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 his 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 his 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.
AlleluiaLK 11:28
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Blessed are they who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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."
Alleluia
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven;
a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Mary is taken up to heaven;
a chorus of angels exults.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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: "He who is mighty has done great
things for me"
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).
The
Holy Spirit makes faith come alive within us
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 fulfillment 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 Anointed King in the womb of Mary.
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 fulfillment 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 Anointed King in the womb of Mary.
Those
who are humble and hungry for God receive his Spirit
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 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 fills us with the joy and hope of heaven
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?
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."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Christ the fruit of the faithful,
by Ambrose of Milan (339-397 A.D)
"You see that Mary did not doubt but believed and therefore obtained the fruit of faith. 'Blessed … are you who have believed.' But you also are blessed who have heard and believed. For a soul that has believed has both conceived and bears the Word of God and declares his works. Let the soul of Mary be in each of you, so that it magnifies the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each of you, so that it rejoices in God (Luke 1:46-47). She is the one mother of Christ according to the flesh, yet Christ is the Fruit of all according to faith. Every soul receives the Word of God, provided that, undefiiled and unstained by vices, it guards its purity with inviolate modesty. (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.26)
"You see that Mary did not doubt but believed and therefore obtained the fruit of faith. 'Blessed … are you who have believed.' But you also are blessed who have heard and believed. For a soul that has believed has both conceived and bears the Word of God and declares his works. Let the soul of Mary be in each of you, so that it magnifies the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each of you, so that it rejoices in God (Luke 1:46-47). She is the one mother of Christ according to the flesh, yet Christ is the Fruit of all according to faith. Every soul receives the Word of God, provided that, undefiiled and unstained by vices, it guards its purity with inviolate modesty. (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.26)
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, LUKE 11:27-28
Holy Day of Obligation
(Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, LUKE 11:27-28
Holy Day of Obligation
(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).
TO KNOW: When Mary visited her kinswoman Elizabeth, the infant John, in his mother's womb, leaped for joy 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" for trusting 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. It is our hope as Christians that one day we will be raised by God to join Mary and her son in heaven.
TO LOVE: Does Mary's assumption offer me hope in my own union with God?
TO SERVE: Mary my mother, pray for me now and at the hour of my death.
NOTE: The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a centuries-old tradition in the Church. The Dogma of the Assumption was officially defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950 who 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 (Munificentissimus Deus). As an infallible pronouncement, the Dogma of the Assumption is thus a mandatory belief for Roman Catholics. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "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." --- The Catholic Answer Book of Mary by Rev. Peter M. Stravinskas
Thursday 15 August 2019
The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6, 10. Psalm 44(45):10-12, 16. 1
Corinthians 15:20-26 Luke 1:39-56.
The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold – Psalm
44(45):10-12, 16.
‘The mighty one has done great things for me.’
On this feast of the Assumption, it is fitting to reflect on
Mary’s attitude to life. Unmarried and pregnant, she was able to praise her
God. ‘The Mighty One has done great things for me’ was her response to this
particular crisis in her life. It was not, ‘This is too much – I can’t take any
more’, or some such sentiment.
Of course, we don’t know if Mary had any initial fears of what
lay ahead. Whatever emotions she may have felt, she was still able to maintain
a positive outlook.
In our own lives, there are always circumstances when we feel
justified in displaying bitterness, crankiness or other negative attitudes. If
we reflect daily on our responses to events, then we can emulate Mary’s
attitude. After all, we don’t have to do it alone – we have Mary walking with
us. Let us call upon her guidance today.
Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary
Saint of the Day for August 15
 |
| Detail | Ceiling of the Assumption of Mary in Santa Maria Immacolata a via Veneto, Rome | photo by Livioandronico |
The Story of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary
On November 1, 1950, Pope 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 Testaments, 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 the first fruits 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
believe 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.
Reflection
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.
Lectio
Divina:The Assumption of Our Lady
Lectio Divina
Thursday, August 15, 2019
The visit of Mary to Elizabeth, Lk 1:39-56
1) 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 in 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 molds 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 total 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.
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 molds 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 total 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.
2) Reading of the Gospel:
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.
3) 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 able to be in silence before God, you will be able to listen to His
breath, which is Life.
4) Meditatio
a) Key to the Reading:
Blessed are you among women
In the first part of today’s Gospel, Elizabeth’s words
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 kilometers, 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 in 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 impelled toward 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 looked for proof, but because she was pleased with the promise
and desired to render a service with devotion, 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 for the trip is not
indicated, but can get it through information deduced from the context. The
angel had told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant, already in the sixth month
(cf. v. 37). The fact that she remained there three months (cf. 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
Mary’s visit 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 of their
conceptions. Mary’s movement leads, in the final analysis, to the encounter
between the two women.
As soon as Mary enters into the house and greets Elizabeth,
John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb. According to some, this leap is not comparable
to the changing place of the fetus, 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 connote “danced”, 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 I, 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 Elizabeth’s words, which, repeating the same Greek verb in v.
44 already employed in v. 41, when she says, “The child in my womb leapt for
joy”. Luke, with these particular details, has wished to recall the wonders
which took place in the intimacy of Nazareth. It is only now, thanks to this
dialogue, that the mystery of the divine maternity leaves aside its secrecy and
its individual dimension, to become a notable fact, and an object of
appreciation and of praise.
Elizabeth’s words, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is
the fruit of your womb! Why should I be honored 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 Mary’s role: to be the “Mother of the Lord”. And, then, a
blessing is reserved for her (“Blessed are you”) and a beatitude. In what does
this consist? It expresses Mary’s obedience to the Divine Will. Mary is not
only the receiver of a mystery 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 simple word and which she has answered 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
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 in the words of Psalm 37:9:
“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 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, on the other hand, 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, boastful 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 of 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 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, on the other hand, 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, boastful 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 of salvation which recognizes the greatness of God, but which also makes great the one who sings it.
5) Some questions for meditation:
- Is my prayer, above all, the expression of a sentiment or
celebration and acknowledgment 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 Mary’s? Or rather are you dedicated to devotions which produce a continuous tasteless and dull prayer? Are you convinced that to return to Biblical prayer is the assurance of finding solid nourishment, chosen by Mary herself ?
- Do you accept the logic 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 Mary’s? Or rather are you dedicated to devotions which produce a continuous tasteless and dull prayer? Are you convinced that to return to Biblical prayer is the assurance of finding solid nourishment, chosen by Mary herself ?
- Do you accept the logic of the Magnificat, which exalts the joy of giving, of losing in order to find, of accepting, the happiness of gratuity, of donation?
6) 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 gladness.
they enter the king's palace with joy and gladness.
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 visited by the full
consolation of the Holy Spirit, teach us to pray so that we may also discover
the source of joy. In the house of Elizabeth, 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 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. The Gospel speaks to us about you, Mary, and of Elizabeth:
both of you kept something in your heart 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 a liturgy of thanksgiving and of praise to your
ineffable God. You, woman of profound joy, you sang the Magnificat, in
rapture and amazed at all that the Lord was accomplishing 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.”
7) 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, completely recollected
under the gaze 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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