First Reading
Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 (JB)

A reading from the book of the Apocalypse

I saw a woman clothed with the sun and with the moon beneath her feet.

The sanctuary of God in heaven opened, and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6; 10 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Revelation

God’s temple in heaven was opened,

and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple.

A great portent 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 pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs,

in the agony of giving birth.

Then another portent appeared in heaven:

a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,

and seven diadems on his heads.

His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven

and threw them to the earth.

Then the dragon stood before the woman

who was about to bear a child,

so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she gave birth to a son, a male child,

who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.

But her child was snatched away

and taken to God and to his throne;

and the woman fled into the wilderness,

where she has a place prepared by God,

so that there she can be nourished

for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,

“Now have come the salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God

and the authority of his Messiah.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 44:10-12, 16 (JB)

R. The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.

On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:

forget your own people and your father’s house. R.

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.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 15:20-26 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

As members of Christ all people will be raised, Christ first, and after him all who belong to him.

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order; Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters,

Christ has been raised from the dead,

the first fruits of those who have died.

For since death came through a human being,

the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;

for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.

But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits,

then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Then comes the end,

when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father,

after he has destroyed every ruler

and every authority and power.

For Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation
Accl (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Mary is taken up to heaven,

and the angels of God shout for joy.

Alleluia!

Gospel
Luke 1:39-56 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

The Almighty has done great things for me; he has lifted up the lowly.

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now 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? For 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 exults in God my saviour;

because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,

for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name,

and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

He has shown the power of his arm,

he has routed the proud of heart.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy

– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –

of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:39-56 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

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 fulfilment

of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for he has looked with favour 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 Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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