Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Assumption of Our Lady. This solemnity commemorates the event in which the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken up body and soul into Heaven. The Assumption was proclaimed dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2
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.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 132:6-7, 9-10, 13-14
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.
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.
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.
Second Reading – 1 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.
Gospel – Lk 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.”
Featured Saints
St. Stanislaus Kostka, religious (†1568). Born in Poland, he fled his family home because of his father’s opposition to his vocation and entered the novitiate of the Company of Jesus in Rome. He died at eighteen.
Blessed Isidore Bakanja, martyr (†1909). Congolese youth who converted to Christianity.For witnessing to the Faith before co-workers, he was violently whipped and died from his wounds.
St. Alipius, bishop (†c. 430). Bishop of Tagaste, Algeria, disciple of St. Augustine, of whom he was also a companion in conversion, pastoral ministry and the fight against heretics.
St. Hyacinth, priest (†1257). He took the habit of the Order of Preachers in Rome, from the hands of his founder, St. Dominic de Guzman. He propagated the Order in his native land, Poland, as well as in Bohemia and Silesia.
Blessed Juliana Puricelli de Busto Arsizio, virgin (†1501). Augustinian religious of Pallanza, Italy.
St. Tarcisius, martyr (†c. 257). Roman youth stoned to death on the Appian Way for defending the Holy Eucharist from profanation by pagans.
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