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Hail Queen of Heaven - Mass for the Feast of the Assumption

Mass for the Feast of the Assumption live from Salford Cathedral, with the Bishop of Salford, The Right Reverend John Arnold.

A Mass from Salford Cathedral, to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

This festival is celebrated the world over and marks the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was lifted bodily into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

The Right Reverend John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, reflects on the significance of this feast day and the importance of the Virgin Mary within the Catholic faith. Music is sung by the Salford Cathedral Choir directed by Alex Patterson.

Producer: Philip Billson

38 minutes

Last on

Sun 15 Aug 2021 08:10

script

Sunday Worship – Mass for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Bishop of Salford John Arnold is the celebrant and preacher and the service begins with the hymn “Tell out my Soul, the greatness of the Lord”

CHOIR HYMN: Tell out, my soul

BISHOP JOHN In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN Welcome to the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, on this Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. This building was constructed out of the white heat of the industrial revolution. The diocese came into existence in 1851, (Large numbers of Catholics had come to work in the local mills to escape the poverty and starvation in Ireland at that time). As we resume our liturgical and parish life with social restrictions easing, we welcome you.

BISHOP JOHN Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.

ALL Lord, have mercy.

BISHOP JOHN You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.

ALL Christ, have mercy.

BISHOP JOHN You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.

ALL Lord, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life.

ALL Amen.

CHOIR Gloria

from ‘Missa Simplex’ by Dorothy Howell (1898-1982)

BISHOP JOHN 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.

ALL Amen.

READER 1 Corinthians 15:20-26

‘Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him’

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

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.

ALL Thanks be to God.

CHOIR Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 44(45): 10-12,16. Response v. 10

setting by Colin Mawby

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.

CANTOR Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. Assumpta est Maria in caelum: Gaudet exercitus Angelorum.

Gospel reading

Luke 1:39-56

‘The Almighty has done great things for me’

DEACON The Lord be with you.

ALL And with your spirit.

DEACON A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

ALL Glory to you, O Lord.

DEACON 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.

ALL Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

BISHOP JOHN Would it surprise you if I began by wishing you all a very Happy Easter? Today, in the middle of August, how can this be Happy Easter! There is certainly a reason for connecting today’s feast with that first Easter.

the Feast of the Assumption of Mary is part of the completion of all that is promised by the Easter Feast and all that we celebrate in the Resurrection of Jesus. We remember today that Mary, mother of Jesus, was the first to share in her son’s victory over death. Mary, also as the first disciple of her son, was the first to share in his Resurrection. She was the first, but is by no means the last to do so, because we profess, in the Apostles’ Creed, that we believe in the resurrection of the dead.

We celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary today because it reminds us that Jesus, having risen from the dead, now raises Mary - body as well as soul - to glory, at the end of her earthly life. That foreshadows our own hope of resurrection on the last day - when the new heaven and the new earth will be revealed.

All these great feasts of the Church’s year tell us something very wonderful about the enduring love of God, His mercy, His longing to forgive us when things go wrong – always inviting us to begin again with hope, hopefully wiser for the mistakes that we have made in the past. These feasts also, so often, teach us something about what it means to be truly human, and today is no exception. To be “fully human” means to see ourselves as a wonderful unity of body and soul. We are not mere souls waiting to be set free from bodies which imprison us. Jesus rose to new life that first Easter, body and soul, fully human, transformed. At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed, body and soul, into the new life of Easter, fully human, transformed. By his Death and Resurrection, Jesus has redeemed us, fully human, body and soul, and transformed us to a share in his divine life. This is the message of today’s feast; that Easter is not for Jesus alone but, because of the infinite love and mercy of God, Easter is promised to all of us.

Today’s feast, as an extension of Easter and of the Ascension of Jesus, reminds us that God does not want us to live with a Faith that is un-connected to the physical, the material, the earthly but a Faith which works for the positive development of our world for the benefit of all our brothers and sisters and with a care for our common home, as guardians of creation.

On this Feast we see Mary being rewarded for her trust, her humility, her faith. As a young woman, she so bravely told the Angel Gabriel that she was accepting God’s will in her life. [[We can only begin to imagine the strength of her faith and commitment throughout her pregnancy, the extraordinary difficulties of the circumstances of the birth of her child in a stable so far from home, the need then to become a refugee with Joseph and her new-born child. What bewilderment might have been constantly in her mind as her child grew and prepared for his ministry? How many times, during the ministry of Jesus must she have felt concerned for his safety, worried about the opposition from Pharisees and Sadducees and the ever-present domination of the Roman authorities?]] What must she have suffered, as a mother, to see her son the victim of gross injustice and suffering the agony of crucifixion?

