Sunday, 17 August 2025
Solemnity - The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Readings and Antiphons on p 1721 of the Daily Missal and p 1051 of the Sunday Missal
First Reading: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a.10ab
God’s temple in heaven was opened.
And a great sign appeared in heaven,
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 she cried out in her pangs of birth,
in anguish for delivery.
And another sign appeared in heaven;
behold, a great red dragon,
with seven heads and ten horns,
and seven diadems upon his heads.
His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven
and cast them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the woman
who was about to bear a child,
that he might devour her child when she brought it forth;
she brought forth a male child,
one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron,
but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,
and the woman fled into the wilderness,
where she has a place prepared by God.
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ have come.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 45:10.11.12.16 (R. 10b)
R/. On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
The daughters of kings are those whom you favour.
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Listen, O daughter; pay heed and give ear:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty.
He is your lord, pay homage to him.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.
R/. On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
In those days:
Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country,
to a city of Judah,
and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,
the child leapt in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
and she exclaimed with a loud cry,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
And why is this granted me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears,
the child in my womb leapt for joy.
And blessed is she who believed
that there would be a fulfilment
of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”
And Mary remained with her about three months,
and returned to her home.
