The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Holy Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 16 August 2026
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Gospel
Luke 1:39-56
‘He who is mighty has done great things for me; he has exalted those of humble estate.’

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on 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 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 mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring for ever.’

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Gospel
Matthew 19:13-15
‘Do not hinder the little children from coming to me, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’

At that time: Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Today the Church celebrates Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, a Conventual Franciscan friar, priest and martyr who gave his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz.

Born in Poland in 1894, Maximilian entered the Conventual Franciscans as a young man. Gifted academically and fascinated by science, he earned doctorates in philosophy and theology before being ordained a priest in 1918.

With a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he founded the Militia of the Immaculata, seeking to bring people closer to Christ through prayer, witness and evangelisation. He also established the influential Knight of the Immaculata magazine and founded Niepokalanów, the “City of the Immaculata”, which became home to hundreds of Franciscan friars. His missionary work later took him to Japan, where he founded another community near Nagasaki.

Following the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, Kolbe and his friars sheltered refugees, including Jews. He was arrested by the Gestapo in February 1941 and eventually sent to Auschwitz, where he became prisoner number 16670.

Later that year, following the escape of a prisoner, ten men were selected to die by starvation as punishment. When one of those chosen, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out for his wife and children, Fr Kolbe stepped forward and offered to take his place.

His offer was accepted.

Kolbe and the other prisoners were confined without food or water. Witnesses recalled that he led the condemned men in prayer and hymns. After around two weeks, Kolbe remained alive and was killed by an injection of carbolic acid on 14 August 1941, the eve of the Solemnity of the Assumption.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe was canonised by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1982, who proclaimed him a “martyr of charity”.

His extraordinary sacrifice remains a powerful witness to the words of Christ: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

🙏 Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, pray for us.

Catholics across Scotland are encouraged to take part in the National Conversation, a UK-wide listening exercise giving people the opportunity to share what is working well in their communities, the challenges they face, and their hopes for the future.

Our faith calls us to play an active part in society and to work for the common good. This is an opportunity to ensure that Catholic voices, experiences and values are part of this important national conversation.

Complete the National Conversation survey:
https://www.national-conversation.ox.ac.uk/

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