"The Visitation" -- by James Tissot (left) and "The Magnificat" -- by James Tissot (right) |
FIRST
READING: Zephaniah
3: 14 - 18 Or
Romans 12:
9 - 16
14
Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and
rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15
The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy
enemies: the king of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou
shalt fear evil no more.
16
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not
thy hands be weakened.
17
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he
will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love,
he will be joyful over thee in praise.
18
The triflers that were departed from the law, I will gather together,
because they were of thee: that thou mayest no more suffer reproach
for them.
Or
9
Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil,
cleaving to that which is good.
10
Loving one another with the charity of brotherhood, with honour
preventing one another.
11
In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord.
12
Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.
13
Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality.
14
Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15
Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
16
Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but
consenting to the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.
PSALM:
Isaiah 12:
2 - 6
2
Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not
fear: O because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is
become my salvation.
3
You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains:
4
And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his
name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name
is high.
5
Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this forth
in all the earth.
6
Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he that
is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel.
GOSPEL:
Luke 1:
39 - 56
39
And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with
haste into a city of Juda.
40
And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
41
And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of
Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with
the Holy Ghost:
42
And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?
44
For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45
And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall
be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
46
And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
47
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is
his name.
50
And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear
him.
51
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the
conceit of their heart.
52
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the
humble.
53
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent
empty away.
54
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
55
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
56
And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her
own house.