FIRST READING: A Reading from the First Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians ( 1 Cor 15:1-10)

I want to make quite clear to you, brothers, what the message of the gospel that I preached to you is; you accepted it and took your stand on it,

 2 and you are saved by it, if you keep to the message I preached to you; otherwise your coming to believe was in vain.

 3 The tradition I handed on to you in the first place, a tradition which I had myself received, was that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures,

 4 and that he was buried; and that on the third day, he was raised to life, in accordance with the scriptures;

 5 and that he appeared to Cephas; and later to the Twelve;

 6 and next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still with us, though some have fallen asleep;

 7 then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles.

 8 Last of all he appeared to me too, as though I was a child born abnormally.

 9 For I am the least of the apostles and am not really fit to be called an apostle, because I had been persecuting the Church of God;

 10 but what I am now, I am through the grace of God, and the grace which was given to me has not been wasted. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others — not I, but the grace of God which is with me.

READER: The Word of the Lord!

Res: Thanks be to God!

B: RESPONSORIAL PSALM ( 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 )

Response:  I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
 

Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.

Resp. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
Resp. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.

Resp. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.

Resp. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.

Resp. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

ALLELUIA    1 Thes 5:18
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

ALLELUIA

GOSPEL: A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to LUKE (1:39-55)

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah.

 40 She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

 41 Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 42 She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

 43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

 44 Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.

 45 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

 46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;

 48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed,

 49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,

 50 and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.

 51 He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.

 52 He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.

 53 He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.

 54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors — of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants forever.