St. Mary the Virgin
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
Feast of St. Mary the Virgin – August 16 – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 16, 2026
Isaiah 61:10-11
The prophet Isaiah looks ahead to a day when righteousness and praise to God will spring forth throughout the earth.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: I will greatly rejoice…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
New Revised Standard Version
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 16, 2026
Galatians 4:4-7
Paul rejoices that God has adopted us as his children. As heirs, we are given our freedom and can bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians:
(Lead in with) RSV: When the time…; NRSV: When the fullness of time…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
New Revised Standard Version
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 16, 2026
Luke 1:46-55
When Elizabeth recognizes her cousin as the mother of her Lord, Mary responds with the song of praise called the Magnificat.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Luke:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
New Revised Standard Version
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Feast of St. Mary the Virgin – August 16 – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 16, 2026
Isaiah 61:10-11
The prophet Isaiah looks ahead to a day when righteousness and praise to God will spring forth throughout the earth.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: I will greatly rejoice…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
New Revised Standard Version
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 16, 2026
Galatians 4:4-7
Paul rejoices that God has adopted us as his children. As heirs, we are given our freedom and can bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians:
(Lead in with) RSV: When the time…; NRSV: When the fullness of time…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
New Revised Standard Version
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, August 16, 2026
Luke 1:46-55
When Elizabeth recognizes her cousin as the mother of her Lord, Mary responds with the song of praise called the Magnificat.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Luke:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
New Revised Standard Version
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Preaching Today
Charleston Wilson: What Mary’s ‘Yes’ Meant
“There is no question in my mind that Mary’s song proclaims the end of human exertion and stress, because it lays bare the good news of the gospel—how it really is possible to be accepted based not on our skills and track record—and how real life with a real purpose isn’t about becoming precious in God’s eyes, but realizing we’ve been unconditionally precious in his eyes all along.”
Classic Texts
Bernard of Clairvaux: The Sweetness of Eternity’s Fruit
“Eve, run then to Mary, run to your daughter. … Instead of the tree of death, she offers you a taste of life; in place of the poisonous fruit of bitterness, she holds out the sweetness of eternity’s fruit.”
Articles
“Mary is the temple of her Son. She is the Christ-carrier and the Christ-bearer. She is a monstrance on the road to the house of Zachariah. In her a forming baby consents: ‘Whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge’ (Ruth 1:16).”
Jonathan Mitchican: Our Bodies Are Magic
“A lot of people find Marian piety to be hokey, sentimental, and overly spiritualized, yet what is most fascinating to me about both of the Marian dogmas (the Assumption, and the Immaculate Conception) is just how very earthy and fleshly they are.”
