The Assumption of Mary

August 15, The Assumption of Mary, celebrates one of three Solemnities of Mary, which are holy days in our Church. January 1, the Solemnity of Mary; and December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary are the others. In 1950 Pope Pius XII promulgated the Assumption as dogma.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 966) states: "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."

Mary, earthly and heavenly Mother for each of us, loves us and always intercedes for us. "We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ." (Saint Paul VI, CCC 975)

Mary has always been our comfort, our anchor, our inspiration and our joy, and the feast of the Assumption celebrates this for all of us. Her humble acceptance of God's holy will and her thousand "yesses" inspire us to aspire to Christ's promise of heaven for each of us.  Pope Francis states it best: "In Mary's Assumption into Heaven… The Madonna has set foot in paradise: she went there not only in spirit, but with her body as well, with all of herself. This step of the lowly Virgin of Nazareth was the huge leap forward for humanity. In Mary, the goal has been reached and we have before our eyes the reasons why we journey: not to gain the things here below, which vanish, but to achieve the homeland above, which is forever. And Our Lady is the star that guides us." [15 August 2020]

Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!





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