to give our prayer a rhythm of hope and
tremors of joy, sometimes worn out by bitter whining and soaked with melancholy
almost as obliged. The Gospel speaks to us about you, Mary, and of Elizabeth:
both of you kept in your heart something, which you did not dare or you did not
wish to manifest to anyone. But each one of you, felt understood by the other,
on that prophetic day of the Visitation and you pronounced words of prayer and
of feast. Your encounter becomes Liturgy of thanksgiving and of praise to your
ineffable God. You, woman of a profound joy, you sang the Magnificat, in
rapture and amazed at all that the Lord was operating in his humble servant.
Magnificat is the cry, the explosion of joy, which explodes within each one of
us, when one feels accepted and understood”.
4. CONTEMPLATIO
The Virgin Mary, the temple of the Holy Spirit, accepted with
faith the Word and surrendered herself completely to the power of Love. Because
of this she became the Icon of interiority, that is all recollected under the
look of God and abandoned to the power of the Most High. Mary keeps silence
about herself, because everything in her can speak about the wonders of the
Lord in her life.
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