Remembering PRESTAGS

Saturday, 15 August 2015

15 August - the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven

From the definition prompulgated by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950 in Munificentissimus Deus (the most bountiful God ... link to full text):

"44. For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory."

Signum magnum (audio link) is the Introit of the Mass (composed after the definition) - taken from the Apocalypse - "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

Gaudeamus (audio link) is the ancient introit (which is an option for the new Mass).

Let us jecoice in this great feast and join our voices to Mary's Magnificat (audio link) and continue to ask her to pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

1. Magnificat * anima mea Dominum.
2. Et exsultavit spiritus meus * in Deo salutari meo.
3. Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: * ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
4. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomen ejus.
5. Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies * timentibus eum.
6. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo * dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
7. Deposuit potentes de sede, * et exaltavit humiles.
8. Esurientes implevit bonis: * et divites dimisit inanes.
9. Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
10. Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros * Abraham at semini eius in saecula.
11. Gloria Patri, et Filio, * et Spiritui Sancto.
12. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, * et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

1. My soul doth magnify the Lord.
2. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
4. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
5. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
6. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
7. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.
8. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9. He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
10. As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
11. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
12. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.