Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (1: 39-56) in which Mary visits her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth, who lives in a town in the hill country of Judea. Afterwards, Fr Paul shares a little about today’s celebration of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fr Paul says, the commemoration of the death of the Blessed Virgin Mary is known as the Assumption because of the tradition that her body did not decay but was raised up, body and soul, into heaven. This tradition was already present in the sixth century; by the beginning of the twentieth century, it was widespread; and after consulting the views of bishops all over the world, the Pope formally and infallibly declared the doctrine of the Assumption to be part of the authentic and ancient doctrine of the universal Church. So today as we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr Paul invites us to join him in praying: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.