Children's Liturgy Guide

Assumption of Mary

Year A · Ordinary Time

Mary Sings for Joy

Reading: Luke 1:39-56

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth with wonderful news. When Elizabeth sees Mary, she is filled with joy, and Mary sings a beautiful song praising God for all the great things He has done.

Key Points

  • Mary hurried to share her joy with Elizabeth after learning she would be Jesus' mother
  • Elizabeth recognized that Mary was blessed and carrying someone very special
  • Mary's song, the Magnificat, praises God for doing great things for her
  • On the Assumption, we celebrate that God brought Mary to heaven body and soul
  • Mary shows us how to praise and thank God with our whole hearts

Background

This Gospel passage, known as the Visitation, presents Mary's encounter with Elizabeth and contains the Magnificat, Mary's canticle of praise. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes Mary as the Mother of the Lord. Mary responds with a hymn that echoes Hannah's prayer from 1 Samuel, proclaiming God's faithfulness and His special care for the lowly. The Assumption celebrates the dogma that Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life, a fitting honor for the one who bore Christ in her womb. For children, emphasize Mary's joyful response to God's blessings and how she hurried to share that joy with someone she loved. Set aside the deeper theological concepts of the Immaculate Conception, bodily assumption, and eschatological implications.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear God, thank You for giving us Mary as a mother who loves us. Help us to be filled with joy like Mary and to praise You for all the wonderful things You do. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever had such exciting news that you just had to run and tell someone you love?

Example: One time I found out we were getting a puppy and I ran all the way to my grandma's house to tell her because I was so happy and excited.

Bridge to the reading: That feeling of wanting to share wonderful news with someone special is exactly what happens in today's reading. Mary has the most exciting news ever, and she hurries to visit her cousin Elizabeth to share her joy.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Who did Mary go to visit after she found out she would be Jesus' mother?

    Example: Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who lived in a town in the hill country far away from where Mary lived.

  2. What happened when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting at the door?

    Example: When Elizabeth heard Mary say hello, the baby inside Elizabeth's tummy jumped for joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

  3. What special words did Elizabeth say to Mary when she saw her?

    Example: Elizabeth said that Mary was blessed among women and that the baby inside Mary was blessed too, and she called Mary the mother of her Lord.

  4. Why do you think Mary sang a song praising God instead of just saying thank you?

    Example: I think Mary was so happy and so grateful that regular words were not enough, so she wanted to sing because singing shows how much joy is in your heart.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you feel inside when something really wonderful happens and you want to thank God?

    Example: I feel like my heart is really big and full and happy, like when the sun comes out after rain and everything feels bright and warm inside me.

  2. What is one way you could praise God like Mary did when you feel thankful?

    Example: I could say a prayer before bed telling God all the good things that happened, or I could sing a song at church really loud with my whole heart.

  3. This week, who could you visit or call to share something good that happened to you?

    Example: I could call my grandpa on the phone and tell him about something fun at school because he always likes hearing my stories and it makes him smile.

Recap

Today we heard how Mary hurried to visit her cousin Elizabeth with wonderful news. Elizabeth knew right away that Mary was carrying someone very special. Mary was so full of joy that she sang a beautiful song praising God for all the great things He had done. Today we celebrate that God loved Mary so much that He brought her to heaven to be with Him forever. We can be like Mary by thanking God with happy hearts for all His blessings.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all mothers and grandmothers, that they may be filled with joy and feel God's love through their families, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

Mary's song of praise in the Gospel is called the Magnificat, which means 'My soul magnifies the Lord.' This same prayer is sung or prayed every evening in the Church's official prayer called Vespers, or Evening Prayer. Some parishes also sing parts of the Magnificat during Mass on Marian feast days.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, thank You for Mary and for her beautiful song of praise. Help us to notice all the good things You do for us and to say thank You with joyful hearts. May we share our happiness with the people we love, just like Mary did. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Mary Sings for Joy

Luke 1:39-56

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

N B Y R X T A F M M Z S G U Z
T O Y B A B X C A B X L Z O H
J B T L O R D R P A I B J B I
P M T A K I Y T Q J S J Y V M
S R Y E L I Z A B E T H A C V
L P A A Z X A C K O U H T C C
T X G I U V C S F A I J I D H
O X I S S V A T W B E I S E I
J E O C S E O V J A P C I S H
L A G R D C M O T H E R V S F
N E V A E H J P I J P A Y E K
T N I B V Y T R A E H Z P L M
H F H R V Q Q Y A Y O D P B D
S R U G K G N O S K V F K U R
Y E M Z H B I V V Z H X T K I

Words to find

  • Mary
  • Elizabeth
  • blessed
  • joy
  • praise
  • visit
  • song
  • mother
  • heaven
  • heart
  • baby
  • Lord

ChildrensLiturgy.org