Assumption

The Gospel reading for the feast of the Assumption can’t be an account of Mary’s Assumption, which doesn’t appear in the Bible. Instead they take the first part of our Lady’s canticle, the Magnificat.

I’ve included illustrations from the end of Images of the Evangelical Gospels. As usual, you can buy the book in paperback or hardcover.

Gospel in Latin

IN illo témpore: Repléta est Spíritu Sancto Elísabeth et exclamávit voce magna, et dixit: Benedícta tu inter mulíeres, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui. Et unde hoc mihi ut véniat mater Dómini mei ad me? Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutatiónis tuæ in áuribus meis, exsultávit in gáudio infans in útero meo. Et beáta, quæ credidísti, quóniam perficiéntur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Dómino. Et ait María: Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum: et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salutári meo; quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ, ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, et misericórdia ejus a progénie in progénies timéntibus eum.

Gospel in English

At that time, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord. And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour; because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His name, and His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.

Transitus Matris Dei

Plate 150

Apostoli, et alii sancti Patres portantur ab Angelis Hierosolymam, ut morti Dei Matris intersint, et assumptioni.

Domus in monte Sion, ubi Maria Virgo Mater est mortua.

Componit se honestissime in lectulo, circumstantibus Apostolis et Patribus.

Adest e caelo Christus cum innumerabilibus Angelis.

Expirat suavissime sanctissimam animam Mater Dei in manus Filii, excellenti cum Angelorum gaudio, et Patrum devotione.

Virginis Matris Sepultura

Plate 151

Paratur funus perquam honorifice.

Portant feretrum Petrus et Jacobus, et primi quique Apostolorum versus torrentem Cedron.

Superne prosequitur funus Angelorum multitudo.

Perveniunt juxta hortum Gethsemani, ubi erat paratum sepulcrum novum, felix tanta hospita futurum. Ibi eam sepeliunt cum summis laudibus.

Suscitatur Virgo Mater a Filio

Plate 152

Ad finem tridui adest Christus cum militia caelestis exercitus innumerabili.

Clamo sepulcro suscitat Matrem, animam ejus et corpus maximis domis cumulat.

Egreditur illa fulgentissima, immortalitatis gloria ornata, stellis duodecim coronata, amicta Sole, et sub pedibus Lunam habens.

Excipit eam Christus gratulatione summa.

Eam adorat, eique obedientiam e vestigio desert caelestis exercitus, Dei Matrem, Reginam suam, et orbis profitetur universi.

Cessante in terris concentu Angelorum, intelligunt Apostoli resurrexisse sacram Virginem.

Assimitur Maria in caelum, coronatur a Sanctiss. Trinitate.

Plate 153

Assumit in caelum Matrem Christus, illa dilecto Filio innititur ad dexteram honorificentissime.

Circumvolant caelestes spiritus, psallentes caeleste melos, et gloriam.

Collocat tandem Matrem Filius ante Divinitatem, et ad sanctissimam Trinitatem statuit.

Ab ea coronatur ineffabili gloria, donis, dotibus, et privilegiis ornatur excellentissimis.

Aperto sepulcro credunt assumptam Apostoli a Filio, exultant in jubilum, et laudes ejus caelestes.

Ad sua quisque loca unde fuerant deducti Patres, ab Angelis reducuntur.

Regnat Maria Mater Dei cum Filio in omnem aeternitatum gloriosissime.