Lectio Divina for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We begin our prayer:

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

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,

God, for ever and ever.

(Collect, Solemnity of the Assumption, Mass during the Day)

Reading (Lectio)

Read the following Scripture two or three times.

Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness  of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on  his lowly servant.

From this day all generations  will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great  things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud  in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty  from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise  of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children  forever.”

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Meditation (Meditatio)

After the reading, take some time to reflect in silence on one or more of the following questions:

• What word or words in this passage caught your attention? 
• What in this passage comforted you?  • What in this passage challenged you?

If practicing lectio divina as a family or in a group, after the reflection time, invite the participants to share their responses.

Prayer (Oratio)

Read the Scripture passage one more time. Bring to the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that the Word inspires in you.

Contemplation (Contemplatio)

Read the Scripture again, followed by this reflection:

What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?

The infant in my womb leaped for joy. When have I responded to God with joy? How can I share the joy of the Gospel with everyone I meet?

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. When is a time that the Lord fulfilled his promise to me? How have I experienced the Lord’s blessings?

He has shown the strength of his arm.  How have I seen God’s power working in the world? How can I be a witness to God’s strength?

After a period of silent reflection and/or discussion, all recite the Lord’s Prayer and the following:   

Closing Prayer:

The queen takes her place at your right hand  in gold of Ophir.

Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house.

So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord.

They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king.

(From Psalm 45)

Living the Word This Week

How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?

Pray a decade of the rosary (or an entire rosary) for the needs of the Church and the world.

Excerpts from the New American Bible, revised edition ©

2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. 

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