Assumption

The sanctuary of God in the heavens was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant of God

could be seen inside the sanctuary. There were flashes of lightning, peals of thunder,

an earthquake and a violent hailstorm. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman,

clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her

head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain, looking to her time of delivery. Then

another sign appeared: a huge, red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and wearing

seven crowns on its heads. It had just swept along a third of the stars of heaven with

its tail, throwing them down to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who

was about to give birth, so that it might devour the child as soon as it was born. She

gave birth to a male child, the one who is to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre;

then her child was seized and taken up to God and to his throne while the woman fled

to the desert where God had prepared a place for her. Then I heard a loud voice from

heaven: Now has salvation come, with the power and the kingdom of our God, and the

rule of his anointed.

Christ has been raised from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen

asleep. A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the

dead. All die for being Adam's, and in Christ all will receive life. However, each one

in his own time: first Christ, then Christ's people, when he visits them. Then the end

will come, when Christ delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, after having

destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he must reign and put all enemies

under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. As Scripture says: God

has subjected everything under his feet. When we say that everything is put under his

feet, we exclude, of course, the Father who subjects everything to him.

Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah

and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her

womb. Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are

most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the

mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the

baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's

word would come true!" And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the

Lord, my spirit exults in God my saviour! He has looked upon his servant in her

lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great

things for me, Holy is his Name! From age to age his mercy extends to those who live

in his presence. He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud

with their plans. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those

who are downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich

away empty. He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy,

even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever." Mary

remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.