Mary’s continuing trust is an example for each and every one of us. We all face our own personal challenges throughout our lives, whether concerning our health, our ambition, relationships. We also face challenges that are imposed from without: on our own days there is the current global pandemic, the impact and damage of climate change, the scandal of modern slavery, the growing inequality between the rich and the poor….

Our trust in God must be expressed in our determination, like Mary, to continue in hope – seeking to use that unity of body and soul in service of others so that what we believe is translated in the way that we live, the decisions and choices that we make. We need to identify the skills that God has given to each one of us for a purpose.

In the celebration of this Feast today, we look to heaven and the life of the world to come, with Mary as our ‘sign of sure hope and comfort to God’s pilgrim people.’ We remind ourselves that we need to employ that unity of our mind, body and soul in living out our lives of faith. The “wholeness” of who we are is the gift of God – each one of us being a unique part of God’s creation. We seek to work for the transformation of our bodies as well as our souls, in service of God’s creation and in care for our brothers and sisters.

Mary, our Mother, was ‘preserved from the corruption of the tomb since from her own body she brought forth the Author of all life’, Jesus, fully human, fully God. May her prayers join with ours as we seek to preserve the whole of God’s creation from decay and bring humankind and the whole of creation into the new life of Easter.

ALL The Creed

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.

CHOIR HYMN: Hail, Queen of Heaven

BISHOP JOHN Pray, brothers and sisters,

that my sacrifice and yours

may be acceptable to God,

the almighty Father.

ALL May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands

for the praise and glory of his name,

for our good

and the good of all his holy Church.

BISHOP JOHN May this oblation, our tribute of homage,

rise up to you, O Lord,

and, through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,

whom you assumed into heaven,

may our hearts, aflame with the fire of love,

constantly long for you.

Through Christ our Lord.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN The Lord be with you.

ALL And with your spirit.

BISHOP JOHN Lift up your hearts.

ALL We lift them up to the Lord.

BISHOP JOHN Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

ALL It is right and just.

BISHOP JOHN 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:

CHOIR Sanctus (Mass IX – Cum jubilo)

BISHOP JOHN You are indeed Holy, O Lord,

the fount of all holiness.

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,

by sending down your Spirit upon them

like the dewfall,

so that they may become for us

the Body and ✠ Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time he was betrayed

and entered willingly into his Passion,

he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and eat of it,

for this is my Body,

which will be given up for you.

In a similar way, when supper was ended,

he took the chalice

and, once more giving thanks,

he gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it,

for this is the chalice of my Blood,

the Blood of the new and eternal covenant,

which will be poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of me.

The mystery of faith.

ALL Save us, Saviour of the world,

for by your Cross and Resurrection

you have set us free.

BISHOP JOHN Therefore, as we celebrate

the memorial of his Death and Resurrection,

we offer you, Lord,

the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation,

giving thanks that you have held us worthy

to be in your presence and minister to you.

Humbly we pray

that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,

we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church,

spread throughout the world,

and bring her to the fullness of charity,

together with Francis our Pope and me, your unworthy servant

and all the clergy.

Remember also our brothers and sisters

who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection,

and all who have died in your mercy:

welcome them into the light of your face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,

that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,

with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints

who have pleased you throughout the ages,

we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,

and may praise and glorify you

through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through him, and with him, and in him,

O God, almighty Father,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all glory and honour is yours,

for ever and ever.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN At the Saviour’s command

and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

ALL 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.

BISHOP JOHN 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.

ALL For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

BISHOP JOHN Lord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:

Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,

look not on our sins,

but on the faith of your Church,

and graciously grant her peace and unity

in accordance with your will.

Who live and reign for ever and ever.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN The peace of the Lord be with you always.

ALL And with your spirit.

CHOIR Agnus Dei (Mass IX – Cum jubilo)

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

BISHOP JOHN Behold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

ALL Lord, I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

BISHOP JOHN The Body of Christ.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN The Blood of Christ.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
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 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.

ALL Amen.

CHOIR Ave virgo sanctissima

by Amy Summers (b. 1996)

BISHOP JOHN Let us pray.

Having received the Sacrament of salvation,

we ask you to grant, O Lord,

that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

whom you assumed into heaven,

we may be brought to the glory of the resurrection.

Through Christ our Lord.

ALL Amen.

BISHOP JOHN The Lord be with you.

ALL And with your spirit.

BISHOP JOHN May almighty God bless you,

the Father, and the Son, ✠ and the Holy Spirit.

ALL Amen.

DEACON Go forth, the Mass is ended.

ALL Thanks be to God.

VOLUNTARY Magnificat Primi Toni by Dietrich Buxtehude

“Excerpts from the English translation ofThe Roman Missal© 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved

Script accurate at time of publication on web page

Broadcast

  • Sun 15 Aug 2021 08:10

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