Blessed are you!

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

Today’s solemnity commemorates the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. From the early days of the Church (from the Council of Ephesus in 431) Mary was recognised as the Mother of God and since the fifth century, the feast of the assumption also started to be celebrated. However, it was only in 1950 when Pope Pius XII declared the assumption as a dogma of faith, that is, a divinely revealed truth acknowledged as such by the whole Church.

During last year’s Angelus, Pope Francis, described this feast as one which gives hope, because, “one of us dwells in the flesh in Heaven”. Through this feast, the Pope continues, “we understand that we are precious, destined to rise again. God does not allow our bodies to vanish into nothing. With God, nothing is lost!”

This is also summed up in today’s Preface, 

“For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of your Church’s coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.”

In today’s Gospel, we meet two women, two relatives. Elisabeth is old, and she had always wished to become a mother. Yet this always remained a dream, until, through the will of God, in her old age, she gave birth to a son, who is called John. Mary, on the other hand, is still in her youth and she is betrothed to Joseph. The same angel who tells Zachariah that they were to have a son, announces to Mary, that she was to become a mother. Mary was to become the Mother of God. Mary hastens to Elisabeth’s house. It is an upward journey of about one hundred miles, from Nazareth she goes to Ein Karem. From the very beginning, the joy that Jesus brings, is evident, because, “when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.” Jesus brings this same joy, to us today.

Mary, who is betrothed, does not despair, upon hearing that she is pregnant. She has great faith in God and has faith in all his actions. So instead, she bursts into a heartfelt song of praise. This canticle gives us the reason for her acceptance, for her joy. Mary trusted God. Mary knew God, through his word and promises. If she had not known God, she would not have been able to proclaim those words, known as the Magnificat. In this song, Mary praises God for his mercy, strength, generosity, grace, and faithfulness.

A reading from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 1, 39-56) 

Mary set out and travelled 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 Saviour
        for he has looked with favour 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
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. Although Mary praises God, surely, she was not blind to the difficulties brought about by her pregnancy. How do you face difficult situations and problems of life? Mary teaches us that in every circumstance we are to trust God, for he is always present and near us.
  4. The Gospel says that Mary hastens to Elizabeth’s house. Today, Mary also teaches us that we are to serve others. Think on how you serve your family, neighbours, and friends. As a parent, help the children to grow in this virtue. Show them how to help others for the love of God, and not for their own gain.
  5. Mother Teresa used to pray this, make it your prayer, too. “Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor.”
  6. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St Luke (1, 39-56)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Flower
    iv. A statue or picture of the Virgin Mary, preferably of the Assumption
    v. Cover the table with a green clot
    vi. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊
  10. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

Today we are celebrating the feast that helps us remember that Our Lady, the Virgin Mary Mother of God, was taken up to heaven. Our Lady is the mother of Jesus, she is also our mother. Today’s Gospel will not speak directly about the Virgin Mary’s assumption. It narrates to us the events when Mary got to know that she was to become the mother of Jesus and she hurriedly went to tell the news to her cousin Elisabeth.

  • Like Mary, we too have a lot, for what to thank God
  • Printouts of the activity on construction paper, or else glue the papers onto construction paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors
PrintoutDownload

Our Lady was going to have a baby. Do you think that this baby was special? (yes)

Why was this baby special? (because Jesus is the son of God)

Do you think that Our Lady was happy that she was going to be the mother of Jesus?

Although the Virgin Mary, did not understand how she was to become the mother of God, she was very happy that she had accepted to do what God wanted. We know that she was happy, because in today’s Gospel, we heard how she praised God. We call what Mary said that day, a canticle! This means that she was so happy that she started to sing! You would not sing if you were unhappy, would you? Yet you would sing if you were happy! This is what Mary did, because she was so happy, she started to sing and praise God.

Mary praised God because she wanted to thank him for all that he was doing. Is there anything, that you wish to thank God for?

What are the things you need to thank God for? (family, friends, health, talents, the sun, the moon, flowers, animals …)

Today’s feast commemorates the moments when Mary was taken up to heaven, body and soul. In the Gospel we heard how after getting to know, from the angel Gabriel, that she was to become the mother of Jesus, Mary went to her cousin Elisabeth. The angel had told her that even Elizabeth, was going to have a baby! Do you know that when we say the rosary we remember these three stories? Our Lady is happy when we say the rosary. When we say the rosary, we remember Jesus and his mother Mary.

