THE ASSUMPTION

Spiritual Communion - The Assumption of Mary

✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Let us acknowledge our sins,

and so prepare ourselves to meet with Christ.

I confess to almighty God

that I have greatly sinned,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

and all the Angels and Saints,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

The Collect Almighty ever-living God,

who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary,

the Mother of your Son,

body and soul into heavenly glory,

grant, we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above,

we may merit to be sharers of her glory.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.. Amen.

FIRST READING Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10

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

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16

On your right stands the queen, in garments of 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.

On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.

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.

On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Mary has been taken up to heaven;

all the choirs of angels are rejoicing. Alleluia!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

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.

HOMILY When God looked into the soul of Mary, He saw His own reflection;

and in that reflection He saw a young woman of faith,

willing to hear His call and to act upon it.

He saw a young woman concerned to put right injustice;

with a courageous heart for the poor and downtrodden.

He saw a young woman with a heart of compassion,

and above all He saw a Mother, who would not only display

the strongest care and protection for His Son,

but who would also be a Mother to His Son's followers,

the disciples who listened to His call then,

and the disciples of today and beyond.

The Magnificat, much-loved by Anglicans who appreciate things traditional,

is Mary at her most - radical and revolutionary, the song of a woman

confident in God’s infinite desire that all shall be as He intended..

Mary the Radical, chosen by God to be Mary the Mother of Jesus.

She is the woman whose heart was spiritually pierced by a sword

and she who experienced the pain of being the Mother of God

understands all our pain too.

She worried about Him when she saw Him exhausted

by the day-after-day “seminars” and signs He performed.

She was with Him at the foot of the Cross;

she embraced Him in His death as in His life

as He was taken down from the Cross.

Mary, the first to carry Christ into the world;

Mary, the first to show Christ to the World;

Mary, the first to live-out the “Magnificat Manifesto”;

Mary, the one-and-only to consent to God’s plan,

and to co-operate with God in the power of the Holy Spirit,

to enable “The Word to become Flesh and dwell among us.”

As Mary expressed a Mother's love toward Jesus

in the thirty-three years of His earthly life,

so Jesus made provision for Mary’s care

after the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.

He entrusted His Mother into His Beloved Disciple John's hands,

under whose protection she remained, in Ephesus,

until the time came for Mary herself to withdraw.

In the beginning Mary placed herself in the Hands of God;

and in turn, God placed Christ into her embrace.

When the time came, as she passed from this world to the next.

she placed herself once again into God’s hands.....

Let it be to me according to Your Word”

Mary in her "Magnificat" shows us “God’s original plan for humanity”,

so does her Assumption into heaven.

In the Assumption, Mary not only fulfils her destiny –

but also offers us a glimpse of our destiny, too.

The Blessed Virgin Mary - a bodily monstrance

– a human magnifying glass –

that shows Jesus to be a living presence in today's dysfunctional world.

We are called to model ourselves on the Mother of God –

in her holiness, humility and humanity.

If things on earth are to be "as in Heaven"

we must listen, as she did and does,

to the word of God and act upon it,

and very simply, live like Mary; desire like her,

bring the Word into the world;

and carry Jesus in our lives every day.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayer of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)

With trust in the Lord who calls us all to follow Him,

we present our prayers;

For the Church: May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church,

guide and support us here at Holy Trinity.

Pray for us, Holy Mother, pray for our Bishop, Norman; for the Patriarchs of Eastern and Western Christendom – Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch

Bartholomew; for Archbishop Justin, for the Diocese of Winchester,

and the whole people of God. Lord, hear us. Mary pray.....

That the leaders of all nations may be inspired to serve their people

in a spirit of selflessness, fairness and humility. Lord hear us. Mary pray.....

We pray for a more just distribution of the world’s wealth

and ask that we are all blessed with the strength and resolve

to play our part in achieving it. Lord hear us. Mary pray.....

For young people having received their examination results: May the

Father grant them the vision of the fullness of life, that he offers

them through the following of his Son. Lord, hear us. Mary pray.....

For the sick, the poor and the lonely: May we find the assurance

of God’s presence in the love of his people. Lord, hear us. Mary pray.....

For those who are suffering from the impact of coronavirus –

may the Lord of Mercy bring them health and healing. For the physically weak, isolated and vulnerable people in every country - may the Lord of Compassion inspire us to care for all. Lord, hear us. Mary pray.....

Look with compassion on the many fleeing persecution and danger; may they, like Mary and her family, find a safe haven. Lord, hear us. Mary pray.....

For the faithful departed: May they come to dwell with Our Lady

in the presence of the risen Lord. Lord, hear us. Mary pray.....

Let us now turn to Mary, who is at the right hand of her Son,

and seek her intercession as we say:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death. Amen.

O God, who, looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

raised her to this grace, that your Only Begotten Son was born of her

according to the flesh

and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory,

grant through her prayers,

that, saved by the mystery of your redemption,

we may merit to be exalted by you on high.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God;

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,

through Christ our Lord.

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;

rightly you would not allow her

to see the corruption of the tomb

since from her own body she marvellously brought forth

your incarnate Son, the Author of all life.

And so, in company with the choirs of Angels,

we praise you, and with joy we proclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

At the Saviour’s command

and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,

that, by the help of your mercy,

we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress,

as we await the blessed hope

and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

grant us peace.

Time to sit quietly to receive the Lord’s Presence spiritually.

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present

in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.

I love You above all things,

and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart …

I embrace You as if You were already there

and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You,”

“You prepare a table before me

in the presence of those who trouble me;

you have anointed my head with oil,

and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Psalm 23

All this day, O Lord,

let me touch as many lives as possible for You;

and every life I touch, by Your Spirit quicken,

whether through the word I speak,

the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. Amen.

(Mary Sumner’s personal prayer)

May God, who through the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin Mary

willed in his great kindness to redeem humanity, enrich us all with his

blessing; and may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the

Son, ✠ and the Holy Spirit, come down upon us and remain with us

for ever. Amen.

THE ANGELUS

The angel of the Lord brought tidings unto Mary. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary. Holy Mary.

And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt amongst us.

Hail Mary. Holy Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts,

that as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his Cross and Passion

we may be brought unto the glory of his Resurrection;

through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord;

Thanks be to God.