August 15th-The Assumption

First Reading (Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab): The Temple of God which is in Heaven was opened, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen in His Temple; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. And a great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head, a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

And another sign appeared in Heaven: and behold, a great fiery-red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns; and upon his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept the third part of the stars of Heaven, and cast them to the Earth; and the dragon stood before the woman who is about to bring forth, that when she brings forth he may devour her Child.

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and 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 great voice in Heaven, saying: "Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ."

Second Reading (1 Cor 15:20-27a): Brethren: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who are asleep.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in his proper order: Christ the first-fruits; afterwards those who are Christ's, at His coming; then the end, when He will deliver up the kingdom to God and the Father, when He will have made useless all rule and all authority and power; for He must reign until he has put all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy that will be destroyed is Death, for "He has put all things in subjection under his feet."

Gospel (Luke 1:39-56): And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the infant leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed; for there will be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."

And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior;
For he has looked upon the low estate of his handmaid.
For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty had done great things to me; And holy is His Name.
And His mercy is for generations of generations, to those who fear Him.
He has showed might with his arm; He has scattered the proud in the thought of their heart.
He brought down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
He has the filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he had sent away empty.
He has helped Israel His servant, that He might remember mercy,
As he spoke to our fathers, toward Abraham and his seed forever."

And Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her house.