For today’s activity, you have the four mysteries of the rosary. We say the Joyous Mysteries on Monday and Saturday and we remember when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. We also remember when Mary went to visit her cousin Elisabeth. We recite the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and on Sunday, and we remember when Mary was taken up to heaven. There are another two mysteries and you have pictures for them too. We pray the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday, and we think about the life of Jesus. On Tuesday and Friday, we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries which tell us about how much Jesus loves us, and how he suffered and died for us.

Cut out each page, fold, and glue as necessary, to form into a box. Each box shows one of the mysteries. Each time you say the rosary, keep them near you, so that you can think about the stories being mentioned.

Sign of the cross.

Since today is Mary’s feast day, we will pray the Hail Mary. Did you notice that we heard parts of this prayer in today’s Gospel?

In the Gospel, we also heard Mary praise God for becoming the mother of Jesus. Jesus loves us and he helps us too. So let us pray, and because we are happy that Jesus loves us, like Mary we are going to sing, Jesus in the morning.

Here you can find some activities about the prayer of the Hail Mary.

Today we are celebrating the moment when after her life on earth, Our Lady, the Virgin Mother of God, was taken to heaven, body and soul.

  • Like Mary, we need to trust God, in each and every situation we find ourselves in
  • Printout of the Magnificat, the one in black and white
  • Printout on construction paper, of the prayer in colour, or print it on paper and have it laminated
  • Highlighter 
  • Children’s Bible
PrinoutDownload

Who is the Virgin Mary? What do you know about her? (she lived in Nazareth, she was the Mother of God, see that the children mention the following: her visit to Elisabeth, the birth of Jesus, the escape to Egypt, the presentation of Jesus, Jesus lost in the temple, the wedding in Cana, Our Lady during the passion and death of Jesus. Note to parents: show the children where to find these stories in the Bible)

Today, we heard a story that is familiar to us, narrating Mary’s visit to her cousin Elisabeth. Elisabeth was old and had no children. Nevertheless, God has given her a son and he will be called John. John will preach about Jesus and he will also prepare the people to meet Jesus. He will be called John the Baptist. Today’s Gospel also shows us that the Virgin Mary trusted God. The angel Gabriel had just told her that she was to become the mother of Jesus. Although becoming the Mother of God was a great honour, it also created a problem for her. Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and in those days, the married women suspected of having broken their spousal promises, could be stoned to death! Yet, Mary believed in God. She knew that this was the will of God and for this reason she gladly accepted it; Mary had great trust in God. We know this from the way she spoke and praised God, in what we call the Magnificat. It is the song of praise, we listened to in the Gospel. Therefore, Mary teaches us, that when we face a difficulty, we should not give up. We should to pray and trust God.

Who is God? Do you know about God, as much as Mary did?

To help you, you have the black and white printout of the Magnificat. Read it slowly, even more than once. Then, with the highlighter, mark those parts which show the qualities of God. For example, “the greatness of the Lord.” (note to parents: you can also do this exercise, and afterwards go through it with the children. There will be points which the children missed. Discuss them and explain these qualities of God)

Mary said this prayer of praise to God because she knew that God had “done great things” for her. Does God do “great things” for you? For what, can you thank God? When we thank God, we will be praising him, in the way that Mary did!

Mary also mentions those who are “proud.” Describe a proud person. Have you ever acted proudly? Did you ever feel that you were better than others, and could do what ever you felt like? Do you think that this is good?

Our Lady also says that God helped Israel. How can we help others?

Say the prayer of the Hail Mary. What we read about today, was what led to the prayer of the Hail Mary. Did you notice that we heard parts of it in what Elisabeth said?

Pray the Magnificat (the one printed on construction paper, afterwards keep it near your prayer corner, so that you may pray it often).

End your prayer, after you listen to, 

I will magnify.

1. According to today's Gospel, Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town, entered the house of Zechariah and greeted ...

Correct! Wrong!

2. What were the first words that Elizabeth said to Mary to greet her?

Correct! Wrong!

3. Mary then, filled with joy and with Jesus in her womb, began to praise God with the words ....

Correct! Wrong!

4. According to Mary, the Lord saw something beautiful in his servant. What was this?

Correct! Wrong!

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.